Friday, December 22, 2006

A break in the action on the sixth day

Robert Crisp, after capturing the German armoured car, was going to line up with the other Stuarts on the edge of the B-Echelon leaguer, when his tank came to an abrupt halt. They were out of fuel. He told his crew to "dismount" and he went to ask the South Africans if they had any petrol. The South Africans were short of fuel, as well, but gave Robert a "four-gallon tin". The petrol was not the high-octane stuff that the Stuart really needed, but he took it back to the tank. He was amazed to see his new driver. The driver was in a panic, having been in action "for the first time". He was running in circles. Robert came up and gave him a kick, and this seemed to calm him. Robert told the driver to take the tin and pour it into their tank. As they were looking into the distance, they saw three vehicles drive up and stop "two miles away". They saw "a troop of German field guns going into action". Robert and his companions saw that the Germans were firing "towards the Sidi Rezegh escarpment", which was to the north. This is based on the account in Robert Crisp's book, Brazen Chariots.

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