Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 17, 2018 0:31:05 GMT 12
I never knew there were Allied paratroopers used in the Desert campaign in November 1942. What can you tell me about it? It's mentioned in this letters published in the NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 6 MAY 1943. As no-one seems to know about these desert paratroops, I'd like to find out more about F/Sgt J. Evans, who I suspect was from Remuera as a F/Sgt J. Evans got married in Bournemouth to Nita Zena Clover, a nurse from the Royal Victoria Hospital, Boscombe, Hampshire, in June 1943 (the best man was S/Ldr John Hegman DFC or Auckland if that helps connect any dots?). It would be interesting to know what sort of aeroplanes he was flying. Was he perhaps with the agent-dropping Dakotas of No. 267 Squadron? Were the paratroops actually SOE?
PARATROOP CORPS
NEW ZEALANDERS INCLUDED
ARMY'S HIGH REPUTATION
The high esteem in which New Zealand soldiers are held by British troops in North Africa is described by a Dominion airman, Flight-Sergeant J. Evans, in a recent letter to his family.
"New Zealanders, who were in the spearhead as usual, have a marvellous reputation," he writes. "Even the English regiments admit that there is nothing to touch them. They were reinforced by picked men out of those gangs, and all those who now wear a silver fern on their sleeve think they are the king pins."
The gallant role played by New Zealanders in the paratroop corps is also described. "I had dealings with the Western Desert Paratroop Corps, who operated from our base," he writes. "Two New Zealand farmers from Kaitaia were a couple of the gamest men I have met. They were to be dropped just at dusk from 400 ft. before the big artillery bang-up on November 6, and were to cut the Hun communications and then wait to be picked up when, and if, the army advanced. As it happened, we were shot up just before they jumped, and one of the umbrella boys was hit rather badly. They couldn't jump singly and so were frightfully disappointed.
"The fellow who was hit had only one worry, and that was whether his face would look anything like a face again; he rolled himself cigarettes on the way back. They are the gamest pair I have ever seen."
The Long Range Desert Patrol is also mentioned. "The Desert Patrol were doing a great job," he writes. "Even while we were back at El Alamein they were raiding Benghazi and other places in small parties."
PARATROOP CORPS
NEW ZEALANDERS INCLUDED
ARMY'S HIGH REPUTATION
The high esteem in which New Zealand soldiers are held by British troops in North Africa is described by a Dominion airman, Flight-Sergeant J. Evans, in a recent letter to his family.
"New Zealanders, who were in the spearhead as usual, have a marvellous reputation," he writes. "Even the English regiments admit that there is nothing to touch them. They were reinforced by picked men out of those gangs, and all those who now wear a silver fern on their sleeve think they are the king pins."
The gallant role played by New Zealanders in the paratroop corps is also described. "I had dealings with the Western Desert Paratroop Corps, who operated from our base," he writes. "Two New Zealand farmers from Kaitaia were a couple of the gamest men I have met. They were to be dropped just at dusk from 400 ft. before the big artillery bang-up on November 6, and were to cut the Hun communications and then wait to be picked up when, and if, the army advanced. As it happened, we were shot up just before they jumped, and one of the umbrella boys was hit rather badly. They couldn't jump singly and so were frightfully disappointed.
"The fellow who was hit had only one worry, and that was whether his face would look anything like a face again; he rolled himself cigarettes on the way back. They are the gamest pair I have ever seen."
The Long Range Desert Patrol is also mentioned. "The Desert Patrol were doing a great job," he writes. "Even while we were back at El Alamein they were raiding Benghazi and other places in small parties."
