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21st JANUARY—20th MAY, 1943
After two months' beet-pulling in the fields of Norfolk the Regiment was celebrating Christmas, 1942, when on 24th December news came through that we were to proceed overseas almost immediately. The vehicles were to leave within a few days, and the personnel shortly after that. The Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. D. Dawnay, was on leave in Ireland at the time and the Second-in-Command, Major The Lord O'Neill, was at the Senior Officers' School. Major J. Rew immediately set to work to prepare the Regiment for abroad, and, due to his excellent organisation and the hard work of all ranks, all tanks and vehicles were ready to leave on their appointed days.
After the departure of the vehicles the Regiment was allowed to proceed on embarkation leave, the average length of which, including travelling time, was six days. A few who had to remain on duty on the boats missed their leave but bore their disappointment well. Shortly before the Regiment left Wickham Market our Hon. Colonel, The Earl of Shaftesbury, K.P., came down to inspect the Regiment and to say farewell He made a most heartening speech which was greatly appreciated by all ranks.
On the night of 20th-21st January, 1943, we steamed out of Wickham Market and arrived next morning at Liverpool where the Regiment immediately embarked on HMT. "Duchess of York." We cast off from the quayside during the morning of the 22nd January and lay off until 23rd when we sailed to join the convoy. In the early hours of the 24th all ranks were astir to see the Northern coast of Ireland and, as we slowly passed Rathlin Island, Whitepark Bay (where we did our first armoured car T.E W.T.), Portrush (of happy memories) and Magilligan Point, the men sang with great feeling until the shores of Ireland slowly faded from view.
The voyage was uneventful; we formed part of a fair-sized convoy with a small aircraft carrier in the centre. As we neared Gibraltar the convoy split in two, one part going round the Cape and seven ships altering course to pass through the Straits. We passed the Rock at 0220 hours on Sunday, 31st January, and many were on deck to see this fine spectacle. There was a bright moon - the Rock was brilliantly lit and searchlights were sweeping the sky. It was very impressive.
On 31st January we were told that we should arrive next morning and that we might have to march anything up to 17 miles. This prospect was not hailed with delight but nobody believed that it could be true. On 1st February we duly arrived in Algiers, where we were immediately informed that we must disembark forthwith and march 15 miles to our transit camp. The Regiment was clear of the boat about 1530 hours and the long march began at 1645 hours. The first few miles were through the cobbled streets of Algiers which did not give our feet a very good start. The Regiment, however, stuck it out manfully, and with the aid of whistling and singing we arrived shortly before 2200 hours, to find that our billets consisted of wine vat buildings with stone floors. It certainly was a very long 15 miles.
On 4th February, the Regiment, less a composite party consisting chiefly of A Squadron, left Algiers by boat for Phillipville. We had been promised some excitement by the Navy but the voyage proved uneventful and we duly arrived at Phillipville on the morning of 5th February.
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