ONE MAN'S WAR

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 38, 15 February 1943, Page 2

ONE MAN'S WAR

WITH THE N.Z.E.F.

A PRIVATE LOOKS BACK

Extracts from a censored letter received in London recently from a Southland soldier are published in New, Zealand News. It may be described as a private soldier's view of the Middle West campaigns. "So far I have been in everything —except the later and grimmer moments on Crete. As my letters seem to have missed you, here is a brief outline of my war history. "In camp with the first batch— overseas with the Dunera (Ist Echelon)— Egypt, February, 1940 three spells in the Western Desert Hear Mersa Matruh—months of ackack duty and Iti bombings before I fired on an Iti plane (and also a Blenheim which never flew again— he dropped the wrong flares). A busy time with Wavell's push, taking supplies -up to the tanks, and taking Itis back. If you've read Gordon Young "Outposts of War," take note of his description of Neibeiwa Camp. We were there days before Young and the other war correspondents. "Then in the advance party to Greece, and a wonderful week in Athens before the battalion arrived. With the road party through the mountain Passes and snow, past Mount Olympus to below Salonika.

"Had the best time of all before the invasion. Then the shift to Serbia Pass, 3000 feet above the Aliakman River. Easter, and a week of intense activity. Just Ahead of "Jerry" "I am officially credited with a Junkers 88„ and two Mlo9's were also brought down with toy Brens in our area. Out to the extreme left flank to let the Australians through, and after that rearguard actions by the 4th Brigade all through Greece. In the bombing of Pharsala, through bombed Larissa — Thermopylae— Kitheran Mountains (near Thebes)— through Athens and Omonia Square five minutes before the first Jerries. A last stand in the hills of Porto Raphti—the Ajax and hot cocoa and boiled eggs. "Crete, with one blanket between two—Cania—Suda Bay—inland with. a lovely fountain stream, and ferns, and a sv/imming pool! "Then the Stukas and Junkers 52. "I left on" the last hospital ship to leave buda Bay — machine-gunned and bombed three times en route. My first operation, a tiny bit of bomb splinter taken out of my elbow —I was never recorded as wounded, thank goodness.

Then the second Libyan campaign, our battalion cutting the Bardia Road. A bayonet charge at Bir Cletis. The last grim days on Bel Hamid Ridge. Wounded in the knee. Our hospital captured by Jerry Visited by Rommel. Handed over to a swinish mob of Itis. Left without water for ten days—rescued—another six weeks in a desert hospital. Back to the battalion, and route marches with shrapnel'in my knee. "Another week's leave with my Belgian Judge. My room looks out on a tiny garden—an ikon hangs above my day-bed — Egyptian tomb figures for decoration. Persian carpets under my feet. If I stay out, the servant leaves whisky and soda —and ice!—beside my bed. No women to fuss around! Back From Syria "Then Syria for three months, digging all the time. No leave except two days at Beirut. We were at Baalbek and I explored the neighbourhood very thoroughly. Never saw Aleppo, or Palmyra or Kerak des Chevaliers, or the Crusader castles. Only passed through Damascus. Then the dash down to save Egypt. Went straight into action, including our bayonet charge through the Panzers, my fourth bayonet charge. Lots of mucking about—and digging holes—and bombings by Junkers and Stukas.

"Our friend, A— (from Riverton, Southland) is probably the most travelled New Zealander out here. We'd planned heaps of trips together—l could never get leave, while we went through Trans-Jordania as the guest of the Arab Legion. Then another trip to Petra, to Bagdad (as guest of some friends of ours who belong to the Sassoon family). Other trips to Syria and Palestine. "Bill was mentioned in dispatches—picked up a stray Aussie truck while marching out of Servia Pass, and drove his platoon out- Good work; but if that merits an M.D., every New Zealand driver should have got one. War and Soldiering "I have been charged with a liking for war; but that's a different thing from being a good soldier. The army ideal is one who thinks all army officers just wonderful, and loves marching round and drilling, and believes that the war will be won by silly bayonet charges. "I have a whole-hearted respect for our former colonel—now Brigadier Kippenberger—probably New Zealand's best soldier—and for the New Zealand private—and for Wavell—and Rommel—and some of the original Desert Troops (the Desert Rats!), and for the Indians —and for the Navy, who came back to bring the 4ths out of Greece. "Nuff sed. War is a messy business, but it brings out the best. Disillusion sets in when you go back to be manhandled around like convicts by base-wallahs who have never seen action—and you see awards and promotions go to the wrong people. I stays a private and keeps my selfrespect."