Soldiers in Different Armies by Brenda Inglis-Powell

Author:Brenda Inglis-Powell [Inglis-Powell, Brenda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781479754670
Publisher: Xlibris AU
Published: 2016-10-26T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

PALESTINE—1941

Albert and Jock on the Road to Palestine

At last… the Battalion came to the Valley of Esdraelon (or Jezreel). On this historic battlefield were won the victories of Gideon, Deborah, and Barak. Here Saul insulted the witch of Endor and was slain in battle. Here Jehu drove, and Jezebel flaunted her painted face. Here stalked Elijah. Here manoeuvred Lord Allenby of Megiddo. Here stands Armageddon . . . The troops found themselves transported from a land of sand and heat, flies and fleas, to a scene which could have fitted into many fertile areas in the south-east of Australia. A land of maize and chocolate soil, of crops and gum trees; a land of houses and people.

In a grove of Australian eucalypts, Albert and Jock set up their tent and proudly hung out the ‘Hop In’ sign. That night, 300 cups of coffee were served, and fifteen big baskets of fresh Jaffa oranges were distributed to the men.

Jock was now suffering a great deal of discomfort from the wound in his head. The medic could only re-stitch the small section that had not healed over, re-bandage it, and then send Jock on his way. He did, however, provide Jock with three or four bandages so that he could try and keep the wound clean.

The word was now out. Maps of Syria were studied. D-Day was to be Sunday, 8 June. ‘Ever since Gallipoli’, commented Lt-Col. Cannon, ‘everything has happened on a Sunday.’

On 6 June, Albert and Jock packed every inch of the wagon and its roof rack. At 10 p.m., in the pitch dark, they moved along the road as part of the convoy until ordered to bump over ploughed ground and park under olive trees, hidden from aerial observation. They were now twenty-three miles from the Syrian border. Tea and coffee flowed freely. It was appreciated by both men and officers. Naval ships pounded enemy positions, and artillery and anti-aircraft fire made rest or sleep impossible.

Next morning, the convoy moved ten kilometres closer to the border. The battalion was advancing, and at noon, a rumbling on the horizon announced Vichy French planes. Anti-aircraft guns rattled as the planes approached overhead. Vichy French machine guns tore into the earth, sending geysers of sand and rock spewing into the air. The acrid smell of exploding bombs and gunpowder burnt into their nostrils as the ancient earth was torn apart. Both Albert and Jock lay under Vikel, praying that they would be spared, while anti-aircraft fire brought down one of the planes in a fireball. The Allied attack on Syria was in full swing.

The Battalion history records: The conflict was short and sharp, lasting less than six weeks; but the fighting took place in rugged mountainous country ideally suited for defence . . . they were well equipped and supplied; they knew the country. Their mortars outranged ours; they had more medium artillery; they had almost every square yard pin-pointed for mortars and artillery. They had the advantage in troop transport, in mules for mountain warfare, in tanks and armoured cars .

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