Part 3 of 3
A New Zealand soldier identified at the time of recording only by the nickname 'Skin', continues his story about walking 200 miles over the Libyan desert with only fourteen pints of water between himself and his three companions and no food at all. His escape journey lasted ten days. [The speaker is Ronald Joseph Moore, DCM, of the Long Range Desert Group, military service number 1248.]
When he had sixty or seventy miles to go before reaching Tekro, Moore was picked up by Free French army personnel on February 10, 1941. His comrade who was wounded in the throat and failed on the eighth day of the trek died after being found by the French. The wound in the throat was the reason for his death. The chap who dropped out on the fourth day was found a day earlier, in a very bad state.
Skin lost 28 pounds weight over the ten days and was treated by a Free French doctor and when well enough was taken to Khartoum by bomber, a journey that lasted ten hours, and then by train and boat for four days back to Base.
His comments at the end sums up his feelings ""I am ready for another trip.""
This item is part of a collection of recordings made by the Mobile Broadcasting Units, which travelled overseas with New Zealand forces between 1940-1945. They recorded New Zealanders' experiences of war and messages to their families and friends, which were sent back home to be played on a weekly radio programme.