Yesterday my daughter gave me
a coin commemorating Australia's role in withstanding the siege of Tobruk. I have
previously written about Richard Geoffrey Champion de Crespigny known as Geoff de Crespigny (1907 - 1966), my grandfather, who served in the Australian Army as a doctor and was at
Tobruk, during the North African campaign, from January to October 1941.
His diaries from the time he was in Tobruk have been transcribed by my father. Entries from May 1941 are from a period when my grandfather was supervising evacuation of the wounded by sea.
16 May
Went to the hospital for supplies and to HQ to see Cookie.
Also had a hair-cut – long overdue. Later wrote to Kathleen, and
went in again to arrange for embarkation tonight on a destroyer.
At 7, Jerry dropped bombs from an unprecedented height close to the
San Marco water point. It seems to be our water he is trying for
these days.
We drove down just before dark, and quite by accident were made aware
of a huge crater in the road made by one of the latest bombs and
which would have been a death trap to our first ambulance. The
Vampire was delayed
– but berthed at 1 in the morning and we started. Cramming them in
we got 109 stretchers and 98 walkers away. I found to my joy that Pat
Reilly was the [p.91] MO.
I was delighted to meet him again, and we were able to have a short
yarn. She left at 3 – and after the usual signal parley we got to
bed. But not undisturbed – for there were a series of lone but
noisy raiders who were taken up by a long and loud artillery
bombardment.
17 May (really continuing)
I seemed to get mighty little sleep. Stayed put after B in B
[breakfast in bed] and got up and had a bathe about 11. After lunch
went to the hospital and fixed the evening's arrangements, and I went
to HQ later. While there about 30 planes came over and dive-bombed
the other side of the harbour – without doing much, and so many
people said afterwards that they had shot down a plane that it became
[p.92] monotonous. Some were downed, however.
News from Egypt is rather heartening now. We have retaken Salum, and
there are all sorts of rumours about Capuzzo.
Went to the docks with the failing light. The ship turned up at 10,
and we had her away by 11.30. Then fixed the signal, had a liqueur[?]
with a charitable soul, and returned to bed. A pretty tricky drive in
very complete darkness.
18 May
Almost a blank. Didn't go out, and neither side did any fighting.
19 May
A number of bombs dropped early this morning just "over the
wall" from us.
Went over to the beach hospital and had a long yarn with Eric Cooper
which ended in my staying to lunch. A jolly good lunch too! Rest of
the day quiet.
[p.93]
20 May
Once again bombs "over the wall." We hope they realise the
importance of that wall as a boundary and don't encroach on our side!
Went to embark invalids onto Vampire, which came in at 2330.
Found poor Pat [Reilly] in a state, as the intelligentsia at Alex had
taken off all extra RAMC [Royal Army Medical Corps: British]
personnel and all equipment. We had 61 stretchers and 98 walking
wounded, and it was a great squeeze and a great shame. Also we lost
all the stretchers and 200 blankets and have damn few left in Tobruk
now. Pat was very well, but a bit harassed. Home about 0330.
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