Tobruk Diaries: Doing our jobs...

Cosgriff's Diary: Friday 7^th February 1941

Fallen soldiers.  Letters from Aileen, Elsa, home (2), Dr Pascal. Tom missed out on mail – sent cable.  Pay day 13 pounds short.  Alex this arvo with Len.  Bath in Errington’s bath-room.  Met Sam Johnston at Windsor Hotel.  Found whereabouts of Owen Steele.  Coffee with Campbell and Honils.  Home at 12:30. 

Bryant's Diary: Saturday 8^th February 1941

Appointed a Bren instructor for a fortnight to 2/15^th Bn.  The squad members are keen and should do all right.

Cosgriff's Diary: Saturday 8^th February 1941

Alarm hopeless.  Mass at 7:30.  Steele here and with him all adj at 2/9^th.  Churchill,... O’Connor and Surn back from Derna.  Our future uncertain but not operating here.  Arranged Masses here and staging – hope I get some.  No more office.  Plenty to do – but no conveyance.  Wrote to Aileen and expect never to hear from her again. 

Bryant's Diary: Sunday 9^th February 1941

Went up to the A.G.H. today and saw Wal Legge, the first Mudgee casualty in this war. Wal is in the 2/4^th Bn and received shell shock at Tobruk but only his ears were affected.  He is O.K. now and expects to be out of hospital in a day or so.  Also saw Ted Taylor.  Nothing else happened.

Bryant's Diary: Monday 10^th February 1941

Kept instructing Bren all day at the 2/15^th Bn.  It was as cold as hell.

Cosgriff's Diary: Monday 10^th February 1941

Mass at S. Catharina.  Breakfast – steak and eggs.  New watch protection.  Lunch at Union Club with Len.  Bath in matron’s room.  Ackland and Horan had breakfast on train to Alex – jam sands and cake.  Mary held Tom’s hand in sympathy of no letters.  Benediction at S. Catherina.  People reciting prayers and singing Pangi in latin.  Handsome youth at book-shop – nun speaking French – two bots of altar wine. – Rudd loaned us his car – home 11:30 slept most of way – letter from J. McGlynn.  Horan saw... French navy. – Saw Adam Johnston again.  Best day so far – Mass at St. Saluna altar.

Bryant's Diary: Tuesday 11^th February 1941

Tom Dinnen sent to hospital yesterday.  Nothing else happened.

Cosgriff's Diary: Tuesday 11^th February 1941

Missa in Tempore Belli [Mass in Time of War]. Jack Chambers has mumbs. Rothstadt  –  probably malaria.  John Devine to go with C.C.S.  Doctors visiting hospitals in Alex.

Bryant's Diary: Wednesday 12^th February 1941

Nothing happened today.

Cosgriff's Diary: Wednesday 12^th February 1941

Pino Defunctis [For the dead]. All thrill alarms failing no function now and we always sleep in.  Nurse went to see Kantara today.  Put up tent for batmen.  Shifted into new mess.  John Devine – pretty homesick left at 10 pm.  Rudd under orders to go too.  Marsh’s lid’s pinched by Gyppos making box.

Bryant's Diary: Thursday 13^th February 1941

Jack Wilson returned from 28 days in Jerusalem jail. He had a pretty rough time.  Reg Tait went to hospital again.  That makes 3 out of the section in hospital now.

Cosgriff's Diary: Thursday 13^th February 1941

Pro pace [For Peace].  No mail for days.  Tim McCarthy in Alex.  To Alex after paying Men. Wally Condar and Rouelands of H.M.S “Perth”.  Meet Tim and Steele.  Driver’s name – Gerrard from Canberra.  Home early with Horan.  Boys stayed late and visited Mary’s home at 3:45 am.  Wrote to Dave, Elsa, Tooze and Doyle kids.