Frank's diary has a section here with 34 pages which are illegible. It's as if the ink has totally dissolved. When it becomes legible again, it is March 1942, and 9 months have passed. From the Regimental War Diaries, I can piece together what the Regiment was doing, and having received Frank's personal Army records, I can ascertain a few facts about this time.
One mystery is that, as children, we were told that Dad had been wounded in his leg. This does not occur in any of the other diary sections, and in his album, there was a photo labelled '64th General Hospital, Alexandria.' The album is generally chronological, and this photo occurs between Tobruk and Cyprus. Casualties from Tobruk were evacuated to hospital in Alexandria by boat, as Tobruk was under siege. So , this photo was taken between June and August 1941, during the Siege of Tobruk, which is one of the 'missing sections.'
One mystery is that, as children, we were told that Dad had been wounded in his leg. This does not occur in any of the other diary sections, and in his album, there was a photo labelled '64th General Hospital, Alexandria.' The album is generally chronological, and this photo occurs between Tobruk and Cyprus. Casualties from Tobruk were evacuated to hospital in Alexandria by boat, as Tobruk was under siege. So , this photo was taken between June and August 1941, during the Siege of Tobruk, which is one of the 'missing sections.'
In the Regimental War Diary of 1st RTR appear the following entries:
'Consequent on attachment of one Squadron K O Hussars, forming 'D' Squadron, on 5/6/41, tanks were reallocated as follows_'. Frank was in Tobruk on June 8, and is therefore part of this Squadron.From then until the end of September, this Squadron is referenced in the War Diary of 1 RTR.
In May and June, Frank was in Tobruk, as seen from his diary entries.His photograph box states that it was made during the siege of Tobruk.
In the July war diary B Squadron are still in Tobruk, working as part of the 1st Royal Tank Regiment- patrolling and training with the Australians. On August 28 they were evacuated from Tobruk to Alexandria, and on to Cairo.From the records we can see that he was wounded just before this withdrawal.
Referring to his Army records, we can see that he was wounded on August 24 1941.
''Sustained burns to both knees. Decision of MO (medical officer)'Will not interfere with future efficiency.' Decison of G.O.C.-in -charge:'On duty- not to blame.' No court of inquiry held. He was in the hospital when the MEF census was taken on 6/9/1941 and rejoined his regiment in time to go out to Cyprus.
'Consequent on attachment of one Squadron K O Hussars, forming 'D' Squadron, on 5/6/41, tanks were reallocated as follows_'. Frank was in Tobruk on June 8, and is therefore part of this Squadron.From then until the end of September, this Squadron is referenced in the War Diary of 1 RTR.
In May and June, Frank was in Tobruk, as seen from his diary entries.His photograph box states that it was made during the siege of Tobruk.
In the July war diary B Squadron are still in Tobruk, working as part of the 1st Royal Tank Regiment- patrolling and training with the Australians. On August 28 they were evacuated from Tobruk to Alexandria, and on to Cairo.From the records we can see that he was wounded just before this withdrawal.
Referring to his Army records, we can see that he was wounded on August 24 1941.
''Sustained burns to both knees. Decision of MO (medical officer)'Will not interfere with future efficiency.' Decison of G.O.C.-in -charge:'On duty- not to blame.' No court of inquiry held. He was in the hospital when the MEF census was taken on 6/9/1941 and rejoined his regiment in time to go out to Cyprus.
The part of the Regiment which he was with sailed to Famagusta in Cyprus on September 28th.
"When the Regiment arrived in Famagusta it was for some of us like coming to Heaven from out of hell - hell in my case having been Tobruk, and for others the airborne invasion of Crete."
(Richard Heseltine, 'Pippins Progress')
Their task was to prevent the occupation of Cyprus by the Germans, and although there were air attacks, there was no invasion, and much of their time was spent in training, and building up the defences of the island.
(Richard Heseltine, 'Pippins Progress')
Their task was to prevent the occupation of Cyprus by the Germans, and although there were air attacks, there was no invasion, and much of their time was spent in training, and building up the defences of the island.
Click on the following photos to see a larger picture and caption.
Several of the training schemes took place in an area called 'The Keep' and in this photo they seem to be wearing specific kit.
Christmas 1941 was very much better than the previous celebration, which they spent under fire in the Desert.
There was obviously time to explore and visit the island. Click to enlarge.
Disasters with tanks were due to the terrain, rather than to enemy action
Soon after Christmas, in January 1942, B Squadron, the men Frank had been with in Tobruk, received orders to move. In order to make up the Squadron to full strength, men from other squadrons were co-opted and 6 officers with 132 men left Cyprus on January 8th 1942, still unsure as to where they were to be posted. After their departure the following appears in the Regimental war diary;
"Signal received that our message to 'B' Squadron cannot be delivered as they have left the Middle East. Where have they gone? presumably to fight the Japanese. A hideous thought."
They sailed for Singapore, but the city fell before their arrival, so they were diverted to Sumatra, and thence to Java, where they were captured when the Dutch capitulated.
In his book, 'Pippin's Progress,' Major Richard Heseltine wrote, 'Half of their numbers did not survive the near starvation and appalling brutalities meted out by a so-called civilised nation, and those who did survive their three-and-a-half years of captivity could never have been the same again.'
The remainder of the Regiment sailed from Famagusta to Haifa in Palestine arriving on March 18th 1942, although Frank's next legible diary entry appears to show him already settled in the camp in Jenin by the 8th March,perhaps, so for some reason he had gone on ahead.
Diary 3 continues in Palestine, then quite soon they return to Egypt, to prepare for the battle of El Alamein.