2nd - 4th September, 1947 - More Army comings and goings... and a spectacular "firework display"!

Tuesday, 2^nd September, 1947

Some new Army arrived here today the party is again Welsh Guards fewer in number this time.

Wednesday, 3^rd September, 1947

Nothing very much today.

Two C.M.P’s [1] arrived here this afternoon to gather details of the boys who were killed.  I told them all we knew and let them copy some of the statements.

[1]Not quite sure what "C.M.P" stands for but I imagine it was some sort of Military Policeman - anyone know?

Thursday, 4^th September, 1947   

This morning the army began to move out.  No more are coming I think.

About two kilos from the station the road becomes very steep & has a double bend in it.  The army ammunition truck would not climb this and while a Dispatch Rider was by the side of the truck the motor bike went up in flames.  The canvas cover to the truck caught and soon the blaze was beyond control.  It burned for ¾ of an hour and all the ammunition exploded.  The noise was terrific as mortar bombs & grenades exploded.  The rounds going off sounded like a battery of machine guns.  Many arms including 8 Brens, & 2 stens  a number of rifles & mortars were destroyed.

The Dispatch Rider was the only one injured and he only sustained a slight burn on his thigh.

Sgt Blanks was soon off on his horse with the 1^st Aid Kit under his arm.

25th - 28th August, 1947 - The impressive Welsh Guards, some real crime and a taste of the Jordan...

Monday, 25^th August, 1947

An eventful day at the station.  The Palestinian Corporal came back off leave and is probably remaining here as the Inspectors relief when he goes on leave shortly.

The Army arrived at the station this morning in the persons of 40 Welsh Guards.

Inside half and hour they had pitched 4 big tents inside our perimeter wire and had the kitchen going.  By night fall they had the messes and many small tents put up.

The Sargent Major came in to have a shower and stayed for a bottle party with the Sarg. and some of the boys.  A major is i.c. with a Captain.

Tuesday, 26^th August, 1947

The P/Cpl [Palestinian Corporal] reinstated today.  Mohd Kanan a bit sorry to lose his control over the T.A.C.s since the Cpl has been on leave.

Went for a walk down the Waddi this evening with Peter.

Wednesday, 27th August, 1947

I went to court this morning with the Inspector.

There we learned of a robbery which had occurred in our station area but which had been reported to Nablus Rural.  We went to the Rural and took over what turned out to be a series of three armed robberies on the main road.

We went to the scene of the crimes and found Sgt Blanks and the Divisional Tracker had finished their investigations.  At the point where the hold-ups took place the road is on the bend on the side of a mountain and it was down into the deep valley the tracker traced the robbers.  They followed tracks for 3 kilos then lost them owing to the nature of the ground.  When we got back to the station we found a wireless message from Jiftlich reporting another armed robbery by the Jordan…  P.T.O.

River Jordan
source: http://www.palestine1947.co.uk/gallery/photo/river-jordan.htm
Again thanks to Harry C Farmer

Thursday, 28^th July, 

… The robbers had stolen 85 sheep from 5 shepherds travelling from Beisan with 1000.

We rushed our lunch and raced off on this new case.  We contacted Jiftlich Police and the tracker scouted around until he found some tracks.  I drank my first drink at the Jordan this day.  The water is deep but appears to be muddy.

We followed the tracks in the truck for 5 kilos on the main road then they left the road and we walked three kilos into the mountains in the sweltering heat of the Ghore.  Then those too faded owing to the rocks replacing the sandy earth.

We returned to Jiftlich where the Inspector took very many statements and we dined before leaving at half-past midnight.

Today, Thursday, has therefore been a very busy day in the “I” Branch Office.

Two boys were killed by mortar bomb left by Army in the mountains near here.