Despite the early start, it was well after dark when we arrived at what was to be our "residence" for almost ten months. How splendid it was to find the Squadron Cookhouse set up with Corporal Stevenson and his crew ready to feed the hungry and tired travellers.

Return to Algeria

It was the First day of June 1943, when we awoke to find ourselves in a small forest, on the outskirts of the village of Ain Mokra in Algeria, about twenty miles west of Bône (now Annaba) on the north side of the Philipville (now Skikda) road. Once more the Regiment was harboured at the base of a peninsula Cap de Fer which, although much smaller than Cap Bon, is nonetheless quite spectacular in its own right. More on this cape later.

Some hundred yards or so from the road was a shallow depression (a lake in the rainy season) approximately three-hundred yards in length by one-hundred wide. As the tanks started to arrive they were sited, by Troop, around the depression with HQF Troop at the south-western end. To the west, in a small clearing, was the Squadron Cookhouse and further west, in the trees, vehicles of 'B' Echelon were positioned. South of the road, the trees extended for a few hundred yards before ending at the edge of a very large dried-up lake Gara'et Fzära and, a short distance to the east, is the narrow road to Ain Mokra which continues northward to Herbillon, another village near the tip of the penisula. The relevance of this somewhat detailed description of the encampment area becomes clearer as the narrative progresses.

As the Regiment was destined to spend ten months harboured in Ain Mokra, rather than presenting this part of the narrative in a chronological order, a topical format has been chosen. In line with this decision, the first topic is one dear to every British soldier's heart.

Feeding the Inner Man

As may be recalled, when in action, NIH Tank Crews were supplied with Compo Boxes which were designed to care for the needs of fourteen men for one day. Although the non-edible contents were standard, the letter stencilled on the boxes determined the food content. Those lettered A, F and X were much desired as they contained tins of Spam. Box B was also a favourite as it included tins of Mulligatawny soup.

Among the items included in the boxes were two tins each containing cigarettes. As none of Bangor's crew smoked, each of us accumulated quite a few tins the contents of which were ideal for trading purposes. One of my best trades was with a Troop Sergeant, who shall remain nameless, who swapped his monthly ration of a bottle each of Rose's Lime Juice and Orange Squash for just one tin!

Compo boxes were issued to tank crews every three days. To make up for the fifteenth man, extra rations came from the Squadron cookhouses in various forms, including blocks of cheese, tins of curry powder, et cetera.

Although each tank was equipped with a petrol fueled stove, in the field the preferred method was to use tins with holes punched in the sides and filled with sand. With the addition of petrol the slow-burning fire was ideal for cooking purposes.