Africa 1941 by Phil Ward

Author:Phil Ward [Ward, Phil]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-12-04T22:00:00+00:00

“There’s a big build-up going on,” Captain “Geronimo” Joe McKoy said. “Just a matter time now before we attack.”

“Rommel’s marshaling Afrika Korps for an offensive too,” James “Baldie” Taylor said. “We are in a race to see who jumps off first.

“Quite a bit of loose talk in the bars. The MEHQ armchair Commandos do not have the first idea of security. Something has gone wrong with the mental attitude of the officers in Middle East Command.”

“Jane mentioned that,” Lieutenant Colonel John Randal said. “She said Auchinleck’s staff is counting on an easy victory.”

“Not only the staff,” Jim said. “Every unit you visit it is the same story: ‘The men are in good heart’ . . . or so their officers claim.”

Ranger Patrol was driving south up the road to Cairo. Traffic was heavier than usual. There were supply dumps of all kinds under camouflage netting off in the distance dotting both sides of the hardball. Military equipment, cannon, vehicles, fuel, etc., in vast quantities courtesy of the Unites States Lend Lease Program. The supply points seemed to have sprung up overnight.

“I doubt them boys is in all that good ah heart,” Capt. McKoy said. “If they are, it’s on account ah ignorance is bliss.”

“Roger that,” Lt. Col. Randal said.

“The overconfidence at GHQ has been contagious,” Jim said. “All our people are anticipating a walkover, due in no small part to the massive amount of supplies arriving from England and the United States. Military stores of all classes are pouring in. Middle East Command will have over thirty thousand vehicles before long.”

“After the Civil War, Confederate General George Pickett got hisself asked by a reporter why his charge at Gettysburg failed,” Capt. McKoy said.

“You know what ‘ole Pickett says? ‘I always thought the Yankees had something to do with it.’”

“The same sentiment would apply to what the Germans did to us in Norway, France, Greece, Crete and here in Operation Battleax,” Jim said. “What could we possibly have to be confident about?”

“Holdin’ your enemy in contempt or believin’ in your battle plan too much,” Capt. McKoy said, “bad medicine.”

Outside of Cairo, Ranger Patrol ran into a traffic jam that consisted almost entirely of khaki-painted U.S.-manufactured trucks. It was quite a sight. Farther up, the traffic on the Cairo to Alexander road was bumper to bumper.

“Don’t take a military genius,” Capt. McKoy said, “to see we’re goin’ over to offense right quick.”

“Field Marshal Auchinleck has reorganized, the Western Desert Force is now styled XIII Corps,” Jim said, “along with XXX Corps, it’s part of the new Eighth Army under General Cunningham of Abyssinian fame.”

“Good man,” Lt. Col. Randal said.

Ranger Patrol finally made it through Cairo, past Heliopolis Airfield, then past Mena House Hotel—where Lady Jane kept a suite with a view of the Great Pyramids—and drove out into the desert. The plan was to drive to Oasis X, which they would reach late tomorrow.

The patrol pulled off the road and mounted their machine guns. Lt. Col. Randal had not wanted people in Cairo to observe all the firepower packed on the jeeps.

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