South Yorkshire Times, September 25th 1943
Conanby Soldier Back from M.E.
Sergt. Harold Moody, R. A., of 2, The Crescent, Conanby, has for the past two years and eight months been in in the Middle East, and is now back at home enjoying a well-earned rest. During the whole of the time, he has been out there, he has been almost constantly in action. He has only had eleven days’ leave, Sergt. Moody was first in action against the Vichy French in Syria. The resistance they offered was not serious, but it was a good breaking in, for his regiment. The fighting lasted from June 8th to July 11th. One of Sergt. Moody’s proudest possessions is a newspaper article appearing in the Palestine Post showing his own gun rushing in to the defence of Damascus against Nazi planes. While he was in Syria, he visited Karowan which is reputed to be the second oldest city in the world and about which there is a legend to the effect that any man who visits the place seven times will have three wives., He has informed his wife that he has already visited the place three times, and he has been forbidden to pay any further visits.
Cut Off For Ten Days
A month after the Syrian campaign ended Sergt. Moody was back in North Africa with the Eighth Army and his next action was at Sidi Omer against the Germans and Italians. Here his party were cut off for ten days without rations or water, but were eventually relieved by the New Zealanders. Then on to Derna, where he spent Christmas 1941. He remembers that his Christmas dinner consisted of biscuits and bully, which the boys out there call “prairie chicken.” He was at Benghazi when the Germans broke through and we lost a lot of men killed and taken prisoner. Many local lads were among them. There followed the retreat from Knightsbridge to El Alamein.
He has had the terrifying experience of being bombed by our own Boston bombers, but he explained that this was quite understandable, because the battle was moving at such speed that our airmen would never tell from one hour to another which were our positions and which were those of the enemy. This experience has not been confined to our men though, because the Germans have often been attacked by Stukas. Having experienced both himself, Sergt. Moody prefers being attacked by the Germans. He has had the privilege of seeing General Montgomery on two occasions. He says that the lads out there worship the General and will do anything for him. What they appreciate more than anything is that before a battle starts, General Montgomery always lets them know what his facing them, and during the battle he keeps them informed as to how the battle is going in other parts of the front, “and you’ve no idea how this encourages us” said Sergt. Moody.
Sand Storms
Speaking of sand storms, he said that the worst of these he had experienced in Tobruk, but he had the use of a pair of goggles taken from a German prisoner. He thought that the German soldier himself was a little better equipped than we were, but that we were better supplied with guns. In the latter parts of the North Africa campaign he was with our troops working “Monty’s left hook,” first through the Mareth Line by way of Mareth mountains and then on to Enfidaville. He will never forget the sight of the artillery barrage at El Alamein which proved to be the prelude to our victorious sweep ending at Cape Bon. He went over the ground which had been shelled when we advanced and found a shell hole every yard over a tremendous area. How anything could live in it he does not know.
He saw General Von Arnim taken down to Divisional Headquarters after he had been captured and recalls that Arnim wanted to ride in a staff car, instead of an armoured car into which he was ordered, but he was eventually “persuaded” by a small Gurkha holding a murderous looking knife, indicating the armoured car with a jerk of this thumb. He also had the honour of seeing the King at Tripoli and as the King passed, he was heard to remark “It’s marvellous how fit all the lads look.”
Brother Killed
Sergt. Moody’s brother, Kenneth, went out with him but was unfortunately killed when a bomb hit his gun about 300 yards from Sergt. Moody. He, along with the other casualties, were buried in the Catholic cemetery at Tripoli with full military honours. Asked by our representative what he thought of the Italian as a soldier, Sergt. Moody said that he found that we in England seem to have got a wrong impression. His experience had proved that the Italian was not a coward, but a good fighter, if he stood an even chance. If the Italian thought that he had not much chance because the odds against him were too great, he would quickly surrender, whereas the Germans would run away. What Sergt. Moody considers to be the grandest sight he has seen is our tanks going into action after an artillery barrage has just lifted. He has asked Germans what they think of the war situation. Some say that it will soon be over, but the Prussians say that we will never beat them.
On his way home Sergt Moody had the exciting experience of a submarine alarm while in the Mediterranean. He is now on 21 days leave and he is expecting to resume duty in this country as an instructor. The biggest chance he has noticed since he returned is the rationing of clothes and the points system, which he finds rather puzzling.