Bombed from the Air.

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 362, 24 January 1941, Page 3

Bombed from the Air.

Next morning the Ncav Zealand transport drivers delivered their loads of stores, reformed, and then commenced to load prisoners during

a terrific dustslorm. During the afternoon they saw several air battles, and Lieutenant Miuller speaks of being dive-bombed and machinegunned from the ail* during the next morning. All the boys came through safely. Describing the scene which confronted him in Sidi Barrani when lie secured a chancc to look around, the olFiccr writes that the disorder within the fortress town was amazing. Italian arms, equipment and stores were lying all over the place and there were dozens of vehicles abandoned. Later the New Zealand transport section had orders to move the infantry battalion again but after proceeding a few miles they received word tha- the enemy troops they wore pursuing had lied. Upon receiving instructions not to proceed the troops slept the night where their column had stopped. Loading Prisoners. Next morning they moved back to the fort, and the New Zealand transport drivers began taking prisoneis back behind the lines and backloading with additional stores. On this task the men were engaged from about G p.m. until 2 a.m. every night. "I would like to- go to sleep tor 24 hours; have a bath and then go to sleep again," says the lieutenant in indicating his reactions to his lirst experience of action. "We have followed in the Greeks' Tootsteps, and Avhat a success it has been! I lived Avith some jolly fine Englishmen, sonic of Avhom did not come through. They are great soldiers. "One of the most incredible sights was to see the prisoners maiching out of Sidi Barrani, and the Avonderful equipment and weapons they left behind them., We are all thrilled about the Avliole slioav; it was hard work, Ave had no rest and Ave saw some sights which are better forgotten; but it Avas a great success. "We had one shattering experience," he added. "We Avere running over the desert when three Italian 'planes dropped a hat-full of bombs. They gaA r c us all they had and we jumped, I can tell you. The blast of some of the bombs lifted us right off the ground but aa c "Vverc all right when it Avas over. We Avere all frightened at times, I think, but the cool determination of the boys to do their job properly Avas marvellous. We are all thrilled with the success of the operation.