DIGGER’S DIARY

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 66, Issue 5597, 26 March 1943, Page 3

DIGGER’S DIARY

LAST WAR MEMORIES (Ry A. K. Greves) No. 3. Thursday, March 28.—Was awakened by the piquet at 4 a.m. and left immediately on horse-back with oil foi the guns. It was a full moon so one was able to locate the battery without ony trouble. Since going into action last night Fritz has transferred a fair amount of his ironmongery into Mailley Mallet. Things had returned to quietness when I went through, but, all the same, many of the buildings were scattered over the roads. A little bit of excitement prevailed near the waggon lines after breakfast. Some of the boys located a heifer in some scrub and, thinking a bit of fresh beef would be welcome, they declared war on it. I think it was our Sergeant-Major who put a stop to hostilities, and the heifer cleared out. During the day we moved into these billets which are in the deserted village of Forceviile. The inhabitants had cleared out, leaving pots and pans on the stove with food in them. Friday, March 29.—Up with a party packing ammunition this afternoon. Some of it was collected out in the fields not far from the battery position. There was evidence that a R.F.A. battery had been in action and deported in a helluva hurry, leaving behind this ammunition. As a matter of fact it was in this locality that our infantry met Fritz—hence the departure of the R.F.A. battery. Saturday, March 30.—Fritz was doing a bit of searching with longrange guns. A couple of high explosive shells burst near our horse lines, so we evacuated same for an hour or two. Sunday, March 31.—Did a bit of washing to-day, a quiet day with fine weather. Monday, April I.—This evening

some of the boys carried out a very successful raid and returned with seven fowls. One of the sub-section was a cook by trade, and I can assure anyone it was a glorious supper we have just finished. The innards of the chooks, and the feathers, have been well and truly burnt —ashes tell no tales. • There is plenty of buckshee wine about but no one seems to be making a beast of himself. Tuesday, April 2.—Was up with a party at 2 a.m. to pack ammunition to the forward gun. Our sleeping quarters are up in a hay loft. This evening two of the boys were acting the goat when one struck his head oh something hard. Investigation proved to be a box of clean shirts (army issue). In a very short time every bit of straw had been turned over. What a windfall! Clothing of all descriptions and several cases of army jam. The old dame who owned this joint must have been souveniring this gear for a year or two. There’s enough to give the entire battery’ a change of clothes. The orderly room corporal has donned a Highlander’s turnout, put on a bell-topper, and is doing the rounds of the sub-sections amid roars of laughter. Have been notified that our detachment will be relieving the one at the gun—a general change over. Fritz has cleaned up a few of them —the gunners. (To be continued).