It might be easier to make it this shape [] instead of this === ,as I have drawn it. But I must pitch my arms before my tent in Normandy, as well as have them on my tin-hat! She can get the design from the painted coats in the top of the wardrobe in maids' bedroom with my other kit. Now 9.30 p.m. so I'll close down.

Letter 8 9 o'clock p.m.

When you send the flag of our arms could you also send my inflatable pillow. It is in the bottom drawer of the wardrobe in the maids' bedroom where I keep my things, and is partly blown up already so that the creases don't break it, so it

21

should be easy to find. It would be very useful out here being light and yet comfortable.

Thurs. 13 July. This morning we had the usual inspections of kit etc. and also did some P.T. At 2.0. p.m. I took a party of 50 about 6 miles away, near the coast, to a cinema show; the news and 'Gentleman Jim' were showing, but the big film had been cut a lot so as to shorten it. We went and came back by transport. The cinema is a French one, built in 1931, and not very big. There are one or two holes in the fabric inside as though booby traps had been laid in it by the Germans - though perhaps it is just blast damage.

This evening we strolled through the neighbouring fields looking for an area to do training tomorrow. On the way one of the officers picked up this propaganda leaflet of ours. It reads "Propaganda and Reality." "I can assure Mr. Churchill that quite certainly, no matter what place he chooses for starting the second Front, he can everywhere consider himself lucky if he stays 9 hours on land." And alongside it is 'This photo was taken by an Allied war reporter 9 hours after the first landings in Normandy'. On the reverse are messages in Polish, German, and Russian. The German one says 'Austrians! The formal agreement between Gt. Britain, the Soviet Union, and the U.S.A. contains the pledge of the re-establishment of the independence of Austria. We know that you too are longing, for the collapse of the German Army, which alone can bring you your independence. The Germans know that too.

22.

That's why they have so little trust in you that they will not let you fight in the framework of your own Austrian Army.
On the other hand, your duty to your dependants and country is to save your life for the rebuilding) of Austria.
Think about it that every soldier can contrive to get captured. Let it be known that you are Austrians!'

By the way, when I came onto this page, I noticed I am short of writing paper. Can you send me some, and envelopes?

Fri. 14. July. This morning we did a bit of training in nearby fields; patrols and section movement, etc. The same during the first part of this afternoon, when about a dozen German fighters ventured to fly over the area and Machine gun something on the horizon - we couldn't see what. This evening I got Bun's letter; it was good going, posted 12.30. on 11 July and arrived this evening at 5 o'clock. I have just written to Phoebe. Apart from this, the days here are quiet and uneventful, as they should be!

Here is a specimen day's menu to spin out today's news:-

Breakfast: Tinned sausage (almost invariable) or (occasionally) tinned bacon; biscuits; tinned butter; jam; tinned tea. Sometimes bread instead of biscuits.

Lunch: Biscuits, butter, and jam; tea.

Tea: Tinned stew, or steak & kidney pudding; tinned tea, plum pudding, or treacle pudding, or rice (all tinned)

biscuits (or bread) and butter (or cheese). We also get each day 6 sweets and a 2d. size bar of chocolate, all free (also some fags, but they don't affect me). I am enjoying it well enough down here. I hope we stay for some days to come, and I don't mind if nothing much happens here!
Here is the lay-out of my funk-hole:-

 (no picture included)

Outside is a white chair, from a nearby deserted bungalow, and my table and washstand, i.e. a box with a biscuit-

tin on it for a bowl. Outside it looks like this:

 (no picture included)

24

I'll close down now. Remember the writing paper and envelopes!

Letter 9. 12 Parachute Regiment

B.L.A.

16. July 44.

8 o'clock p.m.

Dear Bun,

I'll write this one to you in reply to the one you sent me. You will notice that the address is now B.L.A. i.e. British Liberation Army! Not that I feel a liberator!

Sat. 15 July. The morning was spent in doing a bit of training, and in the afternoon my platoon was sent to Brigade to dig 3 underground Command Posts, Evidently the Brigadier doesn't like living in the house they have when shells are dropping, and wants to get below ground the same way we do. We had 3 compressors to help in the digging, but it was quite hard work because of the roots of the trees, which kept dragging on the spades. We got back at about 9 o'clock p.m. and then to bed.

I received Daddy's letter today (posted on the 12th July).

Sunday. 16 July. The whole morning I did nothing but read - we are a bit better off for newspapers now, and are getting them only 2 days after they are

25

published. At 2 o'clock there was a Church parade; in the afternoon I slept and read and cleaned my revolver and Sten. This morning I had nothing to do because my platoon went to the flicks and the other platoon in the company was digging at Brigade as we did yesterday.

The Church Parade was in a house nearby, previously occupied by the Germans, Probably as an Officers' Mess.
The Central room has a veranda round it like a minstrels' loft, such as you see in photos of Continental Shooting boxes.
On the walls are various quotations painted in German Script, e.g. 'Treve, OpferwillingKeit, und Verschwiegenheit sind die Tupenden, die ein grobes Volk notig brancht - Adolf Hitler', i.e.
Loyalty, Self-sacrifice, and reserve, are the virtues that a great people must have - Adolf Hitler.'

There is no other news. It's nice and sunny here now. I'm glad Daddy has got the Stroloto papers off. I'll close down now because this is the last piece of paper in my pad.

Letter 10. 12th Parachute Regt.

B.L.A.

19 July, 44.

7.30.p.m.

I forgot to mention that the other morning (last Friday, I think) as we were getting up. a flying bomb flew overhead spirting flames from its tail. Our A.A. gunners fired at it, although it was flying towards the German lines, but luckily didn't bring it down. So I hope

26

it landed on some Jerries! It was flying at about 250 feet and in a S.E. direction.

I have received Daddy's letter of 8 July - it came after your later ones because it followed me round from the R.H.Us. I should like a copy of the screed to Brig. Currey if you have one spare. Has my parcel I sent home from over here arrived, or has it got lost on the way.

This morning I also received mamma's letter of the 14th. You need not send anything for mosquitoes - we have stuff supplied; but it doesn't keep them away; they feed on it rather. This letter actually took only 3 days to come, because it was posted on the 16th.

Mon. 17th July. This morning nothing but the usual inspections. A swelteringly hot day. At about 4.30.p.m. we were told to be ready to move at 6.30.p.m. i.e. in 2 hours. All good things come to an end - it was grand and very comfortable in the rest area. At 6.30. we marched back to the (roughly) area where we were before, though a little further north. The day was boiling, it was uphill going, we were laden, and the roads were deep in dust. Whenever a truck passed (which was pretty frequently) we were enveloped in clouds of dust, and our feet were white: these Normandy roads certainly could be improved. At last we arrived at our area, an orchard just outside B___.
Most of the slit trenches were already dug,

27

though I improved my roof, and finally got to bed at about 11 p.m. We knew we had been sent forward because some-thing was afoot, and the next day we saw what it was.

Tues. 18 July. At about 5.30. a.m. I got out of my slit trench to see what was overhead - the sound of aeroplane engines had been roaring above for some time. And there they were - apparently thousands of them, Lancasters, 4-engine bombers, all flying south. They seemed never-ending, and the swarm kept coming in for over an hour. What the Germans must have thought I don't know - I should think a thousand planes flew over all in one pack. I suppose by now you will have read it in the papers. When the swarm of Lancasters ended small droves of bombers (2-engines this time) flew in - aluminium-coloured and flashing in the sun. When they stopped the guns started and kept up a continuous thunder for about an hour. I thought 'If this isn't an attempt at a break through I don't know what is'. We were on slightly high ground, and below us and near the line I could see the flashes of our artillery.
At about 9 o'clock the plain was filled with crawling bugs all going forward through glasses they turned out to be tanks going into the attack. We watched them crawl up to a crest about 3 miles away, where they came under enemy fire, and after seeing odd gun-flashes along the crest, I lost sight of everything in volumes of dust and smoke. An hour later battalions of little ants could be seen moving in

28

open order through the corn - infantry following up the tanks. All this time there was a thunder of guns in the distance, and advancing vehicles threw up clouds of dust. Eventually everything vanished from sight, and the rumbling died down, and soon there should be good news judging by the stuff I saw go forward over a small area.

In the afternoon I read a French history-book I picked up in a nearby bombed house, and at 6 o'clock we moved a few fields away to where we are now.
During the afternoon one of our bombers dropped a loose bomb in a field near us.
Tonight, at about 11.30. to 12 midnight, a few German planes tried their first bombing attack on us. They dropped flares which lighted up the fields as bright as day, and lots of small anti-personnel bombs, about 2lbs in weight. He flew up and down the hedges dropping these and machine-gunning, and then hopped it. No-one was injured, because we were all underground, so it was a complete waste of time, though fire was caused. They didn't dare to come back in case the R.A.F. had arrived by then.

Wed. 19 July. Up early this morning searching for unexploded bombs. About 8 were found, and disposed of harmlessly by the R.Es. During the morning I looked at the countryside round our position and this afternoon have read a bit. Am feeling rather tired, because for the last 2 nights mosquitoes have kept me awake all night. It's hot again and we have done nothing today, so I'll close down now and keep out of the sun.

29

12th Parachute Regt.

B.L.A.

22. July 44.

8.30.p.m.

The last letter was a bit sketchy (Letter 10) because I was rather tired; but this one won't be much better, because I haven't had any sleep for about 4 nights owing to the mosquitoes and the weather. Recently the weather has been as bad as it could be, and our slit trenches have been flooded.

Thurs. 20. July. Sunny and hot this morning, and rehearsed the N.C.O's in our defence role in the morning. In the afternoon at 4 o'clock, while we were similarly rehearsing the whole platoon, it suddenly started to rain, and once started it kept going for 36 hours. We got back to our trench area; most of our clothes and equipment were scattered about because it had been so hot and sunny - now they were drenched. We collected our belongings into our slit trenches, and at first it was quite dry inside: then a drop lipped over the entrance then it was a stream, and soon a cascade pouring in through the entrance. I withdrew foot by foot up my slit trench, till at last I reached the back wall, and had to collect up my kit off the floor to keep it moderately dry: I squatted with it on my lap like a squirrel holding a nut. after 3/4 hour this became rather tiring, so I decided to make a dash for it to some trees, and left my clothes wrapped up in my gas-cape in the hedge outside our slit trench. Later the rain stopped; and some of the water in my trench

30

 Return To War Diaries

 Return to Homepage

Copyright Guy Etchells © 1998 All rights reserved.

Permission is granted for all free personal and non-commercial uses. It is my intention to make all data contained herein freely available for all private, non-profit and non-commercial uses. Commercial use of any portion contained herein is expressly prohibited.