The Blog that might have been – 70 years on

By airmail : two items of very bad news

Posted on July 20, 1941 by felicityh54

TX 1004

Pte M Hickman

2/33rd Battalion

AIF Abroad

20th July 41

Dear Mother & Dad

I received your letter of the 29th June yesterday and although its news was the worst I’ve had since I left home it had to come. Brian’s death is the biggest shock I’ve had for a long time and had a very depressing effect. I’m trying to make up my mind to write to Mrs Phillips though I suppose doing so would only aggravate the wound. It must be a terrible blow to the family for very few families are as attached as they were. It’ll be hard on his girl too.

I was talking to the 31st’s Padre this morning after he conducted our church service. He expects Ken to be going home soon. I’d like to see him before he goes – he always had a wonderful sense of humour and when they took him in with his leg mangled to pieces and Dick went to cut his trousers with the scissors, he said “now Schultz you bastard you’ll have to see the QM before you cut those”. They had to pump a lot of blood and oxygen into him but I believe he’s pretty right now. His Battalion are a fair way from us but I’m going to try and get permission to go along and see Dick Schultz this afternoon.

I sent a cable at least I gave it to our postman last Wednesday for your birthday Mother. I hope it makes the grade alright. We’ve been promised a day’s leave soon and I’ll try and send you a present and one for youngster for her birthday too.

I struck a chap here from Victoria or NSW – I’m not sure which – he’s a nephew of Mrs Len Abery (?) at Sandfly and he said he’s like them to write to him – his address is

NX 582

Cpl Eric Batchelor

6th Div Cavalry

AIF Abroad

so if you happen to see Mrs Morley you might give her the message. Must close now Mother. Best regards to all

Your loving son

Max

Brian Phillips was a signalman who at the time of his death was posted to HMAS Moreton Bay. His service record shows he died at Mearnskirk Hospital, Glasgow, on June 25th 1941. The diagnosis was ‘cellulitis of the face’.

Ken Jenkins was a corporal in the RAP (Regimental Aid Post) or CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) of the 2/31 Battalion – one of the three battalions in the 25th Brigade. He lived with his wife in Glenorchy (at that time a northern suburb of Hobart – now designated a city). Ken enlisted on the same day as Dad and had the next service number – TX1005. In an earlier letter, Dad says he was a stretcher bearer. He was clearly a close friend who knew Dad’s family well, as there are frequent references to his liking of ‘the pater’s wine’. Ken’s service and casualty record shows that he was wounded in action on June 14 1941, suffering a compound fracture of the left femur, with severe shock. This injury resulted in amputation of the leg above the knee at the 7th Australian General Hospital on July 4.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Brian Phillips, Ken Jenkins | Leave a comment

A town surrenders to a couple of privates

Posted on July 16, 1941 by felicityh54

Once again, written in pencil… and once again, the ability to rotate the image was sacrificed in favour of ‘legibility’ – not sure if that was a sensible decision.

TX 1004

Max Hickman

2/33rd Battalion

AIF Abroad

16th July 1941

Dear Mother & Dad

With the conclusion of the show, we have been moved from the rugged mountain country in which we fought to very different surroundings – a pleasant but very quiet spot on the coast. How long we’ll be here of course we don’t know and the the question everybody is asking, is – where next?

I had the most unique experience of my life, the day after the signing of the armistice. We were at an outpost and a screed was sent round that everything beyond the occupied area was out of bounds. However, someone said there was a river on the other side of the mountains – and we were badly in need of a wash so Pete McCowan and I decided to take the risk and give it a go. Just in case there was a river and any fish we took a couple of hand grenades – a method of fishing we had found very satisfactory at Mersa Matruh. About two hours mountaineering brought us into the best and richest valley we’d seen in this country – and the little township nestling under the mountain had an ajar of prosperity and was so different to anything we’d seen that we thought it must be a French settlement, and decided to look the place over. On the corner at which we entered the town there was a chemist shop and as we passed the chemist greeted us with Bonjour Messieurs – welcome. We shook hands with him – Pete keeping one hand on the grenade (just in case) and more by signs than words we were given to understand that he wanted us to have a cup of coffee so we went in and sat down at a table.

While the coffee was being prepared he sent a number of men out, apparently on messages and in a few seconds the shop was full and between two and three hundred people had gathered outside. Peter was quite sure we were in a trap. When the crowd parted, number of fellows whose manner and deportment marked them as notables came in. The foremost of the group spoke to us in English – told us that although Syrian by birth he was an American citizen. He further told us that Machgarah was a Syrian township and that eighty percent of the people were British sympathisers – although French was the language. He assumed that we were Australian officers (as we were the first British troops to enter the town) and had come to see the place before occupying it.

Our Yankee friend then did the honours and introduced us to the Mayor, the town councillors, the priest and two doctors. They then hurried us away from our coffee to the police station. Here some fourteen Gendarmes formed a guard of honour. At the door we were met by the Commissioner and the Chief of Police. We had another speech of welcome, which the Yank interpreted – incidentally the Commissioner himself was also a Frenchman. We had a glass of arak – the most potent of all potencies – followed by a cup of black coffee and a glass of water – the last named being by far the most enjoyable. Whilst all this was going on numerous messengers came and went and presently accompanied by the commissioner we toured the town. The streets were lined with people who cheered and waved. The only two greetings they apparently knew were Bonjour and Welcome.

At the conclusion of our triumphal tour we inspected a number of houses damaged by our artillery and assured the owners that they’d get a good hearing when the place had been occupied. We then visited the flour mill and tannery and were told if we went back in the afternoon we would be presented with a belt. During our tour quite a number of them asked us for permits to visit other towns in the war zone and we told them that it was not safe just then but arrangements would be made as soon as possible.

We then had lunch with the mayor – and what a meal. It brought to mind the time those Japs came down to dinner and as our interpreter was not present we were able to express ourselves freely in our opinions of the meal. It was apparently a four course meal because there were four plates at each setting, but one course more than sufficed for me. The top receptacle was a bowl about twice or three times as big as a soup plate. In the bottom of this a servant put some stuff like cornflakes, then enough rice to feed a battalion. Over the rice she spread minced raw onion then meat cut in chunks and over it all poured stuff like curry – she then mixed it all together. I felt quite hungry before the meal started but the very sight of so much food more than satisfied my appetite. Pete struggled through the first course but I had to pique halfway through. The mayor and the other members of his family went through the four courses like champions. With the meal we drank strong wine and after it strong black coffee.

In the afternoon we were invited to a function welcoming home a prominent citizen who had been imprisoned for British sympathies at the outbreak of the show. On arrival at the reception hall we found som fifty or sixty people, many of whom we’d met in the morning. As we entered the door someone said ‘Les Capitaines’ and everyone stood up until we had taken the seats of honour. We listened to numerous speeches, drank more arak and more coffee, and through the interpreter made our goodbyes, the mayor asking that we bring our troops as soon as possible.

It was the funniest experience I’ve ever had for we definitely forestalled any visitors and had all the limelight and glamour of Princes or ambassadors. It would have been just too bad if an officer had arrived while we were there – as it was we got our ears chewed a bit when we got back.

I’ve just been detailed for a job so must to to work.

Goodbye for the present – Love to May & Anne & regards to the boys

Your loving son

Max

We got our ears chewed

According to his diary, ‘The crowd were waiting for us to move out’ (see below – the move began at midday on the 15th). So there would have been quite a bit of frustration around their absence, I imagine….quite apart from the fact that they were clearly in a ‘no go’ zone.

The town : Machghara

In his diary, Dad mentioned that on their way down the valley, he and Pete ‘passed several machine gun posts blown out by our artillery – bloody good shooting’. This was where the artillery fire directed at D Company in the previous week had originated (see previous post – July 10 1941). In his later recollections, Dad named the town concerned as Machghara. The map (from The Footsoldiers) shows this town almost directly east of Jezzine, with D Company’s position between the two. A recent photo (by hajj1st) gives some idea of the terrain –

Publication of the story

When his mother received this letter, she decided to submit it for publication in the Australian Womens Weekly – which was more of a newspaper than the glossy magazine of recent times. There was a section called Letters From Our Boys where suitably edited items were shared. It seems the procedure involved firstly getting official approval from the Army. This letter is the most fragile int he collection, and had a slip pinned to it, indicating it had been left at the Barracks in Hobart –

The edited letter was published in the Weekly’s edition of September 13.

Years later, the Weekly’s version was also published in the book Digger by John Laffin.

With the conclusion of the show…

Extracts from The Footsoldiers:

With the Australian 21st and 17th Brigades’ success at Damour (on the coast – where they had received great support from the British Navy) aided by pressure by the 23rd and 30th British Brigades at Merdjayoun, and the 16th British Brigade and Free French at Jebel Mazar west of Damascus, the Vichy forces gave in. The British and Indian advances in the desert, the approach of the 4th British Cavalry Brigade to Homs, and the 20th and 21st Indian Army Brigades’ move on Aleppo helped persuade the enemy. The French accepted the terms of surrender laid down by GOC 1st Australian Corps, Lieut-General Lavarack. On the night of 11 July, orders were issued to cease fire…..The armistice was eventually signed at the ancient seaport of Acre …on 13 July. The agreement provided for the occupation of Syria by the Allies, the granting of full military honours to the French, and allowing any French to return to Algeria if they did not elect to some over to the Free French. The French were allowed to retain personal arms. The area of the Australian occupation was : 17th Brigade, Latakia; 21st Brigade, Tripoli; 25th Brigade, Beirut; all on the coast, north from Beirut, and on the western slopes of the Lebanon. At midday on 15 July, 7th Division units began moving forward to their positions for the occupation.

Posted in escapades, relaxation, fun and games, Middle East, organisation, The course of the war | Tagged feast, Machghara, Pete McCowan, Womens Weekly | Leave a comment

Surprising capture of a French sniper

Posted on July 10, 1941 by felicityh54

Written in pencil – barely legible (scan is much clearer than the actual document) – was not able to rotate image before inserting.

TX 1004

Pte M Hickman

2/33rd battalion

AIF Abroad

10th July 41

Dear Mother & Dad

I’ve had two very welcome letters from you during the last week. Thanks a lot for the stamps and casualty lists. They don’t waste much time getting them through do they. Ken should be on the road to recovery now though I suppose it will be some months before they send him home. Haven’t seen or heard anything of Dick Schultz but I fancy he’s been kept busy judging by the reports of his show. Our sections are in reserve at present and are resting on top of a seven thousand foot mountain – the one alongside us is nine thousand. The day we took up these positions we were paid and by way of a diversion the sergeant suggested a game of two up – so the dice (dina?) were produced but the diversion was short lived because the sergeant himself put an end to it by doing seven heads – and as he was well cashed at the start and backed himself to the limit, not only got all our pay but holds a mortgage on our pay books for some time to come. Later in the day the Brigade canteen truck came up and did the honours to the extent of a bottle of beer each – two bottles of gin and two of lime(?) between the section, but as I’m not at all partial to gin the others had that. He also brought a quantity of tinned fruit and other luxuries and for a couple of days we lived like lords.

Had a letter from Ivy and another from Jack yesterday – both very cheery epistles too, although the youngster still seems to be having a bad time. They both lamented the new petrol rationing. You never mention it in your letters, so I hope that means you’re getting plenty and not that you’re not using the car. It seems hard to imagine petrol rationing over there but I suppose the combined services must be using millions of gallons daily – or hourly for that matter.

Youngster told me all the political news and agrees with all the redoubtable Robert has to say but laments his apathy towards conscription – she was quite hot on the matter but that’s one thing that’ll never even be put to the vote. It wouldn’t get much support over here anyway and it would be rather futile to ask those who are staying home to vote (for) conscription.

So Larry’s on the way at last like the rest of us. I suppose he couldn’t get away soon enough but after he’s been away a few months the boot will be on the other foot. There’s nothing truer than the expression ‘you’ll be sorry’ though personally I’d like to see it through. Bad luck about Abe Herbert – any further news of him – he was with the twelfth I think.

Well that’s all for the present – excuse pencil.

Regards to all

Your loving son

Max

Diary June 28 – July 11

Sunday 29th [Footsoldiers account suggests this took place on Sat 28th]

Mortar attack at midday – kerosene tin in which boiling tea smashed to bits – at 7 o’clock runner brought word that we were being relieved by Tommies at dusk – sent down valley to meet them – about 700 yards from Kirbi – about nine 30 heard heel click on stone – turned to see French soldier about ten yards away. Started – called on him to stop. Frenchman surprised – before recovered had snatched his rifle from him – took bayonet and binoculars and brought him back to Kirbi – French sniper – my lucky day – little short of miracle I wasn’t shot because I didn’t have a rifle – advantage of surprise – card in pocket drawing of swastika and Vive Hitler –

Left Kirbi 3am [June 30?]- rested all day out of range- 9pm moved in night convoy away over roughest, steepest and windiest road ever seen – every inch a hazard

Tuesday 2nd [July]…[If Tuesday, was 1st July]

In Jezzine section. Most wonderful sight ever seen from 7000’ mountain – rugged country – small patches terraced and cultivated – many villages in distance – steam in valleys from coal seams – sea in distance – have never seen anything in any way comparable with this sight.

Wednesday 3rd [If Wed, was 2nd]

Major Wright OC Hqr Comp cancelled transfer to B Coy. Recalled carriers. Lieut Chapple takes over carriers – seems a decent fellow…. Section moves up to D Company – take up forward positions covering French positions – some good strafing by French 75’s.

Saturday & Sunday

Went back to Kafr Houn for two days patrol work. Wog barber achieves miracle of parting my hair.

Monday [7th]

Back to D company. Not much doing apart from artillery duels. Stayed till show finished on Saturday. Leo Earea went back with malaria on Friday after breaking the mob at two up.

Dick Schultz…being kept busy

The 2/31st was indeed busy, meeting plenty of resistance in their march north along the coast, and sustaining plenty of casualties – so the RAP where Dick as based, would certainly have been a hive of activity.

A game of two up

These games clearly happened often – in camps, at sea and apparently while in reserve. Although Dick Lewis said he was unaware of any orders about this, the Battalion’s ‘Routine Orders’ do list prohibitions, from time to time. This example is from 15 August 1941 …..Members of the AIF are forbidden to take part in any such game of ‘two up’. Taking part in the game includes ‘keeping the ring’ or being present at a ‘two up school’. Clearly, this order was not enforced.

The French sniper (ref Diary entry)

According to Dick Lewis, Dad made a point of NOT disclosing to the company commander that the Frenchman was a sniper – Dick said that if that were known, the man would have been shot.

Like keeping diaries, the keeping of ‘enemy material’ was in fact forbidden. The 25th Brigade Admin Instruction no.5 of 12 July 1941, advises – Kit inspections will be arranged by units and any articles of enemy material discovered will be passed on to salvage. It will be an offence for personnel to hold enemy equipment or weapons. (Brigade diary for July/ August 1941 – http://static.awm.gov.au/images/collection/bundled/RCDIG1024943.pdf)

Photos of the Frenchman’s binoculars : Now owned by one of Dad’s grandsons, my nephew Stephen Hickman

The move to the Jezzine sector

According to The Footsoldiers, the night move began at 1830 hours on June 30….The column moved off, led by the CO’s vehicle, followed by the carriers. All windscreens had long since been removed from the vehicles and all driving was to be without lights. The column was slow and tight packed. …So bad were the twists and U bends that even the 15-cwt Fords had to turn and back up to negotiate the turns. At 0100 on 1 July just south of Rihane the column stopped for a rest and all fell on the roadside and went to sleep…..At dawn on 1 July we were off again. It was a bright, clear day, and all enjoyed the exhilarating mountain air….so high up were we that the early morning clouds were 500 feet below us….At noon the convoy stopped a mile north of Kafr Houn (Brigade HQ) and the battalion debussed. Throughout the afternoon, a few by marching, most by shuttle service of unit vehicles, the companies and platoons moved up into the localities of the 2/14th battalion……In D Company, the move from the road head in the rear of the company locality took five hours, climbing 3800 feet to reach their positions. All arrived sweating and dog tired….

Image – from The Footsoldiers

However pleased we were that we were not taking part in any attacks, the days were dangerous and gruelling. At dawn and dusk, patrols were continually going out…The nights were bitterly cold and the high mountain winds swept about us as we lay in the rock singers on the high mountain tops. The French maintained a constant watch on movement and any at all would bring down a concentration of 100 shells or more. At first light, noon, and at stand-to at dusk, all the company positions would be blasted with upwards of 250 shells. We should set out watches by the bombardments….Throughout the period 1 July up until the orders to cease fire at midnight on 11 July, no great activity was undertaken by the battalion…..

Not much doing…apart from artillery duels

From The Footsoldiers: D Company…did not move from its positions from 1 July until the surrender, and thus becalm a regular target for the French beyond Machrhara. Upwards of 500 shells a day landed in and about this company’s locality. After 7 July it became so accurate that the platoons were withdrawn to reverse slope positions….18 platoon was on the ester me right flank…sitting on Toumat and looking down and back to Jezzine or east to Machrhara….

‘The Mad Mile’, Jezzine, Lebanon 1941, William Dargie, 1970.

[Oil on canvas, AWM ART27683] – Vehicles had to run the gauntlet of French fire to maintain supplies to troops around Jezzine.

Petrol Rationing

A detailed description of the reasons for the rationing scheme and the government’s difficulties in implementing it can be found at https://www.awm.gov.au/journal/j36/petrol.asp According to this article, there were cuts to private motorists’ rations in April 1941, and again in June: The position was so critical by 11 June 1941 that the Minister told Cabinet that it was now “open to question” whether petrol rationing should be placed under Army control. Cabinet rejected this drastic solution and the Prime Minister announced on 17 June 1941 that private motorists’ rations would be cut to 1,000 miles per year

Image : from the collection of Museum Victoria

Sheet of four Victorian Motor Spirit Ration Tickets, each for 2 gallons. Dimensions: 120mm (height) x 82mm (width). These may date to 1941 when 2 gallon tickets were printed in blue. These tickets were produced by the Note Printing Branch of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Conditions state: This ticket must be endorsed in ink by consumer with name, licence number and vehicle registration number. Petrol ration tickets were first issued in October 1940.

(museumvictoria.com.au/collections/items/1328498)

Service for a lucky motorist with ration tickets

But there weren’t too many of them in Hobart….

However, some novel solutions were implemented:

In this case – Coal was loaded into the top and then a fire was started beneath it, producing coal gas which then powered the car.

All of the above three images are from the book – Hobart at War 1939 to 45 – Photographs from the archives of The Mercury annotated by C J Dennison

Conscription

A letter sent to the editors of the (Melbourne) Age, the (Brisbane) Courier Mail and the Sydney Morning Herald expresses the views of a member of the South Australian Legislative Council, in support of conscription:

http://www.samemory.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?c=4756&mode=singleImage

Posted in Australian, gambling and drinking, Middle East, Uncategorized | Tagged conscription, DIck Schultz, French sniper, Leo Earea, petrol rationing, two up | Leave a comment

The first important lesson-to keep the head down

Posted on June 28, 1941 by felicityh54

TX 1004

Pte M Hickman

2/33rd Battalion

AIF

Abroad

28th. 6. 41

Dear Mother and Dad

Just a few lines hoping they find you happy and well as I am at present. I have had three letters during this week. Two of them rather old but very interesting. The one you wrote me on New Years Day and a very bright cheery epistle written by Audrey as secretary for Maxwell Osborne. I was quite surprised to read in both letters that Brian Phillips was in Scotland last year. I suppose he’s a full fledged Lieutenant now. Though it never occurred to me at the time he may have been on the same ship as young Roy Cazaly and the other navy chaps I met in Edinburgh on my leave. Audrey also mentioned that Max had tried to join up but that the department wouldn’t release him. She didn’t think they would hold back for long though, so he might be in now. I was very amused with one extract of her letter in which she spoke of her brother Geoff who is a WO in an AMC unit in Palestine. She said Geoff had a wonderful knack of making friends with the natives and was quite friendly with the mayor of a village who sent him fruit and roses every day. Of course you would hardly appreciate the joke but to those who are here it’s a highlight.

You remember me telling you some time back that old Claude Hill had been reboarded and might be sent back home. Well, one of the chaps who’s just come up from the ITB said he hasn’t gone yet but his back is very bad. He said Ken Jenkins’ arm has gone on him and though he may be here some time is almost certain to be sent home too. I guess that will suit Ken because he’s been very homesick.

I didn’t know till now that I’m allowed to tell you that I’ve been in action for three weeks. We’ve been in training so long that when we struck the real thing it was just like a large scale manoeuvre, except that the bullets were lead and not wood and I think I can say I’ve learned the first important lesson – to keep the head down. Have taken part both in reception committees and as guests of honour in the front seats on the platform. I think most of the chaps have lost their enthusiasm for soldiering purely as an adventure and have now one desire – to get back home. The symphony created by the many and varied projectiles had a far more pleasant sound through the radio or the talkies than in its actual presence and I’m not too proud to say I’ve acquired a new respect for mother earth and have even found a bush of thorns more comforting than a cushion. It is hard to describe how keen one’s faculties become when the air rings with a variety of noises, each of which has a deadly intention. The screech of bombs, the whistle of mortars, the swi-ish of shrapnel, the whirr of fighter aircraft and the drone of the bombers. The Ha-Ha-Ha’s of the Vickers and the rat-tat-tat of the Bren and the chippity chop of the Hotchiss together with the ping of rifle fire combine to produce a keenness that would be beyond the imagination of any who had not been amongst it – and through it all there runs a vein of humour that is the mainstay of individual and collective endurance. Its amazing the limits to which human endurance can reach. Men who in England have piqued on a twenty five mile route march have under pressure of circumstances stood up to three weeks intense campaigning in some of the most rugged country of the world, often without food and with very little water. Every Australian soldier can well be proud of the uniform they wear. The officers almost to a man gave excellent account of themselves and the men have acquired a very wholesome respect for them.

In a week or so’s time we may get a little leave or at least be near a town and if so I’ll try and get you a birthday present Mother – It’ll be a little late but you’ll understand won’t you. I’ve got a few bob in my pay book and may even be able to get Jack and Lil a belated wedding present.

The situation in Europe is clarifying itself somewhat and I think there’s every reason to hope that the war will be over by Christmas. The Russian venture must surely end Hitler’s march and I don’t think the moneyed interests are strong enough to prolong this war once the peoples of the world decide to finish it. What a chaos Europe will be when it’s all over and all because of one man. If ever a man earned the torments of the damned it’s Hitler.

In the present Mother & Dad I’ll say cheerio. My love to May & Anne & regards to the boys.

Your loving son

Max

PS (added at the top of page 1) – I have written several letters but of course don’t know how they’ve fared.

Censor : Gordon Bennett

Diary entries

Tuesday 24th

Attached B company – with them as flank support in taking Kirbi – later in day sent out on foot to bring in carrier – subjected to mortar and machine gun attack. Three days just supporting rifle company.

Friday 27th

Transferred to B Coy 10 platoon. Took over Kirbi position – subjected to worst shelling of campaign. Two killed, one wounded in night bombardment

This entry does not correspond with any action or casualty description in The Footsoldiers, so the details will have to remain a mystery

Telling the family what they want to hear

Clearly, Audrey Phillips’ brother was also focussed on keeping his family’s spirits up – it would be wonderful for his sister to be told that the local head man was regularly sending him fruit and roses!

Later memories : A near death experience!

In a piece Dad wrote in the 1970’s he shares another incident from this time:

Another incident I recall occurred when the French forces mounted a counter offensive and regained some of the territory we and taken. Our top echelon assumed they might try a further push. Minefields were laid to impede any further advance. I was sent with a Bren gun to take up a position forward of where the mines were being laid. When the engineer officer and his assistant had laid all the mines they had, the officer said “We will look after the Bren. You go back down to the depot and tell the sergeant to send up more mines”. I don’t know why he didn’t send his assistant. Anyway, without questioning the order, I went along the road toward the depot and had nearly reached it when I stopped to light a cigarette, A voice yelled ‘Keep coming’ and I found myself looking into four loaded rifles. I said ‘What the hell’s wrong with you lot?’ They said ‘Who are you?’. Of course, when I told them everything was alright, but as one of them said, when you have pushed twice in as many days you get a bit trigger happy, and as no-one knew me, I was probably a bit lucky.

From The Footsoldiers : B Company’s activities

The operational order for the attack on Ibeles Saki was issued at 1910 hours on 22 June…..Once there, command of the roads and surrounds should ensure the capture of Merdjayoun. The Little Pimple, C Company’s objective, was an essential preliminary….As a feint to attract the enemy’s attention away from the Pimple fighting, B company was ordered to capture Kheibe. At 0600 hours [on June 23] Lieutenant Marshall’s 10 platoon supported by two carriers advanced….succeeding in entering Kheibe without a shot being fired by either side. It appeared the French had withdrawn from the area. However, while 10 platoon was preparing its defence position, mortars and MG’s suddenly opened fire from then direction of Ibeles Saki, but caused no casualties….From the morning of 25 June until the relief of the battalion on the night of 28/29, A, D and B companies remained in contact with the French…..10 platoon remained at Kheibe, actively patrolling north and getting fired on from French positions about Rachaya al Fokhar.

Note – In some accounts, the town name Kheibe is spelled Khirbe. (closer to Dad’s Kirbi)

Gordon Bennett

Captain Bennett (WX335) was at this time CO of B Company. He served with the unit throughout the war and was awarded the MC. On two occasions he assumed administrative command of the battalion.

Weapons

According to The Footsoldiers, the battalion had four rifle companies each with three sections. The section leader carried a Thompson sub-machine gun, with a member with a Bren LMG (light machine gun), with a no.2 to help carry magazines……At platoon HQ’s was a five-foot long Boyes anti-tank rifle…..Also at platoon HQ were two men, no. 1 and 2, who carried and fired the 500 yard range two-inch mortar and carried twelve bombs….As part of BHQ there was also an Ack Ack (anti-aircraft) platoon…..No. 3 Mortar Platoon, the CO’s immediate close support ‘guns’ consisted of two sections each of two three-inch mortars, each mortar named as a detachment. It fired a 10lb bomb with a range of 1100 yards…..

There is no mention here of Vickers or ‘Hotchiss’ guns. However, as the Battalion was fighting alongside British Rifle companies, it seems possible that Dad would be familiar with their weapons.

Bren (LMG)

The Bren Gun, usually called simply the Bren, was a series of light machine guns adopted by Britain in the 1930s and used in various roles until 1992. … best known for its role as the British and Commonwealth forces’ primary infantry light machine gun (LMG) in World War II….Although fitted with a bipod, it could also be mounted on a tripod or vehicle-mounted.

The Bren was a modified version of Czechoslovak-designed light machine guns, the ZB vz. 26 and its descendants, which British Army officials had tested during a firearms service competition in the 1930s. The later Bren featured a distinctive top-mounted curved box magazine, conical flash hider and quick change barrel. The name Bren was derived from Brno, Moravia, the Czechoslovak city where the Zb vz. 26 was originally designed and Enfield, site of the British Royal Small Arms Factory. (ref Wikipedia)

Photo :

Indian troops manning a Bren light machine gun in an anti-aircraft mount in 1941.

Vanderson W G (Lt), No. 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit – This is photograph E 2502 from the collections of the Imperial War Museums.

Vickers (MMG)

The Vickers medium machine gun (MMG) or Vickers gun is a name primarily used to refer to the water-cooled .303 British (7.7 mm) machine gun produced by Vickers Limited, originally for the British Army. The machine gun typically required a six to eight-man team to operate: one fired, one fed the ammunition, the rest helped to carry the weapon, its ammunition and spare parts.^[1] It was in service from before the First World War until the 1960s (ref Wikipedia)

Photo info:

Laing (Sgt), No 5 Army Film & Photographic Unit Post-Work: User:W.wolny – This is photograph B 10144 from the collections of the Imperial War Museums (collection no. 4700-29)

Vickers machine-guns of 2nd Middlesex Regiment, 3rd Division, fire in support of troops crossing the Maas-Schelde Canal at Lille-St. Hubert (St Huilbrechts), 20 September 1944. Two interesting features are that the troops are wearing MK III British “Turtle” helmets, which were introduced shortly before D-Day. Additionally, the gunners are firing at long-range targets, as shown by the extreme elevation of the barrels

Boys anti-tank rifle (mentioned in The Footsoldiers)

The Rifle, Anti-Tank, .55in, Boys commonly known as the “Boys Anti-tank Rifle” (or incorrectly “Boyes”), was a British anti-tank rifle in use during World War II. It was often nicknamed the “elephant gun” by its users due to its size and large bore. (ref Wikipedia)

Photo info :

The British Army in France 1939-40 Men of the Royal Irish Fusiliers on the march at Gavrelle, near Arras, 17 October 1939. The two men in the foreground are carrying a Boys anti-tank rifle.

Keating G (Lt), War Office official photographer – http://media.iwm.org.uk/iwm/mediaLib//48/media-48013/large.jpg This is photograph O 758 from the collections of the Imperial War Museums.

Thompson sub-machine gun

The Thompson submachine gun (nicknamed the Thompson) is an American submachine gun, invented by John T. Thompson in 1918….The Thompson was used in World War II in the hands of Allied troops as a weapon for scouts, non-commissioned officers (corporal, sergeant, and higher ranking), and patrol leaders as well as commissioned officers, tank crewmen, and soldiers performing raids on German positions. (ref Wikipedia)

Photo – AAWM 020779 – 9th Div soldiers at Tobruk using Thompson sub-machine guns

Hotchkiss guns

The 25 mm Hotchkiss anti-tank gun was a French anti-tank gun that saw service in the first years of the Second World War….When the British Expeditionary Force landed in France in 1939 it had insufficient numbers of anti-tank weapons such as the Ordnance QF 2 pounder. They were issued canons de 25 which became known as Anti-Tank Gun, 25 mm. Hotchkiss, Mark I on 25 mm. Carriage, Mark I in British service. The BEF was fully mechanised and attempted to tow the weapon behind their vehicles, but quickly found that it was not robust enough, having been designed to be towed by horses. The solution was to use the gun as a portee, that is, carried in the back of a truck. It was the first artillery piece to be used in this way. (ref Wikipedia)

The British Army in France 1940 Men of 2nd Battalion Essex Regiment load a Hotchkiss 25mm SA 34 anti-tank gun onto the back of a Bedford MWG Portee, Meurchin, 27 April 1940. Malindine E G (Lt), Taylor E A (Lt), War Office official photographer – http://media.iwm.org.uk/iwm/mediaLib//47/media-47888/large.jpg This is photograph F 4120 from the collections of the Imperial War Museums.

Hotchkiss .303 LMG

Since first publishing this entry, I have discovered that there was in fact also a Hotchkiss .303 LMG in use by Australian troops, and this seems the most likely one for Dad to have been referring to. (It seems unlikely that the anti-tank gun would have produced a chippity-chop sound). According to the book – 100 years of Australian Service Machine Guns (Ian Skennerton, 1989) – the Hotchkiss .303 LMG remained in limited service until the 2nd World War; it was declared obsolescent and obsolete at the same time as the Lewis (April 1945). Its main issue was to the Light Horse and after their disbandment it was relegated to the 2nd line and Home Defence use.

Posted in organisation, The course of the war, Uncategorized | Tagged Brian Phillips, Claude Hill, counter attack, Hitler, in action, Ken Jenkins, Kheibe, Khirbe, patrolling, Roy Cazaly, Russia | Leave a comment

We’ve been busy lately but are having a bludge today

Posted on June 21, 1941 by felicityh54

TX 1004

Priv M Hickman

2/33rd Battalion

AIF Abroad

21st June 1941

Dear Mother & Dad

Just a line or two hoping to find you happy and well as I am at the moment though rather tired. We’ve been very busy lately but are having a bludge today. I’ve had quite a number of letters lately – on Sunday after I had written you and Youngster I received two long cheery letters from Youngster and Mrs Toomey and another card from Mrs Laird. Then on Thursday came your letter with the cheering news that you were leaving the next day for Melbourne. I certainly hope you had a good time mother – it’s a pity dad couldn’t have gone over at the same time, especially with both Ivy and Bill on holiday. I’ll bet the youngster was pleased to see you- she’s been looking forward to your going over for months. She told me in her last letter that she’s still being treated by doctors. It’s a pity she won’t leave the office especially now she has a house and seems very wrapped up in her garden. I’m rather afraid Youngster was endowed with too much brain and not enough horse sense. She’s a lot too conscientious about her work and conscientious people never get anywhere.

Sorry to hear that the boys have been crook and hope they have completely recovered now. I’m afraid you feed them too well – they want more work and less meat.

That house in Park Street is an increasing source of worry dad. If there’s a market for that type of place I’d get shot of it. There seems to be a hoodoo on it. What’s the cause of the shortage of houses? One would rather expect the opposite with so many away. By the way how are Rennies coming up to it? If they weaken at all show the B’s no mercy – get the boot in and get it in hard.

Your mention of David Menzie’s birthday certainly shows how time is flying. It only seems the other day that I was at the wedding and here’s David four years old. According to a certain pessimistic prophet in our outfit the war won’t end till 1952 so I suppose by then David will be driving one of Ben’s trucks.

Though you may know more of our doings than we do, I’m not permitted to write you of our whereabouts or doings at present and may be able to tell you the story later on. One thing I think I can mention was a visit a couple of us paid to an old Saracen fort that must be anything up to two thousand years old. We were in the vicinity and another chap and I got permission to go and look the place over. It was a long walk or should I say a long climb but we were well rewarded for our trouble. The side from which we approached was the only one where there was an entrance. The other three walls were built sheer up from the sides of a precipice and how the dickens they ever got the huge cut stone – some of them must weigh ten tons – into position, beats me. The fortress covers an area of about three acres – a high fortress and lookout at each end with a big battlements in the centre around which are numerous positions that in a modern scheme would be gun emplacements but were I suppose catapult positions. Though most of it is in a state of decay there’s still some fine stone arches and circular stone work. The lookout positions command a marvellous view of the rugged country in these parts studded here and there with native villages, along the sides of the valleys are multitudes of caves and way down in the olive groves the natives can be seen moving like convoys on donkeys, horses & mules from village to village.

Dick Schultz has been very busy lately. Ack Hallam has gone to hospital with a crook knee – got to have a cartilage taken out or something and Ray Ross and Barclay were both hurt. McDonnell is alright.

My wallet is getting too full to carry around so I’m going to send some of the photos home. The chap in the photo is Charlie Mene a Thursday Island chap and a fine fellow too. Since the little turn we put on in Durban he always refers to me as ‘my best fren’. When we were at Gaza camp he got me to go with him and have that taken.

The ration card was the one issued when we went on six day leave but there wasn’t a shortage of food in Scotland so it wasn’t necessary.

Youngster told me in her letter that both she and May are knitting socks. I hope they haven’t sent them because I’ve got too many now considering our lack of accommodation for personal gear. As a matter of fact Mother there’s really nothing I’m wanting.

(final para written on page 1) – As you’ll gather from this ramble there isn’t much news I can write you so for present will say cheerio. Regards to the Boys.

Your loving son

Max

Censor – K Lawson

Diary June 16 – 21

Tuesday 17th

Leo’s section again attached C Coy. at Banias expecting attack. Fusiliers surrounded & captured. I was sent on reconnaissance to Saracen fortress – two miles inside enemy territory – very interesting. Attached to Engineers at night. Ack Hallam & Graham Watts do tricky job with Cavalry

20th

Leo’s section attached to Hqrs for four days – nothing very interesting though bombs dropped very close. New CO takes over from Killer Monaghan – Corby – Victorian – seems business man type – came and made himself known – asked our names in business man style.

Making sense of the diary entries (italics from The Footsoldiers)

Tuesday 17th

Leo Earea’s section was indeed attached to C Company: they were not at Banias. But it’s possible that Dad’s diary entry referred to his being one of the carriers sent back to Banias with Captain Cotton’s A company ‘to watch the rear and the road to Kuneitra’…. Both A and D companies occupied the hills just forward of Banias for the period June 18-23 and carried out patrols into the hills to the north. The account below (‘more on the Saracen fort’) certainly indicates that he was with Captain Cotton at this time.

The incident with the Fusiliers took place on June 15:

The French attack on the Merdjayoun sector had been part of a co-ordinated attack on two of the main Allied axes of advance, with a subsidiary attack at Jezzine. On our right sector the French had defeated the British and Free French, capturing nearly all the Royal Fusiliers, and had approached the Palestinian border thirty miles to our rear….

Tricky job with the Cavalry

Following the ‘rout’ of French cavalry on June 16 (described in the previous post), about sixty of the French Foreign Legion’s Arab horses were rounded up and handed over to the 6th Cavalry who later used them ‘for patrols on the right flank, ranging far and wide up into the low foothills of Mt Hermon and the eastern approaches. They were code-named The Kelly Gang.’ I wonder if Ack Hallam and Graham Watts might have been involved in one of these patrols.

Members of the French Foreign Legion’s Spahi cavalry (photo from The Footsoldiers)

Friday 20th : A New CO

Lt-Col Monaghan had been with the battalion for a very short time, but his methods were causing concern: On 19 June Lt-Col Monaghan was transferred …to his old regiment the 2/2nd Anti Tank. The new CO (was) Lt-Col J A Corby, a Victorian…Although Colonel Monaghan’s methods of commanding the battalion from the sharp end were admired by those that saw him, most agreed that perhaps there would be less worry at BHQ. Lt-Col MOnaghan’s bold methods of distributing the battalion far and wide, beyond its communication and supplies, no doubt kept the French guessing but also had caused much war and tear on the unit. His disconcerting habit of breathing down the necks of platoon officers and Bren gunners when in action certainly kept all on their toes but many the worry the adjutant had when he could not find the CO. (from The Footsoldiers)

More on the Saracen fort : as per diary – sent on reconnaissance, rather than being ‘given permission to look the place over’!

http://www.biblewalks.com/Sites/Nimrod.html

The Nimrod Fortress is located on a cliff, high above Banias. The frontier fortress guarded the main road from Damascus to Tyre and Tiberias during the Crusades. In fact it was built around 1228 by the nephew of Salah ad Din [Saladdin]– Al Aziz Uthman – in order to guard the route to Damascus and prevent the advancement of the Crusader army led by Friedrich II.

In a piece written during the early 1970’s, Dad wrote of this incident –

…the group to which I belonged was attached to A Company at that time commanded by Captain T W Cotton who was later to become the commanding officer of the battalion and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and the Military Cross. Captain Cotton instructed our platoon commander to send two men to reconnoitre the high ground immediately in front of our position. This involved climbing a hill – I suppose a small mountain would be more correct – that overlooked a wide area of countryside. The prospect looked exciting. I volunteered and suggested that a chap named Wally Sonntag, a West Australian who in civilian life was a school teacher, might care to join us. We were given a very pistol and cartridges or different colours which were to be fired under varying circumstances. We did not carry rifles or any means of offence or defence.

After somewhat more than an hour’s climb, we reached the summit of the hill and to our wonder and amazement found it surmounted by a fortress built in ancient times. The manner in which it had been constructed was fascinating, reflecting remarkable engineering skills. Huge blocks of stone, some of which must have weighed at least a tonne, were bonded together. On three sides of the fortress the blocks of stone were bonded in such a way as to be practically perpendicular to a height of fifteen metres. The fourth side was constructed in such a way as to give limited access whilst still retaining a defensive role. At the top of these constructions there was a reasonably level area surrounded by a parapet wall. We could well imagine the area being used to hurl stones or other deterrents at attacking forces.

It was a really fascinating experience. We probably spent more time exploring the fortress than we should have done, but we did note for the purpose of the exercise the possible positions of enemy forces in the immediate and more distant olive groves and also the continuous stream of local people moving away from the area when we got back to the campsite and relayed the information we’d been sent to obtain. I don’t know whether it affected the course of the campaign.

SONY DSC

This photo gives an idea of the commanding view of the surroundings that Dad and Wally must have had.

Photo source:

http://ukmediawatch.org/2012/06/22/postcard-from-israel-kalat-nimrod/

Posted in Hierarchy, Middle East, organisation, Uncategorized | Tagged Ack Hallam, Banias, Captain Cotton, Charlie Mene, Col Corby, Col Monaghan, David Menzie, DIck Schultz, Ivy Drysdale, Saracen fort | Leave a comment

Peaceful prelude to dramatic evacuation

Posted on June 15, 1941 by felicityh54

TX 1004

Pte M L Hickman

2/33 Battn AIF

Sunday 15th June 41

Dear Mother

Just a few lines from the shade of a fig tree hoping to find you, dad and the boys as happy and well as I am at present. It is a typical Sunday morning and a cloak of peace masks the valley where for the moment we have come to camp. In the distance the church bells of the Catholic churches can be heard and but for the unceasing attacks of flies it would be a delightful spot. Like Queensland this is the land of pests – for fleas and flies one never rests.

Your letter of the 28th April came up on Tuesday night along with a parcel from Youngster. The circumstances of their arrival were really melodramatic and that made them all the more appreciated. We were near the top of a rugged mountain almost dwarfed by giant boulders when the ration truck with its cargo of bully beef and concrete biscuits arrived and with it the postman. Everyone was amazed when with our box of rations came a bag of mail – mostly papers but very welcome just the same. The cake the youngster had sent for my birthday would have found favour at any time but after living for days on Bully – well it was wonderful, and to the tune of a 1941 dinner music programme we went to work on it. The letter must have been held up somewhere but it made good reading for all that and explained how young Trevor came by his accident.

Three or four days earlier I had a small parcel – a neat little packet containing a piece of Jack and Lil’s wedding cake. Though the cake had become hard through long travel – nearly five months – I enjoyed every crumb of it and appreciated the sentiment with it – arriving when it did I took it as a particularly good omen. There’s no doubt about old skin, he’s the best fellow I’ve ever known and I’ve wished a thousand times that he and Weddy had been here or at least with me when in England. I’m rather surprised at Rex joining a non-combatant unit – just what do they do – I’m sure there’s none of them over here – I’ve heard of them but that’s about as far as we know them.

There’s been quite a chapter of accidents this week – one of our carriers got smashed up and the officer got hurt – nothing serious but there it is. There’s been quite a series of accidents throughout the battalion too.

Since I last wrote you we’ve travelled still further afield and added a variety of new pages to the history of the battalion. To the cavalcade of unforgettable scenes is a road considered to be one of the seven wonders of the world. The thrills of Mount Wellington and the Gormanston- Queenstown road fade to insignificance beside this masterpiece of civil engineering. Climbing an incline almost as sheer as the organ pipes it banks at the corners like a speedway. As it was dark when we did the trip we were unable to appreciate fully the wonders of this unique enterprise but the light and shade effects of the moon and clouds in the clefts and ridges added mystery to the charm and sensation of the crossing – at times the carrier appeared to be hanging in space as we negotiated bends banked at angles of sixty degrees – at such times looking down over the sheerness the road resembled cotton on a reel and both above and below us the other units of the convoy were like knots in the thread. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite so magnificent and I should like to see it sometime in the daylight though I doubt very much if we shall pass that way again The countryside in which we are now living is the most rugged I’ve ever seen – more so even than the lake country – there is scarcely any growth on the mountains at all although the small valleys are well cultivated and there are quite a number of vineyards – a few olive groves and some fig trees.

It’s about a fortnight since I last saw Dick. He was on his way to a village to get by any means some souvenirs to send home. That set and gloves you mentioned in your letter were gifts (Christmas) from his boss -the MO and a friend in Colchester – so that tells you how he stands there, when the boss buys him a Christmas present- and at that time he was only a private. The corporals and sergeant weren’t even mentioned.

Well Mother as you’ll gather from this letter news is very scarce so I’ll say cheerio for the present – regards to all my friends and love to you, dad, May and Anne.

Your loving son

Max

…..No censor signature (likewise, June 5)

Diary entry – June 15 – Contrast with the letter!

Take up positions in support Greys.”Ibeles-saki”. Intense bombardment 75’s & mortars. Had evacuate in evening under machine gun fire and anti tank fire. Ned left. two gunners V Abel & Ted Fleming got out in Artillery truck. Dredge showed up bad at time but has been alright at others.

Map – same as in last post….

From The Footsoldiers – movements shown for June 8/9, but map repeated here so place names can be identified.

Jack and Lil’s wedding cake – a good omen

This arrived on the day the Battalion began its move towards the border…so the feeling of its arrival being auspicious is understandable.

Letters and parcel arrive in ‘melodramatic’ circumstances

Dad says he was ‘near the top of a rugged mountain’: his diary and The Footsoldiers combine to suggest this was somewhere near Khiam/ Fort Khiam. It’s interesting that the supply truck could reach them, but D company (which was not far away waiting for enemy fire from Ibeles Saki to be neutralised by that of the 2/25th Battalion) had to wait until midday on Wednesday June 11th for a donkey train to bring them rations, water and ammunition.

I don’t understand the reference to ‘a 1941 dinner music programme’. Readers’ thoughts most welcome!

Photo – donkey train (from The Footsoldiers)

Quite a series of accidents throughout the battalion

The previous post refers to some of these – the battalion was involved in fierce fighting and men were being killed and wounded on a daily basis, culminating in a day of intense fighting on June 15 – suggesting Dad’s diary entry was more accurate than his letter. The OC of the carrier platoon, Lieut Barclay had even been accidentally shot in the arm by one of his own men.

Dad mentions in his diary on June 12, being attached to the engineers – which quite possibly means he was on that day involved in supporting those who were re-building a bridge across the Litani River, south-west of Merjayoun – a vital link to Jezzine.

Photo – replacing the bridge across the Litani River – from Active Service

It is clear from Bill Crooks’ account in The Footsoldiers that the Carriers were deployed in many reconnaissance and other support roles, so Dad could have been involved peripherally in any of the actions described there. However, assuming he was with the bridge builders and that he was then by June 15 supporting ‘the (Scots) Greys’, he would have spent that Sunday moving towards and then retreating ahead of the Vichy forces’ counter-attack. This was a many-pronged action, and resulted in the Battalion becoming quite dispersed. Communication difficulties continued, so in some cases small sections rather than whole companies faced the enemy. There were a number of situations that would have matched his diary entry – of intense bombardment and an evacuation under machine gun and anti tank fire.

It is hard to imagine how the scene described in his letter could have been experienced on the same day – I can only imagine that he was writing his letter very early in the morning! (This was indeed the case – refer to letter of July 31)

The next day – June 16 – the dramatic encounter depicted on the cover of The Footsoldiers (below) took place. Vichy forces – a squadron of French cavalry who had dismounted – were attacking the 2/33rd’s C company, dug in on high ground below the town of Rachaya el Fokhar. B Company, fortunately passing en route to Bmeriq, approached unseen from behind the French forces. In summary, as reported in The Footsoldiers – ‘it was a rout’.

As this replica newspaper front page demonstrates, the Australian public knew the AIF was involved in the Syria campaign, but just as with the troops themselves, the public were being told that there was ‘hope that the British advance will not develop into a military operation’. As indicated in the previous post (start of the Syria campaign) this hope was ill-founded.

The road to Rosh Pinna

From The Footsoldiers: The main approach to the frontier from Er Rama was by road, a distance of thirty five miles. The road rose 1400 feet in sharp curves first, then after three miles, dropped 1300 feet in two miles to Rosh Pinna. From Rosh Pinna the road followed the western edge of the malarial-infested Hula marshes. During daylight and at night if vehicles used lights the whole approaches through this salient would be observed from the frontier foothills of Syria. That was why the movement to the frontier had to be done by night without lights….

Photos online don’t suggest a road that’s any more hair-pinned than the notorious ’99 bends’ of the road between Gormanston and Queenstown on Tasmania’s west coast, or even the road up Mount Wellington on the outskirts of Hobart – but of course Dad would never have travelled those roads in a carrier, at night, without any lights!

Posted in Middle East, parcels, The course of the war, Uncategorized | Tagged casualties, convoy, DIck Schultz, Ibeles Saki, Jack Chandler, olive groves, Rex Wedd, roads | Leave a comment

The Syria campaign begins

Posted on June 12, 1941 by felicityh54

War diary : first week of the Syria campaign – June 1941 Friday 6th Left Er Rama at 11pm, travelled about 20 miles – very interesting road – one of the seven wonders of the world – marvellous engineering – at times poised like tomb Mahomet – made camp within a few miles of border – received package – wedding cake (Jack & Lill) Sunday 8th 1am reveille – entered Syrian territory at 5am at Banias – Bluey Webb killed – 1st cas under heavy shell fire 9th attached C company at Banias – Hold down position 11th Khiam – heavy battle in rocks – mortars and seventy fives rain hell on us – Barclay received bullet wound 12th Ned Turner section out on patrol – sniper opened fire – gunner(?) and NCO’s take up positions. NT gets shits, clears away with two carriers leaving Ted Fleming, Len Woodlock & B Cole. Later picked up by F Dredge – Doc’s section go through mine field – Ray Ross carrier blown up – Ray shattered eardrum goes back to hospital. My carrier attached Engineers…. The Syria campaign – from Active Service – the background, and the start of the campaign (Note that this was written during the war ) Mid-summer of 1941 found a portion of the AIF engaged with British, Indian and Free French forces, in wresting Syria from Vichy control. There were abundant signs that German influence had seeped into Iran and Iraq to an extent that menaced our cause in the Middle East. Those mandated territories and portions of the French colonial empire still held by the administration and troops loyal to Petain’s government at Vichy were everywhere dangerous to us. German success in the Balkans had created enemy bases in the Eastern Mediterranean. It was only a step from here to Syria. Control of the oil pipelines and the oil fields of Iran, the isolation of Turkey and the preparation of a drive through Palestine: these were some of the strategic possibilities that could have been developed by the Nazis. The ground-work of intrigue and bribery had been prepared. Syrian aerodromes had already been used by Axis military planes. The next and familiar phase of infiltration by ‘technicians’ had begun. Intervention by the Allies could no longer be delayed….. By far the most powerful element on the Vichy side was the terrain. Apart from a narrow coastal fringe of plain, which in some parts was no more than three hundred yards wide, the way of our advance into Syria and the Lebanon could only be through mountainous country….All routes from the south were commanded by steep hillsides and knolls of which the defence could – and did – make full use. Precipitous ravines made the cross-country use of vehicles and Bren carriers impossible in many areas….the defence was cleverly disposed. Enemy artillery followed the movement of our troops with such precision that the presence behind our lines of spies with signalling facilities was suspected. Measures were taken to suppress this. Our infantry continued to pouch into the hills, seeking always for a line of approach to close quarters. Whenever possible, the enemy evaded these moves, skilfully withdrawing his guns to another position and preparing for another phase of the delaying action. His troops fulfilled the expectation that they had no heart for the campaign. Their professional honour and the tradition of their service summoned up an instinctive effort.

SONY DSC

Photo gives some idea of the terrain…. http://ukmediawatch.org/2012/06/22/postcard-from-israel-kalat-nimrod/ map – June 8/9 – locations mentioned in diary and The Footsoldiers extracts are shown here…

Banias (from Wikipedia) Banias is the Arabic and modern Hebrew name of an ancient town that developed around a spring once associated with the Greek god Pan. The spring is located at the foot of Mount Hermon in the north of the Golan Heights and constitutes one of the main sources of the Jordan River. The archaeologists have uncovered here a shrine dedicated to Pan and related deities, and the remains of an ancient city founded sometime after the conquest by Alexander the Great, and mentioned under the name of Caesarea Philippi by the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. …Attached C Company at Banias (8/9)…and later Khiam (10/11) According to The Footsoldiers – After C company had successfully captured Banias by noon on 8 June, two of the company’s platoons….with a section of our carriers, had remained in the area, scouting the flanks and road beyond Banias, until relieved by a section of 6th Division Cavalry….At 0600 hours on 10 June the two platoons embussed in unit vehicles and were moved up to Fort Khiam. Here they took up positions on the high ground south of the village. …On 11 June both platoons advanced along the line of the right of the village protecting the open flank whilst A Company cleared the houses. After A Company had advanced out and onto the walls area facing out to Little Pimple, C company occupied the haystack area and patrolled out into the olive groves and beyond into the ravines and gullies above the plateau to the east.

AWM 008210 June 10 1941 Bren Carrier section of the 2/33 Battalion crossing a small stream that runs through the fields near the Jewish settlement at Dan. The battalion in general As mentioned in a previous post, the troops had been led to believe that the Vichy troops would offer little resistance. This proved absolutely unfounded. As reported in The Footsoldiers regarding the first day of the campaign: By midnight of 8 June, the situation was not as all had expected it would be. The battalion although it had not suffered any heavy casualties, was not more than one mile beyond the frontier. Its companies were loosely scattered over an area of six square miles, with no main objectives achieved. True, C company had achieved their task and the small outposts along that part of the border and been cleared. But the high ground in and about Khiam was still controlled by the French. Of B Company nothing had been heard. A Company, at that time about to be rejoined by its missing 8 Platoon, was preparing for an attack on the fort which they now knew contained 100 determined men. D Company was returning to an area that was only one-third of the distance on the way to their real objective, Ibeles Saki. Two platoons of C Company were put in the rear at Banias with one platoon (15) detached to A company. It was obvious that the French were not going to surrender easily. This was much the position on the other lines of advance….On our own brigade front, the left battalion, the 2/31st, had a really rough task. Three of its companies were pinned down on flat ground when attempting a set-piece attack on Khirbe, three miles to our left. The battalion had suffered some 40 casualties.

Photo : 2/31st Battalion digging in, in Syria – from Wikipedia There were many problems with communications, which led to more men being evacuated due to exhaustion than due to enemy action. D Company was particularly badly impacted: Confusion in sending and receiving signals over the inadequate wireless communications had resulted in D Company’s vain and exhausting return marches. This confusion certainly cost D Company over 30 men. Marching and scrambling up ravines and ridges since 0200 hours on 8 June, under fire for almost all of the afternoon of the 8th, marching all through the night and up until 0800 hours on the 9th, with nearly eighteen hours of climbing and scrambling, the men were exhausted. Sufficient to say that by 0800 hours, 9 June, D Company arrived in their position in the olive grove, east of Khiam, with fewer than twenty five men out of the 120 who had left the forming-up point the day before….By nightfall of 9 June, nine men had been wounded and some twenty lay vomiting from heatstroke, exhaustion and lack of water…..Throughout June 10 D Company lay in the rocks, unable to move. As any men attempted to move artillery and mortar and MMG [Medium Machine Gun] fire descended upon them. Without any water other than a few sips since noon of 8 June and now out of the two days’ hard rations they had carried, D Company felt little like the boisterous company of three days before. Doc’s section go through a minefield According to The Footsoldiers, this incident occurred on 9 June – as Dad was clearly with C company at Banias at the time, perhaps his diary entry reflects the date he found out about it, rather than when it actually happened: To support A Company’s attack on the fort on 9 June, number one section under Sergeant ‘Doc’ Trenow was ordered to get in behind Khiam village and draw French attention away from the attack. At dawn on the 9th ‘Doc’ and his three carriers – the lead carrier under Corporal Ned Turner, the middle one under Corporal Ray Ross and ‘Doc’ bringing up the rear, headed out past their own road block north. There, mostly on foot, they surveyed the area and the rocky crags that lead up to the right and on to west side of Khiam village. By 1000 hours they had approached a track junction, which appeared well used, and ‘Doc’ decided this looked the best approach. Just as they set out, an American-speaking Syrian approached, and calmly informed them that the road, hills and surrounds about the fort were mined. the artillery on the fort could now be heard, and upon turning a bend in the track the carriers were confronted by a rock road block. Here Sergeant Trenow set out on foot down a track into a long wadi that lay behind the village and fort. After proceeding safely for some 500 yards Sergeant Trenow signalled up the section, which slowly proceeded in line ahead into the centre of a long, open cultivation…Instantly the second carrier, with Corporal Ray Ross driving and two gunners, Private John Nugent and Private Ruben Way aboard, exploded two or three mines, which blew off a track from the carrier and hurled dust and bodies about the field. The men were visibly hurt. Dazed and shaken the section stopped whilst they took stock. The second carrier crew, covered in dust, and with ear drums giving them great pain, lay where they had landed. The damaged carrier was now out of action….By continual reconnoitring Sergeant Trenow was able to pinpoint nearly all the other mines in the area.

Posted in Carrier platoon, Middle East, organisation, The course of the war, Uncategorized, unit and personal diaries | Tagged Banias, Doc Trenow, French Foreign Legion, Ibeles Saki, Khiam, minefield, Ray Ross, Syria campaign, Vichy forces | Leave a comment

We’ve got a spot of work to do

Posted on June 5, 1941 by felicityh54

TX 1004

Pte Max Hickman

2/33rd Battalion

AIF Abroad

5th June 1941

Dear Mother

Further to the letters I wrote you and May yesterday, you will be pleased to know that the Colonel did not take as serious a view of the situation as was anticipated and accepted openly even if not wholly the defence advanced, but as he pointed out he couldn’t overlook the fact that we had left the camp area without permission and to the tune of the perfectly obvious remark that we were foolish fellows fined us a pound and stopped a day’s pay, making the aggregate penalty 25/6 which amount in the language of the east is considered a cheap night out. The new Colonel is a biggish fellow who gives one the impression that he’s been about and seen and done things – he has a healthy ruddy complexion that is not a product of palm olive soap hence his appreciation of our story.

I had written so far Mother when the mail was distributed and once again I received four delightful letters – a boat mail letter written in March and your 19th May Airmail and by coincidence May and Youngster had also both written that day. I don’t [know] whether my letters when (as seems rather rare) they get home give you the same pleasure as yours give me but they’re like a breath of home and by the time I’d read and re-read them it was dark so I had to leave my letter writing till today. It’s just five am and am getting in a few lines before we’re called on parade at 5.30. Later today I hope to complete this epistle and to write to May & Youngster but of course that depends on the army.

Dick Schultz came down the other night with a story that his wife had seen you and that you weren’t getting any letters. Well Mother I can assure you that only under unavoidable circumstances do I miss writing at least once a week and I have the assurance of the officer that my letters comply with his censorship and although there’s no love lost between us, he’s have nothing to gain by stopping letters and if he did stop them would return them. Do you think it possible that they’re being left round the valley somewhere? What about seeing someone at the Post Office and check up. All the letters I write seem to get to their destination except those I write to you. I wrote to Dad about ten weeks ago and asked him to see the barracks people and see if the will I made is in order. As you haven’t mentioned it in any letters I gather that it didn’t make the grade.

Youngster mentioned in her letter Mother that you have been suffering from lumbago again. I hope you’re better again now – it’s damnably unpleasant and I don’t suppose the weather down there will improve it. Do make that trip to Melbourne won’t you? Every letter I have from Youngster she says how much she’d like you and dad to go over for a holiday. She’s very wrapped up in her home and garden.

The people of New South Wales must have been very fed up to change horses during a war. Youngster like all true Tories deplores the result and thinks things will be serious if Menzies doesn’t get home soon but Menzies isn’t capable of leading a mixed government any more than Curtin is. The War seems to have brought out the best political leadership in all democratic countries except Australia. It’s a great pity Albert Ogilvie died – our effort would have been a lot further advanced with him as Prime Minister but at present neither party seem to be able to produce the man I’d like to be cracking the whip.

Ken Jenkins met Alan Carlysle the other day. He was passing this way on four days’ leave following his two engagements in Greece and Crete – according to Ken he’s fit and well and tells some interesting stories.

Building business must be booming at home and the local areas seem to be benefitting a lot. I’ve seen some wonderful ideas here (when I went AWL) and hope to use some of them when I get back. The Boyer works must be in full production as they say all Australian papers are being printed on Derwent Valley newsprint.

I’ve just been watching a fight between a centipede and a scorpion – this place is lousy with both of them. It was a good fight too – lasted about an hour and a half.

I’ll say cheerio now Mother – we’ve got a spot of work to do. Best regards to all I know and to the boys.

Your loving son

Max

PS Sorry to hear of Jim Clennetts bad luck. Give my best wishes to Pat & Molly, Rex Wedd told me in his letter that he’d seen quite a lot of them when in Hobart.

Shoe Shine…no caption

This photo and the activity depicted don’t rate a mention in any letters. Dick Lewis thinks it was more likely in Egypt than in Palestine, but Dad had no leave – or even AWL – in Egypt so it’s possible this could even have been in Haifa…hence the inclusion here.

The new CO

It seems that through his misdemeanour, Dad was one of the few ‘other ranks’ who actually met the new CO, Lieut-Col.(later Brigadier) R F Monaghan. According to William Crooks in The Footsoldiers:

In the hurried preparations for battle, little time was allowed to get to know our new CO. Deployed as we were, and because of the nature of the operations in which we were shortly to take part, very few of us other than the company commanders ever saw him, or knew what he looked like – either then or in operations later. In the middle of these operations he, too, was to leave us, and take over the 2/2nd Pioneer Battalion.

Letters going astray

There were a number of Mrs Hickman’s in Lenah Valley in the 1940’s but only one, as far as I can discover, in Pottery Road. So it does seem strange that the letters addressed to Mrs H Hickman, Pottery Rd, Lenah Valley should go astray – and the collection I am now transcribing is a good indication that in fact the vast majority of letters were certainly delivered eventually. My memory of my maternal grandmother is that she was by temperament, melancholic.

NSW politics

The state election was held on May 10th, and resulted in a landslide victory for the Labor party…hence Dad’s comments about ‘changing horses’. His sister Ivy (Youngster) was a dyed in the wool conservative, so deplored the result whereas Dad was a Labor man – with some reservations. Not everyone was surprised at the result: the United Australia Party (UAP) had been in considerable disarray, both at State and Federal level for several years – the premier and leader of the UAP in NSW had been replaced mid-way through the previous term (in 1939), and later in 1941 the Prime Minister Robert Menzies (also of the UAP) was forced to resign.

Albert Ogilvie

Extracts relating to A.G.Ogilvie’s time as Premier of Tasmania (June 1934 until his death in June 1939) from the entry by Michael Rowe in the Australian Dictionary of Biography (http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/ogilvie-albert-george-7889):

….Hitherto Ogilvie’s career had little distinction, but as premier he proved a considerable and even remarkable success. His vigour contrasted with the ultra-conformism of other contemporary Australian governments: in his scale, Ogilvie became an F. D. Roosevelt…..

Abolition of state secondary school fees was an early and visible move for state-led recovery from the Depression. Public service salaries were restored, in stages. Government much increased unemployment relief; men so paid were often used in public works, most famously in building the road to Mount Wellington’s pinnacle….Hydro-electric development meant much to Ogilvie’s government. A highlight was the opening of Tarraleah station in February 1938… The major industrial development of the decade was in pulp and paper, Ogilvie himself orchestrating establishment of the Australian Newsprint Mills plant at Boyer, southern Tasmania.

Posted in Australian, escapades, relaxation, fun and games, Hierarchy, Posts and telegraph, Uncategorized | Tagged AWL fines, Boyer, Curtin, DIck Schultz, Ken Jenkins, mail, Menzies, Ogilvie | Leave a comment

A night out in Haifa…and the consequences

Posted on June 4, 1941 by felicityh54

TX 1004

Pte Max Hickman

2/33rd Battalion

AIF Abroad

4th June 1941

Dear Mother

Once again from the shade of an olive branch I am writing to tell you that I’m fit and happy and hope this letter finds you and dad and the boys similarly disposed. I have some little time to myself at present awaiting orders to appear before the Orderly Room. You see I’ve committed again that terrible crime of being found out.

A couple of days back the coast looked clear so Wattsie and I decided to have a night out. There was a town about fifty miles away so as the officer was not about we took French leave and by various means reached the desired objective – a modern picturesque harbour city nestling among high mountains. It was one of the greatest feasts of architecture I’ve ever seen. A wonderful array of the most perfect cut stone work conceivable. There were about three hours of daylight and we spent the whole time walking round the streets looking at the buildings. Then when it got dark we had a meal and went to a cafe for some beer. It was a delightful place and we lay back in great arm chairs drinking ice cold beer to the strains of a five piece orchestra. The violinist was particularly good – he could make the fiddle talk. The centre of the floor was given up to dancing. The orchestra played anything that was wanted – for our benefit they played Gungagai, Waltzing Matilda and the Maori Farewell. We got in with a couple of bombardiers from an English artillery regiment. They’ve been stationed near the town for some time and knew the ropes well. When the cafe closed at midnight they took us to a cabaret show. Here again we had some more beer and were entertained with singing and vaudeville acts. About two o’clock or a little after one of the tommies sacked one over me and half filled my beer glass with Hennessy’s three star brandy, and when about half an hour later we walked out into the air I literally crumpled up.

In such condition it was futile to attempt to get back. Wattsie – who hadn’t had any brandy – went to a hotel to see about a bed and returned with the helpful news that it was 25/- for bed and breakfast and as our total wealth at this time aggregated about six shillings we had to look elsewhere for accommodation.

There was a taxi standing nearby and as the driver was not about we climbed in and slept till a quarter to six. We caught a bus from the station to an old garrison town about half way to the camp. There was still a remote chance that if we could strike a bus, car or lorry going our way we might reach camp before we were missed. But we waited three hours before we got a lift in a truck driven by a couple of de Gaulle’s men and of course the day was well advanced when we made camp and have been under open arrest ever since and expect to face the music sometime today. We have a new CO and as we’ll be the first offenders to be dealt with the whole battalion is anxiously awaiting the outcome – a test case sort of thing. Providing the penalty is not too severe I don’t mind because it was really a wonderful experience – my first night out since we were at (Durban? – crossed out)

One of the wags of the outfit has put together a few lines. It runs –

Bardia Bob and Libya Len were out in the desert with a broken down Bren

Bob said Len give me the first IA – Len said throw the ordinary thing away.

Over the hill came a great big Hun, under his arm was a Tommy gun

Oh boy you should have seen those heroes run.

Haifa Hickey bald of head said I’ll shoot that bugger dead

But the Hun had different ideas instead and filled old Hickey full of lead.

I believe the High Command have hit on a new idea. They’re going to give all the Australians a fortnight’s leave and put Berlin out of bounds and it’s confidently expected that they’ll be in Berlin in a week. It’s a funny thing – no matter where we are anything that’s out of bounds is the first place we go. I’ll say cheerio now Mother because I rather fancy the heat’s on – anyway the defence is ready. I’ll write again if I get time when the trial’s over.

Regards to the boys and love to you & dad.

Max

PS Dick & Ken wish to be remembered to you.

Location and distances

The battalion was at Er Rama (see map below) about 12 miles (about 19km) east of Acre, which is about 13 miles (about 21km) north of Haifa…so Dad’s claim of fifty miles (80km) was a bit of an exaggeration!

PALESTINE SYRIA LEBANON

Map – from The Footsoldiers

Diary – more details re AWL

Monday 2nd

Pay Parade. Went through with Wattsie. Had a look round Acre – drive in armoured car, taxi to Haifa. Beer, tea, more beer – Very modern architecture – wonderful cut stone work – wonderful night in cafes & cabarets. Got gloriously sozzled – slept in back of taxi. Caught bus to Acre at six o’clock – Breakfast at Arab Hotel – interesting old bloke – Christian Arab – been in USA seven years – back to the camp in back of lorry – 10 o’clock close arrest . Tried by Major Buttrose, remanded to CO. Fined 25/6.

Haifa

Booklet – with handy fold-out map (Not all pages have been scanned)

Preparing for the Syria campaign – from The Footsoldiers

…our concentration area at Er Rama…(was)…south of the road that ran westward to Acre, on the coast. Here, in the world’s oldest olive grove…we were spread out and deployed in company localities. To the north some forty miles away lay the Palestine-Syria- Lebanon border, held and defended by the Vichy forces of General Dentz, who supported the cause of the Germans…..At Er Rama we were poised for battle, side by side with other assault troops including Free French units. We were told that here we would stay until an ultimatum that had been issued to General Dentz, requiring him to come over to the Allied cause, expired on 7 June….We were informed that little opposition was expected if we had to attack and that most of the Frenchmen in General Dentz’s Vichy Army would come over to our side….In an atmosphere of excitement we prepared our weapons, were lectured on the malarial belt we were to pass through, practised our platoon drills, climbed the local mountains and waited for the ultimatum to expire. The CO and company commanders, and most of the platoon commanders, left us on some days, some dressed in Arab clothes or civilian garb and were taken forward to reconnoitre the frontier posts, assembly areas and routes across the frontier.

Photo

AWM 008748

June 1941 – Troops from 2/14 Bn enjoy reading Pix at Er Rama. F Hurley photo

Palestine 1941

This clip shows Haifa, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem – and is dated 1941.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGUyiLeCPdQ

Posted in escapades, relaxation, fun and games, Hierarchy, Middle East, Uncategorized, unit and personal diaries | Tagged Acre, AWL, Er Rama, Free French, General Dentz, Graham Watts, Haifa, out of bounds | Leave a comment

Camping amid gum trees – and a damn good feed

Posted on May 31, 1941 by felicityh54

TX 1004

Pte M Hickman

2/33rd Battn

AIF Abroad

31st May 1941

Dear Mother

After being detached from the battalion for some time our platoon rejoined them in a new camp today and this evening received quite a nice batch of mail, including two from you – an airmail written on the eleventh of May and an old boat mail letter from the 21st of November. I am amazed that my letters are still not getting home. Since the beginning of April I have a check on inward and outward mail so will tell you the dates on which I have written and you will be able to check up on what hasn’t made the grade though of course there will be no way of knowing why – this is the list mother – 1st, 9th, 19th, 26th April, 1st May, 6th May, 11th May, 17th, 22nd. There were a couple of long breaks when I was unable to write because we were travelling or else couldn’t get stamps. It’s easy to understand Dick being able to write so often because he’s had the best job in the army and after the sick parade is finished in the morning, has the day to himself and of course in the evening has a light in the RAP whereas our opportunities for writing are very limited.

I had a very nice letter from youngster – one of her best efforts – one from Shirley (an air mail card) and one from Rex Wedd which was also very interesting.

Though of course you will have gathered from earlier letters that I have been in Egypt for some time I think I can now tell you a little more of the country although I suppose dad has told you quite a lot. I don’t think he travelled as extensively as we have – except for the cities we saw most other aspects of it, ranging from some of the finest agricultural country I’ve ever seen – hundreds of miles of beautiful crops – the palms and weeping willows interspersed with mosques and minarets producing some wonderful scenic effects. The desert itself is of course hell and sandstorms sometimes lasting a week blind and choke you and the heat – as intense as a bush fire – almost consumes you entirely and of course as I’ve mentioned in other letters there are some beautiful bays and beaches.

We have been travelling practically ever since the day I last wrote and have seen some glorious country and tasted new experiences though I don’t think I was ever more tired than I am tonight. We camped one night amidst a clump of gum trees overlooked by a rocky, scrub-covered escarpment that might have been anywhere in Tassie, whilst out in the other direction we could hear the roar of the surf. On another occasion we slept in an almond orchard in the midst of a very fertile valley where next morning we were able to swim in a fresh water stream and scrounged some choice tomatoes. Yet another occasion found us on the outskirts of a Jewish village and of course we staged a miniature invasion particularly on the restaurants and hotels – one outcome of which was that the local beer rose in price from 45 to 70 mils a bottle in two hours and when the entire stock of beer had been consumed the fellows took to the wine, hock and sherry to the amazement of the natives. As you may well imagine the incident brought back memories to McDonnell who asked me to tell you of his second lapse. The wines of course are produced locally – there being miles and miles of vineyards here, and as wine goes it’s good wine too.

One day the officer in charge came by a quantity of fresh meat, bread and vegetables and of course it became necessary to have a cook and muggins volunteered to do the job and though you of course will find it hard to believe I turned on a really good feed of steak (fried in butter – a rare commodity), onions, potatoes and carrots. The whole platoon were amazed at the meal. Of course I suppose having bully beef and hard biscuits for a week had sharpened their appreciation of fresh food.

Just before we left the last camp I met young Geoff Hodgman and a lot of the old 106th Battery fellows. Their crowd had just come up. Geoff looked very well. He’s certainly lost nothing in the art of talking – by the powers he can talk.

Well Mother it’s too dark to see to write now so I’ll spread my blanket – this time under an olive tree – and confidently expect to be asleep within two minutes. So good night and goodbye for the present. My regards to the boys and love to you and dad.

Max

PS I am enclosing portion of an envelope from Shirley which will be interesting as a souvenir. I had an airmail card from her yesterday. She said things in general are very much as they were when we left except for the weather which is perfect at present. She asked me to give you her love.

Max

Mother’s letter of May 11

One of a small number of letters from home, that were kept in the box with Dad’s letters…

This letter transcribed:

from Mrs Hickman

Pottery Rd Lenah Valley

Hobart

11th May 1941

Darling Boy

Once again we write to you hoping to find you fit and well as it leaves us at present. Today is Mothers Day and Cameron and Nell and three kids were here this afternoon and by jove were we glad to see the last of the kids. They simply turn the place inside out. I don’t want to see them again for a long time to come. I had a telegram from Jack Chandler – it read “Greetings for Mothers day to Hickey’s mother. Jack”. We received two old letters from you last week – the one from Durban – the place must be very nice according to your description of it I would like to go there for a trip in peace time but that is a dream. The poetry written by that lady is beautiful. The latest letter we had from you was dated 1st April. Mrs Schultz receives quite a lot of letters from Dick. She has had several since we had one from you – he seems to have a way of getting them through better than you have. He is sending all sorts of things home – gloves and toilet sets for himself after the war. If he keeps going he will have a good stock by the time he gets home again.

I rang Rob yesterday and told him there was a case of pears here for him. It was Saturday morning and he told me I had put the last straw on the camel’s back as he works on Saturday morning and he told me this is what he had to do – carry in six tons of wood, two loads of loam to get from somewhere then to top it up by having to come up for pears. They are going away to Coles Bay next Saturday for a week. Trevor Hickman is getting on alright and expects to be out of hospital at the end of next week.

The Elliotts wanted us to go to Queensland but Mrs Elliott rang me yesterday and said she did not think it would be much of a trip with him as after he had spent a few bob on the first week he would start to worry after that and we and that opinion ourselves. All the apple growers are very worried about not being able to dispose of their crop. The government pays them for the fruit , they have to pick it and store it. As the fruit is wanted they have to deliver it. They are not allowed to dispose of it in any other way. Ted Moore was caught hawking his apples round the town after being paid for them by the government. He has got to appear before the Court. Rather interesting, don’t you think? I will now close with best love from Mother & Dad. God bless you & keep you Max.

PS the dogs are fit and well. Remember us to all the boys.

Trevor Hickman – coming home from hospital

Trevor was a distant cousin – Trevor and Dad were both great-great-grandsons of Richard Hickman who arrived in Tasmania in 1842 with his 8 children. Dad’s great-grandfather Henry Leonard was Richard’s second child, and eldest son, and Trevor’s great-grandfather was Richard’s youngest child also named Richard. Trevor was born in 1929 – hence Dad’s reference to him in the previous letter as ‘young Trevor’.

Apple growers worried about not being able to dispose of their crop

Our forebear, Richard Hickman, and his family, took up land in Lenah Valley (then called Kangaroo Bottom) in 1842. Several of dad’s Hickman relatives – Len, John, Steve and Alf – still had orchards in Lenah Valley Road and Brushy Creek Road in the 1940’s, so his parents would have had a keen interest in the ‘apple and pear scheme’. This apple label doesn’t mention the family name, but it does mention Lenah Valley orchards:

At some point during 1941 the Federal Parliament established a Select Committee to consider whether the apple and pear acquisition scheme should be continued for the duration of the war. Contrary to the view expressed in his mother’s letter (above), it seems the scheme was widely appreciated by growers because it provided some certainty of income despite the loss of most of their overseas markets due to the war. See report that appeared in The Mercury on November 7, which reported a favourable response to the committee’s recommendations by the Tasmanian Premier (Robert Cosgrove) and Agriculture Minister (Tom D’Alton) http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/25926118

Diary May 23 – 31

Friday 23rd

Took packs down to carriers. Received two small parcels – pair of socks and box of soap. Went down to platoon after tea- bought a pad & envelopes at Tommy canteen. Had some beer with the boys – XXXX, Boags, KB, Resch’s & Melbourne. Bob Cole crying drunk – “Nobody likes me, I’ll do me stripes in” Like hell! Walked back in a bit of a fog. Sleep like a ton of little bricks.

Saturday 24th

Sandstorm & hot winds. Poles take over site – bring their own dogs. Have our last swim at Mersa Matruh. Meet Geoff Hodgman, Charlie Graves, Ron McKercher 2/8 Field Regt. Talk with chaps from R.A…(?) who arrived here in same convoy as we did. Eat all samples food etc. Poles take over.

Sunday 25th May

Pack gear & leave Hill 60. Muster parade 2.30. Tea 4pm, leave Mersa Matruh at 7.00. The end of the best camp I’ve been in. Travelling all night.

Monday 26th May

Breakfast at Amiriya. See Alex in distance. Through wonderful agricultural country – the best scenery of its type I’ve seen. Mosques and minarets like lighthouses in the desert, lighting the path of the faithful. Buy tomatoes, boiled eggs & bread at Tanta station. Play five hundred. Bob Cole very sick with dysentry. Gypo kids put one over fellow fooling them with ten acre piece. Arrive at Ismalia 7pm Kantara 9pm feed entrain again at 11pm. Cattle trucks – packed like sardines but slept well. One chap took another’s socks off instead of his own.

Tuesday 27th

Pleasantly warm. Different type of scenery. Patches of red dusty soil, grape vines & orange groves. Detrained at 11am. Mess (?) in shade of gum leaves. In the afternoon went with R Ross, Ted Fleming & F Dredge to a Jewish village – spent enjoyable afternoon. The scene from the escarpment was excellent – a beautiful fertile valley rich with various crops and in the distance a very inviting surf. Sleep under the gum trees.

Wed 28

Roll up the blankets and move out to position occupied by carriers – go for a swim in surf – standing by to move out. Sleep under almond trees.

Thursday 29th

Swim in surf and later in fresh water stream. Sunbake all afternoon. Went to Jewish village in evening. Drank all the local stock of beer, hock, wine & sherry. Got well sprung. Wattsie and I tried to pinch a truck. Stopped in (by?) English officer. Couple of the boys fell in ditch.

Friday 30th

Swim & sunbake. Barclay & Turner get some fresh meat, vegetables, butter, etc – cook for a day – a damn good feed.

Saturday 31st

Reveille 4am. Leave at five – very interesting trip through Nazareth – some fine stone work in Government buildings & cottages. Very mountainous, rugged country, hot as hell, some glorious scenery – pass through numerous Jewish and Arab villages. Arrived at new camp at 4pm. Camp under olive trees. Receive 4 letters – Mother (two), youngster, B Laird. Wrote to Mother & Youngster.

Poles take over

From The Footsoldiers:

…on 22 May we received a movement order placing the battalion and all other troops of the 7th Division on 12 hours’ notice to move, and that the move was to be east. Although not officially informed where we would be going all ranks agreed it would be Syria…..On 23 and 24 May, troops of the Carpathian Polish Brigade relieved us in the defensive positions ….

Crossing the canal (again)

Painting by Harold Herbert, from Active Service (AWM 1941)

Sleeping ‘like a ton of little bricks’

Photo from Active Service (AWM 1941)

A miniature invasion

From the descriptions in The Footsoldiers it seems that the men of the Carrier platoon did not re-join the rest of the battalion until May 31 – so the ‘miniature invasion’ mentioned in Dad’s letter would have been just by the 30 men of the Carrier platoon.

The Jewish town – Zikhron Ya’akov

Like Richon le Zion, mentioned in a previous letter/ post, this town was founded in 1882 with the financial backing of Baron Edmond James de Rothschild, 35km south of Haifa. A few years after its founding, the first winery in Palestine was established there – the Carmel winery is still operating today.

The whole platoon were amazed at the meal

Photo – from Dick Lewis

Posted in Africa, Carrier platoon, gambling and drinking, Middle East, organisation, Posts and telegraph, Tasmanian, Uncategorized, unit and personal diaries | Tagged apple growers, DIck Schultz, Geoff Hodgman, government regulations, Jack Chandler, Trevor Hickman, Zikhron Ya'akov | Leave a comment

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The Blog that might have been – 70 years on

By airmail : two items of very bad news

A town surrenders to a couple of privates

Surprising capture of a French sniper

The first important lesson-to keep the head down

We’ve been busy lately but are having a bludge today

Peaceful prelude to dramatic evacuation

The Syria campaign begins

We’ve got a spot of work to do

A night out in Haifa…and the consequences

Camping amid gum trees – and a damn good feed

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