December, 1942

Tuesday December 1: Still waiting, wondering when we would commence the work we had been trained to do? Lay on the beach. Went to Algiers with Harry and Bush. Bought some French fags. Lousy.

Wednesday December 2: We moved to a poor camp across from the hanger and we were not allowed out of the camp before 4pm.

Thursday December 3: Very tired. Could not sleep lying on cold concrete Jerry bombed us again. Went out with the lads for a meal. Slipped out without paying the bill. On guard that night with Pickhaver.

Friday December 4: Slept on the beach with Pick. Had a swim and lay in the nude with Pick and Alf. Confined to camp.

Saturday December 5: Worked very hard loading wagons at Hussein Dey. We were all dressed in khaki and all possessed a Sten Gun plus 500 rounds. Volunteers were asked to escort a convoy to Serti and I volunteered.

Sunday December 6: We left at 8am and we appeared to climb all day through the Atlas Mountains. I sat next to the driver and the scenery was the most beautiful I had ever seen. We slept on the mountainside and it was bitterly cold. As we drove through many small villages, the natives waved and gave us the V sign. Eggs could be bought all the way but we did, on reflection, a dirty trick on an Arab. At the rear of the wagon he handed up a basket of eggs and we argued about the price, but from a given signal the driver set off leaving the poor Arab in a mad rage.

Monday December 7: We arrived at Sertif about 5pm. We slept in the wagon on Monday and Tuesday night.

Wednesday December 9: Arrived Constantine at 2pm. Met up with the lads again - who had also acted as armed escorts. No one appeared to know anything about us so we billeted ourselves in a vacant school - Bush and Ginger were not with the gang, they had gone up to the front lines. We stayed around Constantine for a few days - collected rations from an Army depot and took them back to our billet.

Monday December 14: We were informed that we were going up into Tunisia near the front line. In one of the wagons we met a S/L Arnock.

Wednesday December 16: We crossed the border and arrived at Souk-el-Arba near the front in Tunisia. It was a small town almost wiped out. We were dive-bombed and machine-gunned all night. Some Arabs were killed. We left and slept a little in an empty wagon.

Thursday December 17: Slept in the open. No raid tonight.

Friday December 18: We erected on the airfield and carried out road repairs. Later a rain storm flooded the tents so we took over the Hotel De Ville in Souk el Arba.

Saturday December 19: I was made permanent room orderly.

Sunday December 20: On fatigues. Raid on the air field. One German plane brought down in flames just off the runway.

Monday December 21: Sent airmail and airgraph telegram home for Christmas. We had four air raid warnings this morning. Pay day, I received 1,650 francs. More air raids this afternoon, we had eggs for supper.

Tuesday December 22: Two air raids this morning. Rest of the FILTER squad arrived. Hope to start operations soon. Many air raids.

Thursday December 24: Christmas Eve. Torrential rain, deep mud. Went to the vicarage and confession. Had wine and fags.

Friday December 25: Christmas Day. Went to Mass and Communion. Prepared for a concert with the other Special Duty lads. Browned off with our rations, we were given a tin of Irish Stew.

Saturday December 26: Boxing Day. Managed to get a bottle and plenty of grapes. The four Scroungers organised the Show - Pick, Alf, Harry (Parks) and myself. F/O Gray attended and thanked the lads for working so hard.

Sunday December 27: Went to Mass. I was late but made it for communion. The Chain Home Low light warning was set up. Harry and I did the afternoon shift as radio operators. Twelve enemy aircraft came over and we took part in disposing of tem. F/L Jones gave all the Special Duty Lads a talk concerning FILTER, which is to start in the morning. Harry and I were later on duty and Jerry paid us another visit in the Operations Room and there were dog fights overhead.

We lost two Spitfires - I watched on being brought down. The M/es were also brought down and a Junkers 88.

Monday December 28: Had a parachute scare. One of our Beau fighters was shot down by an American. Another Junkers 88 brought down.

Wednesday December 30: Harry and I on watch. Herman raid at 12pm. Another raid at 4pm by six aircraft. They machine gunned Souk El Arba and our airfield. Buried five airmen today.

Thursday December 31: New Year's Eve. German's dive-bombed Souk El Kemis at 3.30pm. Eight aircraft dive-bombed and machine-gunned us. One Beau was hit. One airman killed, many injured. Duty 5-10pm. Drinks in the sergeant's mess Harry let the New Year in.