Eighty years ago today Wednesday 2 July 1941

A busy day PT, etc. and normal period until lunch. Then we had a break and had to parade at 3:30 p.m. to draw rations for a night operation. Left the college by 4:00 p.m. by lorry in full equipment – pack, mackintosh, groundsheet and blankets. Disembarked about 5:15 p.m. and took up a defensive position; my section was in a ditch. Started our rations at 6:15 p.m. and settled down for the night – 8:00-10:00 p.m. Sentry duty, then lay on the ground until 1:00 a.m. when on sentry duty again. Bivouac ended and night march started at 1:30 a.m. A strenuous march through rocky hills for a few miles. Then it started to rain.

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