An Englishman at War

by James Holland

  Friday, 23 August

  Today we had our last practice before the shoot tomorrow. The colonel will of course take the shoot from the BOP and I shall act as section commander. The colonel and I went into Suez after work.

  We had a drink with Lady Y at the hotel and then came back here for lunch. During the morning this place was quite stiff with generals, Brigadier General Grant first, then Leslie, and then Pollard. The last is the real big man, the brigadier of this battery. He knows his stuff well, but I understand that he is not much liked. But he is clever. He came up and spoke to me while I was in the SC [staff captain] post and was very pleasant. He criticized the colonel a bit during his shoot. In the afternoon we played tennis at the golf club. Jack Hall took us there. I played with the colonel against Jack and Lady Y. The courts were excellent but the golf course looked pretty green.

  Today an enormous convoy arrived here of 14 ships. Half went up the canal and the others disembarked here. Mostly Australians from Australia and some other troops from England. The troop ships going up the canal with troops lining the deck, passing the Indian war memorial, were really a most impressive sight. It reminded me very much of the similar scene from Noel Coward’s play Cavalcade. They say that the convoy carries some mail. I hope so.

  Saturday, 24 August

  Today this battery, i.e. Y Battery of the 19th Heavy, shoot their practice series. We started the shoot at about 7.30 after various critics, representatives and observers had arrived. We had an Egyptian officer from the battery at Alexandria, two naval officers, and Brigadier Pollard and his staff. He appeared a very decent chap. They arranged for the Yeomen to have one shoot, and gave us eight shells per gun. The colonel took the shoot from the BOP and I acted section leader. The whole thing went off very well and the brig. appeared to be quite satisfied telling us that we had made history, i.e. a cavalry regiment manning and firing the guns after such a short period of training. The gun teams worked really well, especially No. 1 gun, which had a misfire. The No. 1 of that gun did very well. The blast and the noise was very considerable and broke all the glass in the quarantine building, also bringing down masses of plaster and cracking the walls. In the evening they had a shoot in conjunction with the lights. Unfortunately the tug drawing the target had great difficulty in navigating, so we didn’t get started until 11.30. It was supposed to start at 9.30. Summersall and Hendry took the night shoots, and both did remarkably well after it was all over. We drank champagne in the mess. That concludes our training as gunners at Port Tewfik.

  Tomorrow I go back to Haifa, and the colonel goes to Alexandria to see the battery, which is manned by Egyptians.

  The colonel has been in excellent form during our time down here except for his tummy trouble. He has been very kind to me, also Lady Yarborough. They have had me to dinner practically every night. I have been with the colonel almost every moment for the last fortnight. I have also shared a room with him, and I have had every single meal with him. He is very restless, the most energetic man I have ever met. He has been a most amusing companion and we have laughed together a great deal.

  Sunday, 25 August

  Today I left Tewfik for Haifa, with the 22 men who have been training with us. We caught the 5.20 train in the evening. The colonel came to the station to see us off. Halfway between Tewfik and Ismailia the train was held up by an accident further up the line. We were stuck in this desolate spot for four hours. At about 12 o’clock lorries came from the prisoner-of-war camp at Geneifa and took us there for the night. The camp is guarded by a company of the Royal Sussex Regiment. Altogether we were a party of about 40 men, and eight officers, all consisting of specialists who had arrived from England by the last convoy, doctors and RASC. The Royal Sussex were most hospitable to us. We actually slept the night in a new section of the prison compound.

  Monday, 26 August

  We had barbed-wire fences all around us, and guards with Bren guns outside the wire. But we were very comfortable and the men well fed. The next day I sent a signal to Haifa advising Flash of our predicament. I went all round the camp. They had about 900 Italian prisoners, also some internees and a further 600 Libyans. They told me that quite literally they could not speak too sharply to the Italian officer prisoners otherwise they burst into tears. It was quite clear that all classes of prisoners were very content in the camp and much preferred being there to fighting in the desert for the Italian Army. In their present place they were safe, well fed and well housed. They all appeared very content. The company commander of the Sussex was a Captain Brown. A most charming person, who was very kind to all of us. They only had a small mess and we must have been rather an influx for them. They had one very amusing young officer, called Tom Warren, who had just become engaged to a French girl in Tewfik. He made us laugh a lot and he was continually getting into trouble. We all left at 6.15 on Monday evening and caught the train to Kantara.

  Tuesday, 27 August

  On my return to Peninsula Barracks I reported to the orderly room. I had a long talk with the adjutant, Sydney Morse, and Flash Kellett, who has been acting colonel, came in and joined us. Flash seems quite convinced that we shall not be gunners. All Hotchkiss guns and signalling equipment have been reissued to us. But personally I am not so sure. Brigadier Dunn did suggest that the colonel should visit the guns at Alexandria, and that Flash should follow him. I hear that one man per battery who volunteered for the commandos has gone, including Wilson from my troop in C Battery. So far they have not taken any officers from this regiment but they have done so from other regiments. I understand that they are forming a headquarters unit first as a nucleus. Since I have been away they have split up the Regiment, as we were far too concentrated from the point of view of air raids. A, B, C and X Batteries have gone to a camp at the top of Mount Carmel called Ahuza. The view from the camp is quite wonderful. One side you have a magnificent view of Haifa and the harbour, with Atlit Point in the distance. And from the other side you look over the plain and on a clear day we can see Afula. In peacetime one would have to spend a fortune to find a house with such a wonderful view. The air up here is quite amazing and there is always a cool breeze.

  At about 2.30 this afternoon we had another air raid on Haifa. I was sitting in the mess with Donny and Stephen when we heard the planes. The next thing we heard was the whistle of the bombs. We moved pretty quickly and scattered in all directions. Ten planes came over but they did very little damage. A few casualties, one fatal, but no soldiers. We were a very small mess at dinner: Basil Ringrose, Stephen Mitchell, Lawrence Biddle and self. We had a most amusing evening. Donny Player returned from his course at Port Fuad, with the other officers. They don’t appear to have enjoyed themselves at all, learned nothing, and spent a great deal of money, as they all lived in a hotel in Port Said. Apparently they didn’t hit it off at all with the gunner officers. We had a very much better crowd.

  Wednesday, 28 August

  The colonel has returned from Alexandria. He spent a busy day on the guns there. It is still very uncertain about our future. I heard today that Bill Dawkins from the Inns of Court had been killed in France. He was with us in Edinburgh and was commissioned to the Yorkshire Hussars but, like MacDonald, was appointed liaison officer to a mechanized unit. I understand the colonel will be giving up the Regiment in September some time as he will be over the age limit. General opinion has it that Flash Kellett will then take command. Personally I think he would be an excellent person.

  I found some letters waiting for me on my return from Egypt. Two from Ione, one from Martha, one from Ursula and one from Daddy dated 14 June. I sent him a cable yesterday asking whether any of my letters were getting through and whether all was well. It really is most worrying to hear about all the air raids they are having in England. A lot of damage must have been done.

  Before leaving Tewfik I wrote a letter to Rona Trotter and asked the officer who had come from Ordnance for the shoot to take it with him to Cairo and drop it at the Continental Hotel. He gla
dly agreed to do it. Before he left he came and said goodbye to the colonel and me, and added that he would deliver the letter and left the room. The colonel asked what letter he was talking about. I pretended not to hear.

  Thursday, 29 August

  John Walters came and relieved me on the guns at 9 o’clock. I had quite a good night. I went and had breakfast at Carmel Camp and afterwards came up the hill with Gerald Grosvenor and Derrick Warwick, who had been away umpiring a battle training exercise between the Greys and Yorkshire Hussars. A rifle inspection in the afternoon. At the moment we don’t seem to be doing much serious soldiering as the men have a tremendous lot of guards to do, having two camps, Division HQ at Stella Maris Monastery and also manning the guns each day. We all would very much like some definite job. There seems to be a lot of talk about getting our horses back and the guns seem to be dying a natural death. In the evening, John, Donny and I had a mess meeting. At the moment, the mess seems to be running pretty well, but we want some more money.

  Friday, 30 August

  Today the new C-in-C of Palestine came and visited the camp. He went first to Peninsula and then came here. He met all the officers and WOs. All the men carried on with their normal duties. His name is General Neame VC. He appeared quite pleased with what he saw and told the colonel before he left that he could tell us all that we were going to be mechanized but not in Palestine.

  We were all very bricked on hearing this. I suppose it will be somewhere in the Western Desert. I expect we shall have to wait until all the staff come out from England, as at the moment they have not got anything to mechanize us with.

  It has certainly been fun being gunners for a short time, and we have had a pretty slack time, except for the first fortnight. I also got on a trip to Port Tewfik, which I thoroughly enjoyed. But we would all like to get on with the job now.

  Gerald told me that he had heard from Division that he is going to Cairo and leaving the Regiment. He does not know in what capacity. He can’t join his own regiment, the IXth, as they are in England. He will be a great loss. To my mind he is quite the best soldier among us, and easily one of the most charming men I have ever met.

  Saturday, 31 August

  PT in the morning. It really is perfectly grand up at this camp in the early morning. It is quite a pleasure to get out of bed. I think I have enjoyed this camp more than anywhere else in Palestine, although I have only been here a few days. I have never felt better in my life. We have the advantage of being right out in the country yet within easy distance of Haifa.

  Sunday, 1 September

  Tent inspection at 10.30, no service. A message came through from orderly room at Peninsula Barracks that all men had to be called back from local leave, as we were moving on Wednesday, this time to Gedezeh. Also we heard that the 5th Cavalry Brigade was being re-formed: the Yorkshire Dragoons and Yorkshire Hussars are going to the same place. Charles Miller was giving up his post as governor of Jerusalem, and having the brigade again. This makes our future even more obscure as both the other regiments have their horses still. It may of course be the idea to have a mixed brigade, two regiments horsed and one mechanized. I shall be sorry to leave this camp, as it is such a grand slot, but it may be a step in the right direction. Personally, I don’t want to see the horses back again. In modern warfare, against machine-guns, aeroplanes and tanks, horsed cavalry would not have a chance. For policing countries like Palestine, one couldn’t get anything better.

  Unfortunately we have to leave two batteries at Carmel Camp to man the guns there. I should have thought that the RA Battery could have managed without us, as they did before we came. I think X and Y are staying, but the batteries will be changed after a fortnight.

  We really have had a most pleasant mess here. Donny Player has been in charge of the camp. His asthma has greatly improved since we left the horses, and he has been in excellent form. Gerald Grosvenor as usual his charming self. Stephen Mitchell, with whom I have a large tent, Basil Ringrose, Mike Riviere, Derrick Warwick, Peter Laycock and Lawrence Biddle comprise our mess.

  Peter Laycock is very seldom here, as he always goes out to dinner. He certainly takes life very easily. I often wonder what he will be like under fire. Each time we have had an air raid here, I have noticed that he always pales. But that wasn’t a very pleasant sight.

  Tuesday, 3 September

  We spent all the day packing and striking tents. It should be a very simple move as we are doing the whole thing by motor transport. I understand that we are taking over guard duties from a battalion of the Queens who are going to Egypt. Each squadron, or I should say battery, is taking over a different position all round about the Sarafand area. Gedezeh is to be RHQ. We are going to Tel Aviv. I think we shall have to guard the power station. By midday the tents were struck, and we all had to sleep in the open. There was no dinner in the officers’ mess so we had dinner at Prosse’s in Haifa. The party consisted of Peter Laycock, Michael Gold, Michael Riviere, Stephen Mitchell and Basil Ringrose.

  As I was the only one with any money on me, I paid the bill. It seems extremely unlikely that I shall get any back from some members of the party.

  I met Lady Yarborough, the colonel’s wife, at Carmel Camp. She very kindly presented me with a little white ivory camel, in memory of our visit to Tewfik.

  Wednesday, 4 September

  Call out at 4.30, breakfast 5 o’clock, moved off from Ahuza Camp at 7.15. The convoy rendezvoused at the bottom of the hill.

  Gerald Grosvenor was there, seeing the convoy off. It was very sad saying goodbye to him. He leaves the Regiment and goes to the armoured division in Egypt. He longs to get back to his own Regiment, the IXth Lancers, but at this moment, they are in England. They did get to France but got off very lightly. Their CO was wounded in the hand, and one young officer called Tew was run over and killed by his own tank.

  At Petah Tikva, the convoy split. Our final destination was the Reading Power Station at Tel Aviv, on the outskirts of the town. When we arrived we took over from a company of Queens who are off to Egypt. At first it was arranged that I should take a detachment of 25 men, and guard a place 15 miles away; we were all packed up and ready to move when instructions came through that the post was to be taken over by another battery. At the moment Stephen Mitchell and I are the only officers present with the battery, as Donny is acting second-in-command, and Jack Abdy is away in Egypt on a course. The company commander of the outgoing Queens remained behind for one night. Quite a pleasant fellow called Captain Stobbs. He has been out here for two years and was just about to go home on leave when war was declared.

  Thursday, 5 September

  This is a most pleasantly situated place. The Reading Power Station is well out of the town, across the river and right by the sea. The building itself is most beautifully constructed, with magnificent proportions. Outside the buildings and within the wall they have constructed a most lovely garden, including large grass lawns bordered with flowerbeds. No end of money has been spent on the garden. They must use gallons of water each day for the grass to grow. It really is grand to walk again on a lawn.

  The machinery inside appears most modern and up to date, and the control room reminds me of a scene from the H. G. Wells film. We are also responsible for the aeroplane hangar, and landing strip on the edge of the desert, which adjoins the power station. There are no planes here now: they have all been taken away by the government. We have been sleeping in the power station and also in the hangar.

  The officers’ mess is a small four-roomed hut, which used to be for Customs. It has a stove and also washing place. It faces onto the desert, with the concrete landing strip about 200 yards in front, and on one side there is the sea from which we always get a cool breeze. Twenty-two men have to go on guard, which is a lot. Our most important post is on the roof to watch for aircraft. We also keep a very close eye on the landing strip for fifth columnists, who might remove the obstructions that have been placed there. We had a busy morning organizing the pla
ce and various guards.

  The guard was mounted at 18.00 hrs. They mounted in front of the power station. They were well turned out, and with the flower garden, the sea, and the lovely sunset, it made a perfect picture. For our dinner we had sausages and chips, bottled cherries, and sardines on toast, all prepared by Smith and Strachan our servants. They did it very well indeed. Stephen had a hamper of food sent him from Fortnum’s, which helps our larder considerably. We had to buy a certain amount of cooking utensils and cutlery to start our mess, but we got them very cheaply. This very simple fare and way of living suits both Stephen and I, but I am afraid when Donny and Jack come back they will hardly be satisfied, and we shall be involved in rather a lot of expense.

  At 12 o’clock midnight, I went round all the posts. The power station is rather an eerie place by night.

  Friday, 6 September

  A section of this entry is missing, but it seems the lady in question is his cousin, Pat, with whom he had fallen madly in love, much to the consternation of the family, who, according to Stanley, ‘had visions of barmy grandchildren’.

  I am not quite certain how I shall answer the cable. I thought I would cable first three words – ‘I love you’. But after a great deal of thinking I could not make up my mind whether that was true. I shall think about it further later on. Anyhow one could have written and let me know that she had decided to leave for Canada.

  Saturday, 7 September