{"id":17379,"date":"2025-12-03T16:58:29","date_gmt":"2025-12-03T16:58:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.londonirishrifles.com\/?page_id=17379"},"modified":"2025-12-04T09:22:56","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T09:22:56","slug":"sgt-charles-ward-2-lir-in-north-africa-december-1942","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.londonirishrifles.com\/index.php\/second-world-war\/38-irish-brigade-1942-1947\/personal-accounts\/sgt-charles-ward-in-north-africa\/sgt-charles-ward-2-lir-in-north-africa-december-1942\/","title":{"rendered":"Sgt Charles Ward 2 LIR in North Africa &#8211; December 1942"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>7th December 1942<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Travelled in TCVs over high mountain range from hide out area. Crossed into Tunisia. Slept in open.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.irishbrigade.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/ward0001-185x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-99395\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>8th December 1942<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Woke up wet through. Raining like hell. All trucks bogged down and had to be pushed onto road. Eventually moved off still miserable and wet. Stopped the night on side of road. Slept, or attempted to, in TCVs. No wash or shave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>9th December 1942<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Still raining but managed morning cup of gunpowder. Continuing our nomadic existence, we dished up breakfast on the move. Stopped for a couple of hours and made dinner. TCVs left us and we started to march. Still no wash or shave. Took up defence position on knoll in range of mountains. No food. Rained all night. Slept with greatcoat and gas cape among rocks. Worse than last night. Fell half-way down cliff face in dark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>10th December 1942<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Still raining. Clouds all around hill top. Made shelter to sleep in. Had to carry food etc up to knoll. Everything still wet through but stopped raining in evening. Still no wash or shave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Friday 11th December 1942<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Fine morning except for mist. Stand to. Breakfast. Had quite a good night\u2019s sleep. Everybody washed and shaved. Carried all ammunition up. Laid tele line from 15 pl to us. Sent out patrol up mountain track for about 5 miles. Did guard. Fine night except for short shower of rain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Saturday 12th December 1942<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Very good morning with few clouds and sun out. Most things were dried out. Made shelter for all section. Sent out another patrol about 10 miles through mountains to El Agula. Good night\u2019s sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Sunday 13th December 1942<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Another fine morning but a little cold. Very fine day. Nothing unusual so far. Called out to stand to at 20.10 hrs. Stood down at 21.30 hrs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Monday 14th December 1942<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Another quiet day with everything normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Tuesday 15th December 1942<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Same as yesterday. NAAFI supplies came up, so we had a few extra cigarettes, soap etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Wednesday 16th December 1942<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Reached the ripe old age of 24. I am getting old. First air mail letter card issued to us. Guaranteed to reach home for Christmas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Thursday 17th December 1942<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Plenty of air activity this morning. Constant rumble heard in distance all round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Friday 18th December 1942<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Best day yet. Saw three dive bombers but long way off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Saturday 19th December 1942<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Cloudy today with occasional showers. Warned to move off at dusk. Moved about 9 miles back to rest of battalion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Sunday 20th December 1942<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Settling down in new position. Cold and showery. Orders to pack up ready to move again at 11.30. Took up fresh positions and dug in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Monday 21st December 1942<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Moved again after breakfast nearer road. Stayed there rest of day and moved up towards Medjez-el-Bab in evening. Stayed night in farm. Slept in haystack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Tuesday 22nd December 1942<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>More air activity. Moved into building. Good sleeping quarters. Rained like hell during night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Wednesday 23rd December 1942<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Still bad weather holding up attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Thursday 24th December 1942<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Still raining. Warned to move up and stop Germans taking Skins\u2019 (Inniskilling Fusiliers) prisoners. Averaging eight a night. Moved up into position after dark. No sign of enemy at all. Dug in. Rained hard all night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Friday 25th December 1942<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Still occupying positions in hills. Still no sign of enemy. Suspected to be occupying farm. Attacking tonight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Saturday 26th December 1942<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Moved forward in early hours and attacked farm but enemy had evacuated. Rest of day spent resting. More rain. Moved back to coy. position. Very cold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Sunday 27th December 1942<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Quiet all night. Rested all day. Attacked another farm at dusk still without success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Monday 28th December 1942<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Called out in early hours but false alarm. Weather turning very nice again. Evacuated position at dusk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Tuesday 29th December 1942<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Took up position guarding A\/Tk guns on hill. Weather fine but very windy. Letters arrived, five for me. Village in valley shelled and taken by enemy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Wednesday 30th December 1942<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Orders to be ready to move within one hour. Outlying farms shelled from village. Quite a good day, warm sun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Thursday 31st December 1942<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Not moved yet. Artillery duel going on in valley. Convoy shelled. Move cancelled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>7th December 1942. Travelled in TCVs over high mountain range from hide out area. Crossed into Tunisia. Slept in open. 8th December 1942. Woke up wet through. Raining like hell. All trucks bogged down and had to be pushed onto road. Eventually moved off still miserable and wet. Stopped the night on side of road. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":16965,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-17379","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonirishrifles.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17379","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonirishrifles.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonirishrifles.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonirishrifles.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonirishrifles.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17379"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonirishrifles.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17379\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17396,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonirishrifles.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17379\/revisions\/17396"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonirishrifles.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16965"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonirishrifles.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17379"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}