1/
This is the menu card of the SBS Christmas dinner 1943 at their base in Athlit. The feast was laid on by brigadier Douglas Turnbull of Special Raiding Forces. He’d even arranged for the boys to be serenaded by an ENSA singer, Miss Judy Shirley
This is the menu card of the SBS Christmas dinner 1943 at their base in Athlit. The feast was laid on by brigadier Douglas Turnbull of Special Raiding Forces. He’d even arranged for the boys to be serenaded by an ENSA singer, Miss Judy Shirley
2/
Bad idea. As Dick Holmes (pic left), MM, told me: ‘Many of us had just recovered from the hammering we’d lived through in the Dodecanese. We looked forward to eating the special meal prepared by our excellent chef, Sgt Salmon.’
Bad idea. As Dick Holmes (pic left), MM, told me: ‘Many of us had just recovered from the hammering we’d lived through in the Dodecanese. We looked forward to eating the special meal prepared by our excellent chef, Sgt Salmon.’
3/
Holmes had been heavily Stuka-ed on Samos, other SBS had fought their way off Leros. Holmes recalled the moment he & his best mate, Doug Wright (pic, far right) had been hugging the bottom of a slit trench during an air attack. Suddenly…
Holmes had been heavily Stuka-ed on Samos, other SBS had fought their way off Leros. Holmes recalled the moment he & his best mate, Doug Wright (pic, far right) had been hugging the bottom of a slit trench during an air attack. Suddenly…
4/
“Andy Lassen [VC] came diving in, shivering & really scared. Doug looked at him, grinned & asked ‘Glad you joined now?’"
According to Doug Wright, MM, that Stuka raid “was the only time I ever saw Andy looking a little frightened.”
“Andy Lassen [VC] came diving in, shivering & really scared. Doug looked at him, grinned & asked ‘Glad you joined now?’"
According to Doug Wright, MM, that Stuka raid “was the only time I ever saw Andy looking a little frightened.”
5/
Back to Christmas dinner.
Dick Holmes: “The officers & the sgts had just placed our meals in front of us when our intrepid brigadier appeared on the scene, accompanied by Judy Shirley.” Turnbull said Shirley’s presence was a ‘reward’ for their efforts in recent weeks.
Back to Christmas dinner.
Dick Holmes: “The officers & the sgts had just placed our meals in front of us when our intrepid brigadier appeared on the scene, accompanied by Judy Shirley.” Turnbull said Shirley’s presence was a ‘reward’ for their efforts in recent weeks.
6/
“She began,” said Dick, “and we eyed our meal, congealing on the plate. From down the end of the table a voice boomed ‘Get her out of here!’. The brigadier went red in the face but decided to withdraw, leaving us free to eat our special meal.”
“She began,” said Dick, “and we eyed our meal, congealing on the plate. From down the end of the table a voice boomed ‘Get her out of here!’. The brigadier went red in the face but decided to withdraw, leaving us free to eat our special meal.”
7/
Meanwhile 1 and 2SAS were camped together in Philippeville, Algeria. On this day in 1943, Dec 19, they clashed on the rugby field. The 1SAS war diary didn’t record who won but 1SAS had Mayne, Lowson & Wiseman, among others, 3 handy players.
I’d be surprised if 2SAS triumphed
Meanwhile 1 and 2SAS were camped together in Philippeville, Algeria. On this day in 1943, Dec 19, they clashed on the rugby field. The 1SAS war diary didn’t record who won but 1SAS had Mayne, Lowson & Wiseman, among others, 3 handy players.
I’d be surprised if 2SAS triumphed
8/
On Dec 20, 1SAS entrained for Algiers in goods wagons, 20 men to each. War diary noted no food from 1100 to 21hrs. Then ‘bread and bully’.
On Dec 22 they arrived at their transit camp, 20 miles outside Algiers.
On Dec 23 they were allowed to visit Algiers.
Cue chaos.
On Dec 20, 1SAS entrained for Algiers in goods wagons, 20 men to each. War diary noted no food from 1100 to 21hrs. Then ‘bread and bully’.
On Dec 22 they arrived at their transit camp, 20 miles outside Algiers.
On Dec 23 they were allowed to visit Algiers.
Cue chaos.
9/
Bob Lowson (pic) told me that among the boys’ various antics that day he and Sid Blanche “got boozed & ended up having perms done in some barbers”.
As they began to sober up they asked themselves what Paddy Mayne would make of their perms.
“So we went back and had crew cuts.”
Bob Lowson (pic) told me that among the boys’ various antics that day he and Sid Blanche “got boozed & ended up having perms done in some barbers”.
As they began to sober up they asked themselves what Paddy Mayne would make of their perms.
“So we went back and had crew cuts.”
10/
Then there was the legendary Jock McDiarmid. It was very wet in Algiers, so Jock (pic) entertained the boys with his Puddle Dance. “I’ve never seen anything so funny in my life,” said Lowson. “It was a cross between a Highland fling & a sword dance in the middle of a stream"
Then there was the legendary Jock McDiarmid. It was very wet in Algiers, so Jock (pic) entertained the boys with his Puddle Dance. “I’ve never seen anything so funny in my life,” said Lowson. “It was a cross between a Highland fling & a sword dance in the middle of a stream"
11/
The 1SAS war diarist noted that Christmas lunch consisted of: ‘A pork chop & tinned turkey with carrots & roast potatoes; pears & custard. Tolerable.’
But then at 2000hrs they received the best gift imaginable: ‘Sqn lorried down to Algiers to docks’.
The 1SAS war diarist noted that Christmas lunch consisted of: ‘A pork chop & tinned turkey with carrots & roast potatoes; pears & custard. Tolerable.’
But then at 2000hrs they received the best gift imaginable: ‘Sqn lorried down to Algiers to docks’.
12/
At 22hrs they embarked on the SS Otranto (pic).
“This really is the best way of spending Christmas day, embarking for the UK,” recorded the war diary.
After 23 months in North Africa, 1SAS were going home.
At 22hrs they embarked on the SS Otranto (pic).
“This really is the best way of spending Christmas day, embarking for the UK,” recorded the war diary.
After 23 months in North Africa, 1SAS were going home.
13/
In Noci, southern Italy, a squadron of 2SAS was also celebrating Xmas. Having gorged on turkey & all the trimmings, plus plum-pudding & custard, and, according to Lt Jimmy Hughes (pic), “a large quantity of wine”, the boys had “drunk ourselves into a stupor”.
In Noci, southern Italy, a squadron of 2SAS was also celebrating Xmas. Having gorged on turkey & all the trimmings, plus plum-pudding & custard, and, according to Lt Jimmy Hughes (pic), “a large quantity of wine”, the boys had “drunk ourselves into a stupor”.
14/
Four Italian soldiers “played the accordion & sang operatic songs”. There were even decorations, of a sort: balloons, in reality inflated army issue condoms.
On December 27 a party was thrown by 2SAS for the locals.
Four Italian soldiers “played the accordion & sang operatic songs”. There were even decorations, of a sort: balloons, in reality inflated army issue condoms.
On December 27 a party was thrown by 2SAS for the locals.
15/15
By then, said Hughes, “our balloons had deflated & their origin was clear. However, being Catholics they could hardly admit to being shocked by the sight.”
Hughes wooed a local lass called Elisabetta: “I fell for her beauty & her nightingale voice.”
Merry Christmas, all.
By then, said Hughes, “our balloons had deflated & their origin was clear. However, being Catholics they could hardly admit to being shocked by the sight.”
Hughes wooed a local lass called Elisabetta: “I fell for her beauty & her nightingale voice.”
Merry Christmas, all.
@threadreaderapp unroll
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
