At the appointed time we first sat and talked for perhaps an hour during which time I learnt, although the majority of the Fathers were from France, that a few of his fellow brethren were from the UK. He told me that the Seminary had been founded in 1895 as an agricultural college by priests known as the Peres Blancs (White Fathers), a missionary society which worked throughout French Africa. In addition to promoting Christianity the Fathers' principle task was teaching both agricultural and viniculture skills. On seeing the many local inhabitants busily tending the nearby tidy vineyards and fields, obviously the lessons had been well learned!

An enjoyable visit concluded after being taken into the cool spacious cellars of the building to view the many vats, grape presses et cetera. While most of the wines produced were either of the red or white varieties, there were a small number of casks in which fortified wines were aging. (Today the Fathers have long gone but, thanks to their efforts, the winery continues in full production and has become a Tunisian tourist attraction.)

Thanking the Father for his kindness, I then leisurely strolled back to the echelon, where the relating of my experience was to have a quite hilarious consequence.

On hearing my tale, Capt. Finch-Noyes and a fellow officer, both of whom were receiving treatment at the Seminary, decided to investigate the possibility of buying some wine for their personal consumption. An hour or so later, two somewhat chastened officers returned to regale one and all with the story of their failed purchasing expedition.

On arriving at the Seminary they had approached a well-bearded Father who happened to hail from Dumfries. On hearing their request he drew himself to his formidable height then thundered: "The answer is NO! In the first place, the sale of wine is forbidden to patients. In the second place, it is Sunday and, in the third place, we do not have any. Good day to you!"

As Capt. Finch-Noyes was able to relate the story in a quite authentic Scottish brogue it was all the more funny for the telling.

During my stay there was quite a lot of enemy air activity over the area where the Regiment was located. Consequently, when a lone German aircraft flew over the Echelon, it was decided to make a move which was done after dark. The chosen place was what was thought to be another olive grove some half-kilometre further west. Transport was camouflaged and slit-trenches dug in case of any air attack. In the early morning everyone was awakened to the sounds of the "wailing and gnashing of teeth" - the Echelon had taken up residence in an Arab cemetery!

A day before the end of my stay, we heard the sad news that Capt. Duncan A. Leslie, OC REME, had been killed during a bombing raid on the LAD Workshops. Two of his team being wounded at the same time one of who had made the repairs to Bangor's turret during the battle for Hunt's Gap.