On Monday, 1st February 1943, we said "Goodbye" to the Duchess who had transported us safely to Africa's shore. While waiting to disembark, everyone lined the ship's rail to gaze upon the capital of Algeria, looking deceptively beautiful under clear skies, however we were not to be billeted within its boundaries. By midday the Regiment was ashore and, when formed up into Squadrons, commenced what proved to be a long march to our quarters for the night. For the first few miles the sights and scenes about us kept spirits high but, as darkness fell, our journey seemed to be never ending. Seventeen miles had to be under our boots before arriving at our destination, a storage house for wine vats. Without food and with but one blanket everyone settled down, to attempt to sleep, on bare stone floors that became increasingly cold as the night wore on. Thus we spent the first day as part of 1st Army commanded by General (later Sir) Kenneth Anderson.

After a rather restless night, we had fortunately breakfasted well before hearing some bad news for 'B' Squadron. The cargo ship, into which our tanks had been loaded in Cardiff, had been damaged sufficiently, during the storm through which we had recently sailed, to necessitate its return to the UK. This meant that we would not be sailing with the rest of the Regiment to Phillipeville (now Skikda), some 230 miles to the east, where the other cargo ships would be docking.

Fortunately, a ship carrying spare tanks, ammunition, etcetera, although damaged by the storm, was able to reach Algiers safely where its skipper prudently decided to dock rather than to sail further eastwards. Assisted by drivers from 'A' and 'C' Squadrons, covered with tarpaulins, our "Artillery Pieces" were unloaded and driven into a large warehouse, which soon became a hive of activity, as the Churchill tanks were prepared for war.

On 4th February 'B' Squadron, with SSM Docksey in charge, was left to its own devices. Major Rew, Captain Russell and Troop Leaders had embarked, with the rest of the Regiment, on HMS Queen Emma for a voyage eastwards upon the blue waters of the Mediterranean. It is a matter of conjecture whether any on board knew that she had been converted to a troopship, at Harland & Wolff's yards, in Belfast.

When our American Allies kindly gave us access to a neighbouring warehouse it proved to be a cornucopia. Due to the storm, several hundred boxes containing tinned fruits had been broken en voyage - we were told we could help ourselves! Soon every spare space on the tanks was filled with tins of peaches, pears etcetera.