1941 Handwritten British Army Soldier ' S Diary Africa POW Camp Albert Hill Putney
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:2161 |
WELCOMETO SALLY’S DIARIES: Upfor auction today is a fascinating diary written by a 21 year oldsoldier in the British Army during WWII. His name is Albert W. S.Hill and he lists his address as “18 Montserrat Rd. Putney.” Thediary has 273 handwritten days out of the 365 represented. So 92 ofthe days are blank and the majority of those are in the summermonths. The days that do have writing are amazing. He heads on acruiser as soon as the diary opens up in January and that trip tak...eshim to a POW camp by Bitter Lake near Suez Africa. He spends a gooddeal of time there and also at a camp near Cairo. Mostof the entries are long full pages and detail his time in the armyincluding that fateful day, December 8th, when theJapanese hit Pearl Harbor. He also talks about men dying on the shipheading to Africa, one man falling overboard in shark infested waters(but he was rescued), Italian prisoners in camp, drills, sight seeingand being hospitalized for 3 weeks because of dysentery. That and somuch more as you will see in the following example quotes…..1941“January1st, Yesterday hear that we will soon be on the move. Today movingconfirmed. Early in tonight. Very sorry indeed to leave Wisham(?) Have had a grandtime.”“January2nd, Up early today 5:10. Packed and away around 7:30. A few people see usoff. wish us luck. Snow has been on ground for afew days now. ArriveGonrouch (?) onthe ___. Get alittle pleasureboat, Duchess of Hamilton, which takes us alongside our boat. DurhamCastle, fine modern boat. Very impressed. Get bunk with Dodds, Hood, Hughs, Davis. No. 43.” “January6th, Saw light cruiser and several destroyers at very close range while atboat drill this morning. Otherwise little change in routine.”“January12th, Awake to find we are under way. Have breakfast and then go on deck.Sea calm. Convoy is well spread out and changing direction atintervals. We have a good escort, from what I can see we have aboutten destroyers and a battle cruiser which I am told is the Repulse.Several flights of planes fly over us during day. We number abouttwenty ships not counting escort. There is a swell up tonight, makesthe ship rock.” “January21st, Quite hot.Canvas sun screens have been put over decks by crew. Submarinechasers join convoy today. Learn from ships officer that we are about150 miles off of Dakar and about 1000 miles from the equator. Some ofthe lads say they saw flying fish and a shark. I have my doubts.” “January23rd, Wroteletter home but are kept to one letter and that must be of one sheetonly. Still very glad of that. Learn from today's news sheets thatTobruk has fallen with 14, 000 prisoners. Later number reached25, 000.” (On the25ththey are off shore near Freetown Africa.)“January26th, …..Onour arrival yesterday we were greeted by the shore batteries openingfire on an unidentified plane which flew over the shipping on theriver.” (Back ontheir way on Jan. 29th)“February8th, arrived at Cape Town early this morning. Weather quite cold andraining at intervals. There is a mist hanging over Table Mountainwhich rises behind the city itself. Ship docks around 11 o’clock, alongside Winchesterand Athlone Castle. Don’t get shore pass till 3 o’clock. See allthe sights with Frank and Bill (Taffy). Very impressed with the manyultra modern buildings. Cars mostly big Yankees. A grand place. Go topictures.” “February12th, This is our lastday at Cape Town. We are taken through Native Quarter on a routemarch but are not allowed ashore again. I am sorry to go, have hadnice time. Ships begin to be taken out at 2:30. Ours is last to go at5 o’clock. Pass American ship Robin Hood on way out. Get a fewwaves from crew. When a bit out the sea has a bit of a swell.” “February21st, Convoy rearranges itself and later about two o’clock the fourships, including “Empress of Japan” broke off for Mombasa It getsdark these days around seven. The evenings are quite warm.” “February27th, Flags are flyingat half mast again, that makes about seven or eight deaths sincevoyage began. We get increase in escort vessels. Quite a number ofsmall patrol vessels having joined us today. Between four or fivemerchant ships also joined up with us too. Land was again seen.” “February28th, We are not in Red Sea. Must have entered last night. The sea is verychoppy. The ship is swaying quite a bit. A man was lost overboardfrom one of the other ships. Don’t know if they picked him up.Boats were lowered. The sea is shark infested, although I haven’tseen any myself.”(They arrive in Suez port of Tewfik Africa on March 3rdand depart from the boat on the 5th)“March5th, All ready afterbreakfast but don’t leave till around 1 o’clock. When we aretaken ashore we go in two barges towed by the big tug Damella. It wasa short but bad trip packed like sardines. On arrival on shore we goon train to our camp which is about a half mile from the Bitter Lake(Suez). We get in about 6 o’clock having seen many interestingthings. Port Tewfik and the Suez Canal as well as the little villagesgrouped around the oasis.”“March14th, A strong wind sprang up late this morning carrying all the sand anddust with it. May first experience of a sand storm on a small scaleof course. You couldn’t see buildings or tents 40-50 yds away. Itwas like fog only it stung and blinded your eyes. We had to wear ourgas goggles to get along.” “March16th, Go for look around with Lou Davies. Pass the Italian prison camp andover the railway lines. We run into Arab village on the banks of acanal. The conditions in which they live are terrible. Many havescabs on their faces and are lousy. We were swindled when we crossedthe water on two old oil drums and a few planks of wood lashedtogether. Having payed 4 piasterswe refused topay again so had long walk back.”(Trip to Cairo)“March30th, During the afternoon I go for a stroll around by myself. I only go asfar as the Native quarters around Abbassia. I don’t know which areworse, the flies or the native vendor which crowd the streets. Aretold we have to move tomorrow morning. Go to Cairo right after tea bytram only 3 miles. It is quite modern with a tinge of old world withit. Light chat.” (Theyhead to the Cambrai (?) Camp about two miles from Cairo)“April4th, Nasty accident this morning. R.A.F. bomber crashes in flames in oursight. Four or five killed. Make my will out this afternoon. Go tothe Diana Palace this evening. See D. Derbin in Spring Parade. Quitegood.”“April5th, Go out this afternoon to see the pyramids and sphinx at Giza. Cost usonly 1.3 piasters by tram changing once for N. 14 at Cairo. It takesyou within a half mile of the pyramids. A road runs up to the base ofit. I took a few snaps. Learnt from native shop keeper the news ofGermany invasion of Greece.” “April30th, Wassecond driver to Birch on patrol tanker. Enjoyed the ride as itenabled me to see more of Cairo and outlaying districts. Was allowedto drive tanker along road to Pyramids. Didn’t do so badconsidering it was my first drive on lorry.”“May9th, We have to damn well move again, just like the army. We go back totents, get settled and have to change tents again. Boiling hot todaytoo……..”“May25th, Free all day today for a wonder. After dinner Jack Rogerson andmyself go for a sight seeing trip. A No. 13 tram from Tipperary takesus outside the Mohamed Sultan Hassen Mosque, a fine building. We finda guide who takes us inside the mosque opposite. We have to donslippers before entering. Very interesting indeed. See Naps cannonball in wall……”“June18th, Am loaned to 4thambulance car company (4ACC) along with Jones and Creswell. Wilsonand Harwood are already working there. Don’t do any turning asthere is no lathe. Help filters.” “July27th, Start off after tea with camera to the Pyramids to get some bettershots. Arrive about 19.15. The sun is setting and the light goingrather fast but chance to luck with photos.” “July31st, On guard once more. While on second shift get our second air raidhere. Bombs dropped in direction of Heliopolis. Should have heardroar from “Dogs’ in that part like football roar in distance.” “August24th, Stop in for a change this Sunday as Jack’s working late. Indians innearby tents give local color on flute and hand drum and vocalrefrain.” “September2nd, Nasty accident. Taffy Jones and I were standing by blacksmith firewhen there was an explosion. Taffy was rushed off to the hospitalwith a nasty hand. I had my fingers burnt a bit. There was a big stirat 4 A.C.C. I had to see Major and later make statement. Was on guardtoo. Saw the C.S.M. later in evening.”(Taffy lost the tip of his thumb and forefinger)“September12th, When in 4 A.C.C. workshop this morning hear from Wright that the old15thare moving off Sunday. So rumor goes first stop is Tahag. Am sorry toleave yet glad to see a bit of the world again. Take Taffy Jonespersonal gear up to Helmira 63rdGen. Afraid he will have to miss the show. Hard luck.”“September17th, Bloody do last night, all 15thcalled out of Gaff about 7.40. They are moving off at 9.0. Hell of arush. Say good bye to the lads. Have to help load stoves wagon. Sleepnight in practically empty camp. Leave in morning for H.1 Mob controlcamp next door. Get paid today and get driving job, shifting andbumping. First time I’ve driven a lorry by myself. Had officer withme too. Didn’t do too bad. Went to Gaff with Johnny and Davey.”“September23rd, As lad next bed to me has to go to hospital I take over his job forthe time. Have to take Libian prisoners on lorry collecting wastepaper in camp. Met old Taffy Smith this morning. He’s now staff cardriver.” “October9th, One escort duty each morning now to Libian prisoners. Bring them fromthe prison camp to their place of work and take them back is allthere is to it. Besides keeping an eye on them of course.” (Atthis time he begins passing blood. They think it might be dysentery.)“October29th(Hospital).Loose our comedian, a Welsh fellow named Williams. Goes to aconvalescent camp in Palestine today. Ward will miss his jokes. Havefour new men in ward during last 24 hrs. Hope to get up for an hourtomorrow…”(He’s been in the hospital for 3 weeks)“November24th, Unit 89thH. A. A. is stationed at 32 camp just down the road Leave Mob Centreonce again 2.0. Arrive about 3.30 after lorry brokedown about four times on the way….” “December6th, Declared war on Finland, Romania and Hungary from one minute pastmidnight last night.”“December8th, Hear on canteen wireless that Japan has declared war on Britain andU.S.A. 150 J-p(short for Japanese. He does write out the full slang) planesbomb Hawaii. Pretty busy on lathetoday.” There is so much morethan what I’ve quoted here. The diary is in fair shape (especiallyconsidering where it’s been) and measures about 2 1/2” x 3 3/4”.
