ROYAL TANK REGIMENT ITEM 12

July 15 1942. Toc H paper. MEF.
My dear Eve,
It’s apparent I’m on leave, isn’t it, Eve? This is my first day towards 7, and I’ve done heaps of things already. I’m passing time away until lunch, so I’ll tell you what I’ve done.
Yesterday we had orders to take a 7 days. So the pay came up and in no time we were on our way in lorries. The pay money came to £12, that and £4 I already have should see me having a real good time.
My mate, Lofty, the newsagent, is with me again, so we’ll be good as usual. I have such a lot to tell you, I hardly know whereto begin. It’s all so exciting. Well, since I wrote you your last letter, the Bn have moved, a good way too, some 200 miles. Well, the night before we moved, it was no use writing. The night we got in the camp I was tired. Then the following night I was on guard. The night after I was stitching and cleaning up for this leave. and last night was too strange to settle down to writing. So, Eve, it’s almost a week since I wrote and unfortunately it is a week before this letter will be able to be posted because I can’t get it censored out of our Bn. Anyway, you won’t mind that I am sure.
Well, duck, as I was saying, we came in lorries to the barracks in town, but before the lorry entered the barracks gates, Lofty and I jumped off and caught a taxi to take us to the town centre, to a hotel we had in mind. Our luck was in and we got a nice room with no trouble at all. The hotel is called the Talbot Hotel, nice name, nice place. Let me tell you all about it. First, full board is 40 Pts (8/-), that is bed, breakfast (8 - 9 am), lunch (1 - 2 pm), tea (4 - 5 pm), dinner (7 - 8 pm) and a light supper (10.30 - 11 pm), and a cup of tea brought to us in bed, about 7.30 am. Quite good isn’t it?
Then we have full use of the baths, showers, library lounge, radiogram, piano, in fact, everything they have. I shall take a cold shower morning and night; it’s delicious Eve. I wish you were here; there’s endless native servants. We don’t have to raise a finger, just a life of relaxation. I could just do this for the duration. I think you have a fair idea now, Ev; it’s spotlessly clean too, and a lift to all floors.
Lofty and I went shopping this morning. We went to the British Red Cross to see if any of our mates’ names had come through, but no news whatever yet.
Then we went to get some back numbers of the Egyptian Gazette, because there’s some news of our little effort this last time. We went to the Gazette printing works for them. I shall send you and mother one each soon. We bought a pair of civvy shoes and stockings because it’s much more comfortable than Army boots, puttees, socks, etc. They cost £1 with the 2 pairs of stockings, so we weren’t robbed. There goes the gong for lunch. Cheerio, Ev, for a little while.
Just had a lovely lunch, Ev; everything spick and span, and a nice vase of red roses on all the tables. I’m going to enjoy this leave. We both went to have our photos taken this morning. They will be ready about Sunday or Monday. I had 1 taken, I mean 3 taken, in colour and 3 ordinary, and 3 taken in ordinary and 3 ordinary with my hat off. Twelve altogether. If they’re no good, I’ll burn them, so let’s hope they’re decent.
I’ve just been reading the account of our Bn in the back number of the Gazette I’m going to send you. It’s quite good, Ev. I made it plain for you to notice it. You will find it on page2, about the centre of the page. Then, in Col 1 on the front page, you will find 6 of our chaps who have been decorated. I hope you get the paper.
I went to the DPO to buy your powder this morning. I wish I had taken notice of the kind you use. I was completely lost. The girl who served me asked your colour of hair, and I said “About like yours (the girl’s)”. So she said, “Pink is suitable.” Then I bought a box of white, so you will have to mix them if they’re not right. I also sent you a couple of pairs of stockings, size 9, only cheap ones (5/- a pair) and a small hank, just an odd one, supposed to be hand-painted and washable.
I think I will have to make this the last page, Ev darling, or it will be too heavy. There’s such a lot I want to tell you and ask you, I’ll leave it for my next few letters, though.
Do you know what I should like to do now? Take you back to my room and love you. There’s always that one great big thing missing. Still it won’t last forever. This time next year, I’m hoping to be home, or at least, seasick.
Well, Ev, I’m going to write to Mother now, then I’m off to the afternoon flicks. Cheerio, darling. God bless you always and ever and unite us soon (this year). Love and more love, Alb. xxx.

July 17 1942. Toc H paper. MEF.
My darling Eve,
I have a few more hours to spare, so here’s to the old pen and paper. I’ve just written to Mother, a seven page letter like your last one. They seem a bit heavy to me, that’s why I have to restrict it to a mere 7 pages. Honestly, Ev, I could positively write a book right now. Here’s a little bit of humour. A youth has just come in the writing room and says “Writing again?” I said “Yes, but it’s only the second time since I’ve been here. I started to write the day before yesterday, but my mate came to take me to a matinee and now he’s asleep, so I came to do a spot more writing.” He says “I’ve just got my mate to sleep.”
I’ve been on a tour of the mosques and bazaars this morning. I went to the Great Mosque, or the Citadel as we call it, the Blue Mosque, Mohammed Ali’s ancient palace, his tomb, and also came through an incredible city, called the “dead city”. It’s a mass of graves, tens of thousands of them, all over the place, no method or system about the layout, just as if all the graves had been thrown out of a plane flying many miles high. There’s one here, two there, half a dozen over there, 12 there and so on. And huts and buildings and other places, all intermingled with the graves and uninhabited. It was so awesome and eerie, and you know what queer graves they are; they’re like this on the next page sketch all different colours and sizes. It’s a rotten subject to write about, so I’ll be off to the bazaars.
I never knew such beauty lay along those apparently dirty low back streets and alleys, but it would do your eyes good to see them. Jewellers, furriers, scent shops, carpets, silk and all the rest of it. The guide took us in a scent shop and at once we were asked to sit down. A small glass vessel containing tea was brought to us, so queer it was, only held a small coffee-cup full, sugar in it, but no milk, and decidedly scented. Then we sampled the scents - jasmine, gardenia, Secret of the Orient (I think) and others. Guess what price? 10 grams for 33 piastres. That’s no use to you, is it? Well, 10 grams is 1/3 of an ounce, and 33 Pts is 7/-, or to put it plainer 21/- an ounce.
I have sent you some, but right now, this very second, forget about it, because for one thing, it was the Arab who sent it, and a chap with us bought a tiny bottle, and while we were hopping about in a taxi, he noticed a stain on the wrapping. Upon investigation it was found empty, the cork had split and the scent run out. So, duck, if you are lucky enough to receive this small gift, fully expect to find the bottles empty, and if we are both lucky enough to have pulled the job off, here’s what to do with the scent, lass.
It’s essence of scent and will stand to be diluted 10 times. You can make 20 bottles full out of the two you will have, or if you don’t want to do that, just use it as it is, but very sparingly or you will smell Oriental for the rest of your life. And Eve, please give Mother a bottle. I want you to have one and one for Mother; tell her how strong it is and how to dilute it if necessary.
Well, Eve, my tea is calling. Bye-bye for a while. Excuse the horrible writing and mistakes.
I still won’t be able to finish this today. I fell asleep after tea and now it’s after dinner. I’ve just come from the dining hall. Lofty and I are off to the La Pontinaire, a cinema near to. It will start very soon now. It’s open air and the sun has just set, time to get going, methinks.
I must tell you who is staying with us - an American. Only 10 - 12 days ago he was back home in Oregon on the Pacific coast of the USA. He has come by the Pan-American Clipper to the Azores, Lisbon, Durban and Cairo. He’s a typical Yank, very nice, well-dressed and very sociable. He is a member of the American Embassy, young and an expert at some job, cipher, I believe.
Well, Ev, it’s the 18th. I have fetched my photos and I’m most disappointed, all of them are horrible. I’ve never looked so well, so sun-burnt, so clean as I do now, and these photos don’t convey a thing. If I had fetched them on my own, I would have destroyed them without no-one knowing; but Lofty says “Don’t be a fool, they’re quite decent.” So I’ll guess I’ll giver you a laugh and send them a few at a time in future letters.
I do wish you were with me now, Ev, I’m just longing to see you. Your photo makes me like this, it’s gorgeous.
I’ve just listened to the news down in the lounge; it’s not too good in Russia, but I dare say by the time you receive this, things will be improving.
I wonder what you’re doing now, Ev? Are you at work or preparing for bye-byes, it’s 11 o’clock here. I shall very soon be loving you in my dreams. I get more pleasure out of thinking of you than anything else in the world.
I will have to draw to a close now, darling. Bye-bye, Eve. I love you. Love to the family. Yours ever, Eve. Alb? Xxx.

February 17 1943
No 7909285 L/Cpl Shore, A E
HQ Sqd 3 Bn RTR, MEF
17 - 2 - 43.
This was the letter that Mrs Shore sent to Col Forty in 1995.
Dear Mother and Dad,
At last I have a longer letter for you. I feel better now than I have done for some months; I was telling you of my arm with an abcess on the elbow. Well, that’s on the right way, and I’m just parting with a boil on my left jaw, after these have gone I’m more or less OK. Do you know how long I’ve been pestered with sores and boils? Since our advance from El Alamein, last October 28th. I think my blood must have been radically out of order. Now for some news. I received your letter Dec 8th a couple of days ago, also one of the 6d Air letter cards off Eve, written on the 9th Jan. I’m glad you are going to make use of the sixpenny airmail, although Eve’s letter was comparatively slow, it’s still beat the ordinary airmail by over a month, and in normal circumstances you will find they average only 20 days either way.
Our Colonel is leaving us tomorrow. He’s off to Blighty on a plane. I guess he will be there before this letter gets out of our office.
I’ve just come from the farewell speech he’s just given us, and wait till you read what he’s said.
He started off “Well chaps, I’m leaving you tomorrow, sorry etc, etc. I’ve been promoted and I owe it solely to you fellows, the Third Royal Tank Regiment. I’ve been in command of you for the past six months and no CO could wish for a finer regiment. Your work has been wonderful, you have been leading the advance (as you know) from Alamein to Tripoli, and in spite of that, you have not had more than 2 or 3% casualties. A fine show.!”
He goes on with our achievements and what not and says, “When I’m in Blighty I shall be watching you. I know what your next job is and don’t let me hear of you falling out ( meaning - knocked out of action by Jerry) and when I pick the morning papers up and read “Two famous Yeomanry Tank Battalions enter Tunis” I shall smile and say to myself “The 3rd Bn lead them in.“
He carries on praising us :_ “I know, and so do others higher than me, that this 3rd Bn has more fighting to its credit than any other armoured Bn in the world. It’s the 3rd Bn that smashed beyond repair two of Hitler’s finest tank Bns, the 5th and the 8th, in one stage of the advance up here.
“If you can smash two of the finest Bns in the world and come out almost intact, and carry on for many more hundreds of miles, well, it speaks for itself. You can take it from me that you’re the finest Tank Battalion in the world and that’s right on top.
He says “I have overheard and heard it said that the 3rd Bn is the smartest Bn that has entered Tripoli (meaning - when the lads go in on the afternoons for a visit; their dress, carriage and general being) I want you to keep it up. A good regiment in the field is good anywhere.”
He was the highlight at a two day conference held a few days ago near here, in which such big shots as General Montgom, Alexander and Brigadiers, Colonels galore were present. He showed them how it should be done, and was done by the 3rd Bn.
He has this to say of the conference:- “I was asked to give my ideas on tactics, organisation, battle formations, how to deal with this, that and the other. I gave them all I know based on your own splendid battalion.” And besides Generals Monty and Alex being there, there were several big shots, whom had been specially flown out from Blighty to attend solely to this lecture. I must conclude with this:- “Comparing your standard of health and bronzed faces and bodies against those chaps whom have just come from Blighty is like the difference between chalk and cheese. Those from Blighty were knock-kneed, deathly white and show a tendency to nervousness, while you, all of you, look pictures of health and vivacity and, above all, extremely firm and confident, feared by all Jerries, and afraid of nothing. I’m proud of you and sorry to leave you”. He just ends with this little bit, He says “I’ll bet, if the truth was known, when a front-line Jerry mentions 3RTR to his mates, they break out in a cold sweat, and just make doubly sure that their vehicle will start in a second, whether it be tank or motor-lorry, because it will be just too bad if it doesn’t. Good luck, God speed, etc.”
Well, after listening to that lot, we feel as if we had been made millionaires, it was great, and a great encouragement for further actions, of course he warned us that the berets only went up in sizes to 7½” and hoped we wouldn’t disorganise the Quartemaster’s stores, trying to get one to fit after the swelled head period.
It seems I’ve taken a lot of space over this magnificent speech, but really there’s not much doing at present. I’ll write again within a few days and tell you all about Tripoli and district.
I’m keeping fine, bags of cash, and just been to our first canteen since Alamein, bought fags, biscuits, blades, soap, choc and fruit (tinned peaches). Not bad now we’re getting a bit of organisation on the luxury side of life.
Bye bye and love to you all,
Yours ever, Alb.

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