11th & 12th February, 1947 - More fun with guns!... and "Every Kiss a Thrill!"

Tuesday, 11^th February, 1947

Fine.

I felt much better this morning.  Arms Drill “Slope & Order Arms”

Arabic with an officious new teacher.

A stack of mail came in today including three Valentines, a letter from Aunt Rosa, 2 from Mum & Dad & 1 from Joyce.

Wrote to Mum Dad and Joyce (15)

Wednesday, 12^th February, 1947

Fine again today, brilliant sunshine.

P.T. at 6am – 6.30am.

Parades and lectures during morning.  More rifle drill.  I am afraid one of these fine days I am going to turn about so well that my rifle will be so surprised that it will not accompany me but drop to the ground.

This afternoon we spent digging out a rifle range at the rear of the camp.

The ground was nearly all stone bound together with sandy soil so was very hard even with picks and shovels.

I wrote to Aunt Fan early in the evening, then went to the cinema to see “Honky Tonk” starring Lana Turner.  It was a very good film, of old time America.

Wrote to Aunt Rhoda and Uncle Sam.

8th - 10th February - Ron complains about the dirt and the recruits are warned about VD!

Saturday, 8^th February, 1947

This morning we had the usual Interior Economy in which the Barrack Room was washed out and the dexterity of the inmates made the floor more dirty than it was prior to washing.  We also had a lecture by the S.M.O. on V.D.  His Arabic English was difficult to follow but we got the gist of it.

This was followed by the theory and practice of Riot Drill in which stones were thrown with pleasure at some of our felloe recruits protected by shields & pick shafts This evening I went to the camp cinema to see “Strike Up The Band” starring Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney.

Sunday, 9^th February, 1947

It has been a really glorious day today.  Most of us treated it as a true day of rest.  I was on “stand-to” over night but one of the chaps on guard took my T.M.C. back for me.  I scrubbed my webbing white & spent the remainder of the morning, afternoon & evening playing pontoon.  Over the day I won 200mils.  Tonight party sent out to Shafa Amr.  “Wog” riot rumoured.

Monday, 1o^th February, 1947

Glorious weather again today.

I came over bilious during the morning & felt very ill at lunch time.

I went sick during the afternoon & was excused drill.

I went to bed early & got a long night’s rest.

29th & 30th, January - Ron is still poorly but the abducted Judge is released

Wednesday, 29^th January, 1947

Muddy this morning but not raining.  I reported sick after P.T. at 6.45.  The M.O. told me to abandon the reduced diet & go back to full diet for two days & see how this affects me.  We were told this morning that the Abducted Judge had been released & that Police had not found the Major.  The Airborne rumours seem to have been unconfounded [unconfirmed?].

We were paid today £P16.200m.

Heard from Mum.

Wrote to Joyce & Mum & Dad (2, 9 & 10)

Thursday, 30^th January, 1947

Fine this morning.

Had lecture from A.I.G. Brig Ferguson on the conditions in Palestine at the moment.  He told us that the abducted Major was released last night when the curfew had been lifted for a while for the specific purpose.  The condemned terrorist has appealed against his sentence.  Dov Grumer[1] is his name & he took part in the attack on Ramit Gan Police Station last April, being left mortally wounded by his companions.

[1]Dov Grumer (or sometimes Gruner) was executed on 22 April 1947 

27th & 28th January, 1947 Ron reports on recent Irgun activity...

Monday, 27^th January, 1947

Ron's sister, my Auntie Joyce,
and his Mum, Florence Gladys
with Biddy and Chang the Pekinese...

Slept from 12 midnight to 4am when I did the second part of my guard.  Cold wind still blowing.  Received a copy of C.C.O.[1] today.  Heard today that at 5pm yesterday a retired British Major[2] in Jerusalem had been abducted by the Jewish Terrorists.  Also today 8 of these terrorists, armed, entered a District court Session in Tel Aviv & abducted the President of the Court.  Unofficially I heard today that 12 airborne Soldiers had been abducted with a threat that they will be “Publicly” hung if the death sentence on the captured terrorist is fulfilled.

Heard from Joyce today.

I am on “stand to” tonight.

Still on sick list.

[1] Not sure what C.C.O. refers to - anyone know?

[2]Reported in Hansard, and In the Jewish Telegraphic Agency Major H. A. I. Collins was abducted from his Jerusalem flat.  Judge Ralph Windham was abducted in Tel Aviv by eight armed men.

Tuesday, 28^th January, 1947

Raining this morning  - no parades.

Had lecture at lunchtime by the Chief Padre of the Palestine Police.

We were told today that the High Commissioner had summoned the two leaders of the Jews in this country & gave them an ultimatum in so much that if by 12.13pm tomorrow the Judge and Major abducted were not returned, certain areas of Palestine would be put under Martial law.

I have reported sick again twice today with no improvement.

This evening the car used in the abduction of the judge in Tel Aviv was found in North Haifa.

24th - 26th January, 1947 - Ron reports sick

Friday, 24^th January, 1947

Very wet again today.

Lectures on Arabic.  L.M.G. Rifle, Law and First Aid continue.

My diarrhoea has continued also.

Received letter from home today No1.

Saturday, 25^th January, 1947

Not raining today.  Reported sick.  We had our first official period of “Internal Economy” here today.  All recreation trucks to Haifa have been cancelled until further notice.  This is because one of the last caught terrorists is to be hanged and his pals have threatened if the sentence is fulfilled to hang any Police or Soldiers they can.  Troops have been confined aswell.

We had Identification Parade today as one of the Canteen Wogs[1] was found wearing a K.D. shirt.  He said it was sold him by one of the recruits.  He picked a most unlikely chap at this Parade.  Wog put in lock up.  Went to camp film show to see “Her Highness and The Bell Boy”

Sunday, 26^th January, 1947

Very fine this morning but chilly.  Reported sick again though feel better.  Wrote to Joyce and to Mum & Dad. (7 & 8)

On guard tonight from 10-12 o’clock.  From 6 – 10 we talked with 1st Sergeant Jones, a man of great experience in the Near East.

He corrected the impression I had that Arab girls do not go to school.

From 10 – 12 a very cold East Wind blowing.


[1] I refer the reader to the discussion of racist language in the first post of this blog