Page Forty-two
Sure enough, despite all the activity associated with getting the tanks ready for further action, liberty runs to Rome commence after a few days had passed.
An amusing exchange, destined to become Regimental lore, occurred when the first day's convoy, under command of 'A' Squadron's SSM, reached the city centre. On asking a Redcap directions as where to park the vehicles, the response was "You'll find parking in a field next to that bombed-out building," pointing to the nearby Il Colosseo. The "field" turned out to be a a surprisingly well-kept city park leading up to one of Rome's seven hills.
My turn came on day two. After dismounting from the Bedford 3-tonner, Dick Hayward and I explored the "bombed-out building" for about an hour. It was not difficult for us to visualise what had taken place there so many centuries ago, also as we later viewed the remains of the nearby Foro Romano.
When we had become sated with ancient history it was time to satisfy the inner man. Armed with knowledge gleaned from those who had been there the previous day, we repaired to a NAAFI which had quickly set up shop on Via Nazionale. Somewhat to our surprise, we found a sprinkling of GIs enjoying NAAFI's great standby, "Char and Wads!" (Tea and buns). The grass is always greener or, perhaps more likely, food and drink was on the house. Either way, it brought back memories, whenever I was in London ever so long ago, of visiting the Canadian Red Cross Canteen to feast upon pancakes brimming with maple syrup.
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