["It was a significant, safe place" in August, 1943;
Map from pg. xi, SIEGE: MALTA 1940 - 1943]
In the reminiscences of a Canadian LCM Flotilla Engineer Officer I find the following details:
While in Malta several cases of malaria, sand-fly fever
and desert sores developed. Some were cured in time
to sail with us and those that had to remain were sincerely
disappointed for after the fall of Sicily it was quite easy to
guess our next move would to be into Italy itself and they
wanted to be in on the mainland job.
[pg. 98, COMBINED OPERATIONS by Clayton Marks, London]
My father was one of many men placed on a 'rest and handfuls of pills' regimen because of dysentery, and in the early 1990s he wrote a newspaper article about his time in Malta. Apparently, the invasion of Italy did not dominate his thoughts.
Part of the article follows:
Food, sustenance and mail were found on Malta
At the end of the Sicilian campaign several Canadian
sailors and officers became ill. Fatigue brought on by
long hours of work and poor nourishment for over a
month had now taken its toll and showed up in various
ways. Salt water sores, rashes, sunburn, dysentery,
things we hadn’t time to bother with before now began
to manifest themselves.
Fear was now gone and the inaction caused many to
Fear was now gone and the inaction caused many to
have letdowns. Many had not relaxed for weeks and
now that it was over they had difficulty handling it.
Mail from home would have helped at a time like this;
most of us hadn’t had mail since April and it was now
the middle of August. I would have given my right arm
for a cool drink of Norwich water and Sweet Caporal
cigarettes from the Women’s War league.
[The Norwich Gazette, circa 1992]
Water from his hometown, a free smoke and mail. All father wanted were a few simple pleasures but his wishes were quickly pushed aside after getting orders from a ship's doctor to report to Hill 10 Hospital. Dysentery was taking its toll.
Father continues:
Father continues:
Malta isn’t very large and by asking a few natives I
found my way to the hospital, dragged right out.
I wandered in and reported my condition to one of
the English orderlies. I’ll never forget how cheerful
his reply was in that Godforsaken place.
“Oh, we’ll soon cure that, Canada.”
“Yeah? How?” I said.
“We’ll starve you for a week.”
(So, what else was new?)
found my way to the hospital, dragged right out.
I wandered in and reported my condition to one of
the English orderlies. I’ll never forget how cheerful
his reply was in that Godforsaken place.
“Oh, we’ll soon cure that, Canada.”
“Yeah? How?” I said.
“We’ll starve you for a week.”
(So, what else was new?)
But I was in no condition to argue and for a few days
I found out how severe dysentery can be, and hunger
was no stranger to me, but after four or five days the
staff relented and gave me a little boiled cabbage.
Here was FOOD and SUSTENANCE and I suffered very
few side affects. I was on my way, even my ribs looked
better.
["Malta was called 'George Cross Island'
by many who stopped there"]
by many who stopped there"]
After about 10 days I was given a clean bill of health and
released to wander freely about Malta and wait for my
comrades who were late coming from Sicily in landing craft.
I found a vacant array of Air Force tents to sleep in and
was fortunate to scrounge some food from the natives.
I thought I had it tough - but I couldn’t hold a candle to
these folks. I investigated a bit of the catacombs where
many slept and lived through the intense bombing raids -
no wonder the island was awarded the George Cross.
Though father didn't get to enjoy a glass of Norwich water for a few more months, he did eventually get his Sweet Caps and mail. All the while preparations for the invasion of Italy took place around him. But did he take much notice?
["Doug Harrison on leave, circa 1943"]
More to follow.
Please click here to read Dad's Navy Days: August 1943 - Malta (8)
No comments:
Post a Comment