Tuesday, March 27, 2007

On the 21st day of the Crusader Battle

Tbe 4th Armoured Brigade had arrived at Bir Belchonus with no mishaps along the way. The force was dispersed, with the 5th RTR being sent to deal with some Italian M13/40s. The "composite squadron" from the 22nd Armoured Brigade was sent off on another operation. The 3rd RTR commander asked Alec Gatehouse if they might have breakfast. Gatehouse allowed them to brew up and cook. They were sent off to the northwest, after eating, at about 9am. Along the way, Robert rescued some handwritten papers from a knocked out Matilda. Later in the day, they ran upon another position with anti-tank guns. This time, they were engaged with 25pdrs. Robert had the chance to read the papers and found that they were poetry. He later found that they had been written by Captain Browne of the 7th RTR. He had been taken prisoner by the Germans. In camp, Robert had the nightly ritual of having Doc MacMillan rebandage his foot. Robert was told that the would be sent you early to find the 22nd Armoured Brigade squadron, which was thought to be "several miles" from where they were camped. This is based on the account in Robert Crisp's book Brazen Chariots.

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