I Join The Army

For an account of Jack's happy childhood years, go to  www.taylorjack.blogspot.com

I recall how at boarding school, during study periods at night, five of us used to talk about the future and in particular the prospect of being caught up in a war.

This was in my matric year, 1934, when Hitler was making war noises. Needless to say, of the five of us, two were killed in the war. Ironically, the one chap whose name was Oelofse and who had the nickname of "Spike" - a German steel helmet - because of his German extraction, was killed as a Royal Air Force pilot in the Battle of Britain.

After school days, I was a bank clerk for two years and in 1937 took up Articles of Clerkship with the intention of becoming a lawyer. As we all know, South Africa declared war on Germany in September 1939. After completing my Law exams in that year, I continued with my Articles but in 1940 during October, the urge to join the Army became too great and I enlisted. My Articles of Clerkship, which was for a period of five years, was incomplete as I had a further two years to go.

I was not attached to any regiment and first tried to join the Air Force as a pupil pilot. This was unsuccessful: I was turned down because of my eyesight, but there was a building in Schoeman Street, Pretoria, known as Impala House, where recruits were being taken on.

Recruits lining up to sign on 

After doing the necessary, I became Private T.P. Taylor No 2346392 and was sent to Central Army Training depot, Milner Park, Johannesburg. My pay was three shillings and sixpence (35 cents) per day. I was drilled and chased about until one fine day I was asked if I would like to go on a course at the Military College at Voortrekkerhoogte in Pretoria.

In due course I found myself at the Military College under the protective care of one Sergeant Loots. He was a Permanent Force man, with a violent dislike of Civvy Street recruits. An intimate appreciation of the gentleman came soon. He was in charge of our drilling squad. 

Military College, Voortrekkerhoogte, Pretoria

Whilst being chased around on the parade ground, I heard the shrill command "HALT!"

I did my best and then he came up to me: "What is your name?"

"Taylor", I said.

He said: "I don't like you and I don't like your face. Quick march!"

That no doubt was his idea of a formal introduction.

One of the men on the course was a chap called Nel, who came from South West Africa (now Namibia). He stood six feet high, was strongly built, had a very dark complexion and was given the nickname of "Black Bomber".

My brush with the Bomber came about in this way: every afternoon after work, I took a shower, sat on my bed and attended to the cleaning and cutting of my nails. The Bomber used to watch me intently. I recall going on weekend pass, came back and settled down to my usual routine. However, I found that my manicure set was missing from my kit. There was no doubt in my mind that the Bomber was responsible for its disappearance. I did not say a word and waited for the next weekend, when the Bomber went on pass, opened his suitcase and recovered my set.

The next day, I followed my usual routine of attending to my nails, etc. The Bomber of course saw me with my manicure set and stood staring at me without saying a word. The question is, who was the thief: the Bomber or I?

From Cadet to Second Lieutenant

The course at the College was an arduous one, entailing the practical application of machine guns, mortars, etc. I passed out as Corporal Taylor, Instructor in the S.A. Instruction Corps, and was seconded to the Lyttelton Air Schools, where I lectured the future pilots in the rudiments of infantry warfare. 

My sojourn there went off well and I was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. This was important to me as it meant more pay.

I was unfortunate enough to get blood poisoning in my foot and landed up in the sick bay with a temperature of 104F. I received no medication and after a couple of days I enquired from the staff sergeant in charge about a medical doctor attending to me. I was told that the medical officer on duty was playing billiards and could not be disturbed. the doctor eventually came round and prescribed M&B tablets (an antibiotic) which did the trick.

My stay at the Air School was uneventful until I was called to Headquarters and told that I was to report to a selection board being held at the Military College for an officers training course. The upshot was that I was enrolled as a Cadet Officer and spent four months at the Military College. 

Jack in his 2nd Lt's Uniform

I eventually passed out as Second Lieutenant T.P. Taylor. After some time at the College, I was given the opportunity of going on active service in a combatant capacity and flew to the Middle East with a group of officers.

Off To Do Battle

My first port of call was Helwan Camp, situated a few miles from Cairo. There I stayed for a few days before being sent to the battle front to join the 1st South African Infantry Division. Second Brigade Field Force Battalion, under command of Colonel Jack Bester. The Division was entrenched at El Alamein. As we approached the front line, I heard the bursting of shells and realised that this was "for real".

El Alamein Station (pic taken by Jack Taylor)

I was posted to support a company under Major Davies in charge of a mortar platoon comprising 24 men. Except for the enemy shelling with our artillery responding, the front was relatively quiet. At that time, the 8th Army, of which we were a part, was preparing for the big push. Night patrols into "no man's land" and probing enemy lines was the preoccupation of the Battalion.

One night, two of our men were killed and I was assigned the task of going through their kit for disposal to the next of kin. Among the belongings of one fellow we found photographs of Hitler and Mussolini. Why they were kept by this man I do not know, but seen against the history of politics and war in South Africa, anything is possible!

The Springbok Club, Cairo

As mentioned previously, the Army was preparing to do battle with the German and Italian forces in the Western desert and drive them out of Africa. Manoeuvres became the order of the day. Our battalion did its part and when we were, so to speak, battle-ready, we were sent off in batches to Cairo for a week's leave.

We arrived at the Springbok Club on the 1st Floor of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Building and found that after sleeping on the ground, the beds at the Club were uncomfortable and as often as not, changed to the floor in order to get "a good night's rest".

It was a Club for South Africans - men and women - providing an atmosphere of real homeliness, described in this Extract from The Services Guide to Cairo, published by the Co-Ordinating Council for the Welfare of the Troops in Egypt, as follows:

The large lounge containing piano, radiogram, easy chairs, modern furniture and beautiful ferns will appeal to all.

A buffet service is run in a specially designed department, with South African ladies helping in its arrangement.

The Quiet Room offers quiet facilities for writing (free material), chess, draughts, table games and above all "quietness." It is hoped that the Quiet Room will enable the Padre to hold short services at times.

Concerts and other entertainments will be arranged when possible.

There is also a full information bureau through which leave accomodation can be booked for Springboks.

This Club is under the auspices of the Union Defence force institutes (South African Y.M.C.A. and TocH).

The Battle of El Alamein, 1942

We were keyed up and ready to go. I recall being summoned to Battalion Headquarters and given a copy of the Battalion's Operation Order, with map attached, in which details of the Battalion's plan of action were set out. (I still have in my possession the original operation order and the map.)

The Operation Order starts off with the words: "The 1st South African Division will attack and capture SANYET EL MITEIRYA RIDGE."

Then came the evening of 23rd October 1942. We, as Infantry, were positioned ahead of the Artillery. The guns began firing over our heads at five to nine.

(This was the start of Operation Lightfoot, the final phase of the Battle of El Alamein.)

The flashes of our firing guns was an awesome sight, as our Battalions moved towards the enemy lines. As already mentioned, I was in charge of mortars. I gave the order to start firing. The bombardment of the enemy positions continued for a while and then the infantry moved in and the attack was in full progress.

I forgot to mention that it was a bright moonlight night. The fighting continued throughout the night and into the following day. Our infantry was held up. Men from the Natal Mounted Rifles came to their aid and overran the German stronghold with a fixed bayonet charge.

I personally was feeling completely knocked out, not having slept for 72 hours and being subjected to direct enemy fire for the first time. I remember sitting down when Major Davies came up to me and, looking towards the enemy line, said:"Laddie, we must up and at them; up and at them!" The incident meant a lot to me and made me realise what an experienced officer could mean to a battalion.

The Eighth Army managed to breach the German and Italian lines and the follow-up continued for about 21 days.

The driver of our platoon truck, which followed us, was a man by the name of Kleynhans. I went to see how he was getting on. As I came to the truck, I noticed bullet holes in the windscreen. Speaking in Afrikaans, I said: "Wat het hier gebeur? What happened here?"

He replied: "Ons moes klein sit, Luitenant, klein sit! We had to sit small, Lieutenant, sit small!" He described the situation well in a few words and I have never forgotten them.

Pic taken by Jack of some dead soldiers
on the battlefield at El Alamein

I recall how men from our Battalion were lying dead on the battlefield. I saw one of our soldiers, a man called Pretorius, going from body to body. I asked him what he was doing and, speaking in Afrikaans, he said: "I am looking for my brother who was killed here last night."

We were in a forward position close to the retreating Germans when a squadron of South African bombers approached, and with satisfaction we thought that the enemy would soon be feeling the weight of their bombs. Suddenly I saw falling bombs shining in the sky and realised that we were mistakenly being bombed by our own bombers. I dived into a shell crater. Fortunately there were no casualties.

The enemy was driven out of Africa, with the 8th Army under General Montgomery triumphant. The Battle of El Alamein has gone down in history as one of the turning points in the war. Up to that stage, there had only been "strategic withdrawals" by the Allied forces.

South African war graves, El Alamein

On the eve of El Alamein, our Battalion strength was 400 officers and men. At the end of the fighting we had lost 80 killed and 240 wounded.

Back From the War

The 1st S.A. Division was withdrawn and ordered to return to South Africa. We came back on the Mauritania. On arrival at Durban, as we approached the quayside, the "Lady in White"sang songs of welcome.

The Lady In White welcoming
a troopship home, 1943

The Lady in White

Perla Siedle Gibson was an accomplished soprano.

As the troopships passed slowly out of harbour on their way to war, and on their return from the battle front, she would sing patriotic songs to them using a megaphone.

She was remembered fondly by many thousands of allied troops and never allowed the grief from losing one of her own sons to stop her singing to the troops.

There is a monument to her at Entrance Three to Durban harbour at the end of Stanger Street. The statue was unveiled by Queen Elizabeth in 1995, and a special philatelic cover was issued to mark the occasion.

The Lady in White on the North Pier, Durban

We then marched down the streets of Durban with bands playing and crowds cheering.

My father, who was dying of cancer, wanted me to take over the legal practice in Lichtenburg. My application for discharge was granted and after three years, that was the end of my Army days.

I received a Government voucher for seventeen pounds and ten shillings with which to buy clothes for Civvy Street.

Perhaps I should also mention that I was awarded two medals: the Africa Service Medal  and the Africa Star with 8th Army Clasp.

Living Happily Ever After

Jack and Hazel's wedding

For an account of Jack's happy childhood years, go to http://taylorjack.blogspot.com.au/

Jack married Hazel Vera NORRIS in Durban in 1948. They had four children and lived in Lichtenburg, where Jack practised as a solicitor.  Hazel died in 1985, but (as of 2014) Jack, now aged 97, still lives in his own home in Lichtenburg  and still drives his car. 

Their eldest daughter Rosline married Jimmy Armstrong and has two sons, son Tommy married Heather and has three children, daughter Hazel married John Spiers and has three children: Andrew, Christine and Peter.  They live in Australia.  Jack and Hazel's youngest son Sidney lives in New Zealand with his wife Corinda and their family.

Jack has (as of 2014) one great-grandchild: Olivia Taylor Stankowski, the daughter of Christine Spiers who married Shane Stankowski. 

Jack and Hazel's children: Sidney, Tommy, Hazel and Rosline

Jack and Hazel

Tommy and Heather's wedding

Jack and Hazel's grandsons, Peter and Andrew Spiers