On the back: "Taken on the way back from Mersa Matruh,
(Egypt) 2nd day of travelling. Aug. 14th 1939." Albert, corporal,
middle.
above & below, the train from Cairo to Mersa Matruh
Truck driving mode
Looking very smart, maybe for an evening in town.
On the back: "Lofty, myself and a few of the boys in the tent.
Egypt 1939"
- just posing, but apparently they did do some boxing
abive & bekiw - a tree and grass, looks like England during
those first six months of 1940.
The postcard above is from Albert's return to Cairo, he wrote a
caption for it "R.M.S. Queen Mary - To Egypt June 1940 - via Cape
Town, Trincomalee, Colombo, Bombay, Suez." They had to go the long
way round this time to avoid the fighting in the Mediteranean.
wikipedia: At the outbreak of war, the Regiment consisted of eight regular battalions. 1st & 6th RTR was part of the Heavy Armoured Brigade (Egypt) - the War Diary notes below are from the 6th, but seem to apply equally to the 1st.
The first British 'Mobile Force' was established in the Mersa Matruh area of the Western Desert, in Egypt, in May 1939 under the command of Major General Percy Hobart. Albert's regiment appears to have been part of that, returning to the barracks in Cairo in mid-August. They promptly returned to Mersa Matruh, presumably with fresh vehicles, on August 25th. He was promoted to corporal during this time:
Service record:
Mustered as driver Mec, group D, class II 7.6.39
Appointed, to complete estab., Unpaid L/Cpl 7.6.39
Notes below are from the
'War
Diaries For The Royal Tank Regiment, August 1939 To March 1946'
25/8/39 Cairo (see photos left)
0600 - Unit B Echelon left Cairo by road route for the [Mersa] Matruh
area, vehicle strength 42
0900 – Train F consisting of BHQ, A & B Coys, left Abbassia siding
for Matruh area, vehicles entrained:-
A Coy 8 Cruiser tanks, 7 light tanks (Mk VIb),
B Coy 8 Medium tanks (Mk II) 2 light tanks (Mk VIb)
1100 – C Coy left Abbassia siding by train. Vehicles entrained 8
Medium tanks (Mk II), 7 Light tanks (Mk VIb).
26/8/39 0430 – BHQ, A & B Coys detrained.
0830 – C Coy detrained.
1200 – Btn and vehicles, less B Echelon, concentrated 2 miles South
of Charing Cross, 15 miles SW of Matruh.
1630 – B Echelon arrived, less 1 signal lorry, casualty en route.
1730 – AFVs and transport bivouacked in air formation.
28/8/39 1 signal section vehicle (casualty en route) arrived in camp.
Appointed unpaid A/L/Cpl 1.9.39
Appointed
paid A/L/Cpl 1.9.39
3/9/39 Great Britain declared war on Germany.
4/9/39 - A censorship was imposed on private correspondence. Active Service conditions notified.
13/9/39 The Armoured Division (Egypt) was reviewed by HM the King of Egypt. The Btn was on parade.
15/9/39 Camp moved to a site nearer Matruh – Air disposition and open formation maintained.
19/9/39 Mobilisation scale of rations introduced by General Order 451/1939.
Apponted unpaid A/Cpl 29.9.39
Appointed paid A/Cpl 29.9.39
October 1939: 1 - 31 Matruh
A series of exercises – Brigade, division and Command – were
held during the month, concluding with the Command Exercise from 28th
October to 2nd November. During the latter exercise B Coy, whose vehicles
were composed of Cruiser and Light tanks, operated with the Light Armoured
Bde. The tanks kept up with the Bde which was operating mainly with wheeled
vehicles.
During the latter week of the month the camp site was adjusted to closed
positions; air dispositions vacated. Slit trench and protected bivouac
positions remained ready for immediate occupation if necessary. In the
new position Companies and vehicles closed in the camp so laid out with
a view to a suitable arrangement for semi-permanent occupation.The unit
War Establishment was promulgated by War Office Letter 79/Mob/3053 dated
12/9/39.
November 1939: 1 – 7 A tool check was carried out and maintenance
to vehicles on conclusion of the exercises referred to in last month diary.
In order to obtain the best results, the Armoured division School was
formed at Abbassia in order to concentrate individual training. This Unit
provided 30 instructors for Gunnery, Wireless and D&M. [Driving
& Maintenance - Albert's role though he was still in the 1st Bn]
Owing to changes necessitated by the War Establishment the unit was re-designated
6th Royal Tank Regiment, the Companies being re-formed into Squadrons
and Troops.
8/11/39 An unusual and very severe storm occurred on the night 8/9th. Fierce wind and heavy rain resulted in the camp being flooded, and many tents were blown down.
9/11/39 The day was devoted to salvage. Tanks were moved to positions near large tents and guy ropes secured. Owing to the wind no tent pegs would remain in the ground. The work was severely hampered by heavy squalls and showers. Rum issue was authorised.
10/11/39 Further salvage carried out and drying of clothing.
11/11/39 Instructors for AD [Armoured Division] school left for Cairo
to undergo a week’s refresher course prior to taking up their duties.
- at this point Albert appears to have been one of those that left
the camp - various activities continued for the next 12 days.
The photos below all appear to have been taken by Albert in the Mersa Matruh area of the Western Desert between May and November, 1939.
14/11/39 Initial promotions to fill War Establishment were promulgated.
19/11/39 - 73 students selected to attend 1st course at the AD School were evacuated to Cairo.
23/11/39 Train party arrived Abbassia siding at 0915 hrs. The Regt resumed occupation of its former accommodation at Main Barracks, Abbassia. The Officers Mess occupied accommodation formerly on charge to 7th Queens Own Hussars.
December 1939: 1 - 20 Cairo
Taking over peace time accommodation. Maintenance of all vehicles. RHQ
Sqn was partially formed and its personnel transferred to separate barrack
rooms. OC HQ Sqn – Capt JC Stephens. Due to lack of admin personnel,
personnel forming this Sqn remained attached to their former Sqns for
admin purposes.
The Regt was instructed to detail a draft of 50 instructors for BEF
and the UK. The draft was expected to leave Egypt towards the end of the
month, but its departure was postponed until January. [Albert appears
to have been part of this, so presumably the 1st regiment also sent men ] Major FV Lyons, Lt DE Ward, Lt JK Greenwood
were under orders to proceed to UK with this draft.
Individual training, both within the Regt and at AD School, was carried
out.
Capt GC Webb was attached to Heavy Armoured Bde as OC Brigade HQ Sqn.
Major E Cenochio and Lt EH Gibbon were struck off strength on posting
to Armd Div.
25/12/39 The usual Christmas festivities took place.
promoted War Substantive WS/Cpl 29.12.39
30/12/39 HQ Sqn was formed and became self-accounting. Personnel ceased attachment to their former sqns.
6/1/40 Cairo
Eight more Cruiser tanks drawn from RAOC these bringing the Regt up to
full establishment of Cruiser tanks (23). The Medium tanks still held
by the Regt were not returned to RAOC as they are being retained in order
to give an ‘I’ tank demonstration on 18th January.
14/1/40 The regt was ordered to give an I Tank demonstration with Medium
tanks. In order to provide a complete Company six Medium tanks were drawn
from RAOC which provided a total of 18, giving 2 spares. A ‘Demonstration
Company’ was formed under Capt CIA Jackson and went out to MENA prepared
to bivouac and practise until the actual demonstration on 17th January.
18/1/40 Demonstration took place satisfactorily having been postponed
on the 17th owing to sandstorm. 75 vehicles from various units in Armd
Div and RAF co-operating in search for Tprs Innes and Smith.
20/1/40 Draft of 4 officers and 50 ORs left for UK. These were trained
personnel being sent home as instructors and included NCOs.
- at this point Albert appears to have been one of the instructors sent back
to train the BEF [British Expeditionary Force] which went over to France
- and ultimately ended with the evacuation at Dunkirk at the beginning
of June, but Albert was on his way back to Cairo by then. Meanwhile, on
June 10, Italy declared war on Britain and the fighting soon started in
the desert and RTR had been sent to meet the Italians while Albert was
away. On Sep.14, 1940, the Italians crossed into Egypt. Albert remained
based at the school in Cairo.
Base depot 2nd ??, posted, W.S. Cpl 22.6.40
Posted RAC base depot 28.8.40
1st Bn. RTR, posted, W.S. Cpl 4.4.41
17/4/41 Orders were received for the unit to proceed to Cairo by train. This they did under command of Major RL Scoones. Eventually arrived at ABBASSIA sidings at 1930 hrs, almost exactly 11 months since leaving for the Western Desert in May 1940. Contact was again made with C Sqn, with whom there had been no communication since April 6th.
18/4/41 The Regt took up quarters in Main Barracks, Abbassia. Nominal Rolls of all casualties and missing personnel were compiled and submitted to HQ 2nd Echelon. They included the names of 5 officers and 15 ORs.
April 19 – 30 1941: It was decided to send as many officers and ORs as could be spared on 5 days well earned leave. Driver, Operator and Gunnery courses were organised and attended at RAC Base Depot and Schools.
Base depot WS/Cpl 6.9.41
Posted to RAC base depot 1.11.41
D&M Inst & qualification P.II WS/Cpl (Au/Sgt) 13.3.42
Throughout 1941 and 42 the desert war with the Italians, and soon the Germans, continued, culminating in the battle of El Alamein just 60 miles from Cairo. Albert remained at the base in Cairo, probably now mostly dealing with maintenance and repairs to vehicles needed by the RTR in the field.
Informal uniform plus fly swot, but no stripe yet.
Now with one stripe - ie corporal.
above & below: Looks like Mersah Matruh harbour
By the wheel of the truck, looking rather muddy so possibly after
the storm.
Albert, right, trying the harmonica, he didn't keep it up for long
Albert and his brother Bill, a Royal Marine. On the back it says
'Troops on the move. London' Probably during the first six months of 1940
when Albert was back in England
