The following is included to illustrate how fortunate we were with our posting to Fontainebleau.
Early Thursday morning, 19th June 1962, the 3 Infantry Brigade Gp, Desert Expedition to the Kufra Oasis set off from Tobruk, North Africa, to cover the first hundred miles. Our expedition comprised of sixteen officers and men from the Brigade, with representatives from 9 Infantry Workshops REME, 203 Signals Squadron, Royal Signals and Royal Military Police represented by Lcpl ‘Mitch’ Mitchell, Lcpl ‘Bugs’ Makinson and myself. Our transport consisted of two 3-ton Bedford dropsides and four Land Rovers all well equipped. Everything had been carefully planned. We knew where we were going and we knew we were going to get there.
Our Land Rover was the leading vehicle and we were responsible for navigation. We each had our own individual tasks which were: I was RMP Land Rover driver and first-aider; Lcp Mitchell the vehicle radio operator (we were regularly in contact with Derna and Benghazi), and Lcpl Makinson the hygiene and water expert.
We left the coast road at Timimi, the one-time harbour area of Rommel’s troops. The next three days proved a terrific struggle for men and vehicles alike. Our vehicle travelling no faster than five mph over rough, rocky, barren wastelands. During these first few days we saw the wonderful fleet footed gazelle, frightened hares and rabbits, the tired old tortoise and the ugliest of camels.
The third day “in” and the first puncture of the expedition. The RMP Land Rover! Big laughs all around. Five minutes later a not so happy signal crew borrowed our jack for a similar complaint.
It was after travelling for a week over the barren waste when we entered large stretches of sand and we were leaving the rocks and tufts of grass behind. The rear wheels of our heavily laden vehicles were dragging in the sand and sand-channels were being used for the first time. We were no longer able to halt and rest anywhere. Firm sand had to be found. One or two of our team were now finding the heat a little unbearable and our water, was not only tasting stale, but also being used fast.
After digging, pushing, pulling and sand channelling for about four hours across a wadi to find there was no way out, we turned and pulled and pushed our way back to the other side. After that it was decided unanimously we dig a water hole in the wadi and have a good wash down, which we did after Lcpl Makinson had given us to believe the water was good.
Bearings were changed, recce’s made and off we went the next day on our detour. Soon we sighted Jalo, the first oasis. Here we gained fresh water and bartered eggs for biscuits with the Arabs. We were not sorry to leave Jalo after being half-eaten away by flies and mosquitos.
Again we set off, following an old Italian beaconed route into the loneliest of deserts: The Sand Sea. The heat at midday was now almost unbearable and half of our sixteen-man expedition was exhausted with hardly the strength to carry a shovel into the desert. Our expertly tested water from Jalo tasted and smelt foul.
The last stage of our trip to Kufra was without doubt the toughest. Monstrous sand dunes. Vehicles were constantly sinking into the sand. The sensations of the Land Rover sinking with first one wheel, then two. The sand channelling and hurried changing from two to four wheel drive. The great climb into the Rocky Mountains with their treacherous sand drifts.
On the tenth day, it was a rugged and weary group that drove out of the hills into the grounds of the old Italian fortress to be confronted with the most welcome and wondrous sight….. Kufra Oasis lying in the valley ahead. The sun was shining on the scattered lakes. The tall green palms were actually swaying in the welcome breeze. Birds were singing. To sixteen thirsty men this was indeed, paradise. Kufra, over 900 miles from the coast was clean, with its own metal road, concrete houses, a Cyrenica Defence Force HQ and a practising Greek doctor who was a member of the World Health Organisation. The cool, clear water of Kufra tasted delicious and came via a pipeline and ordinary water tap.
Continued…………