CHAPTER 4 - THE LOCUSTS
The sun…in dim eclipse disastrous twilight sheds.
We had advanced very rapidly so our lines of communications were well stretched. So much so that it was a two day task to get rations. The journey was across wild and desolate country and we were constantly sniped at. On two separate occasions the trucks fetching our rations were ambushed and the rations stolen. So it was decided that in future the ration truck should have an escort. This was to consist of a fifteen cwt truck and six armed men. The guards consisted of the post corporal, who would collect the mail, the corporal in charge of NAAFI supplies, a batman to obtain supplies for the officer’s mess and three men from ‘A’ Company. My truck was very reliable and was chosen to escort the ration truck. Our armaments consisted of three Bren guns, one mounted for ACK-ACK and three rifles. We also carried three grenades each. |
Pte. Joseph Hutt |
The first three journeys were quite enjoyable. We had plentiful rations and were able to purchase the little extras that were available from the main NAAFI depot located at the site of the rations depot. The country was still wild and desolate and we made many stops to “brew up”. We would just scoop out a hole in the ground, pour in some petrol, light it and put on a can to act as a kettle. Strictly against the rules, of course, but who was going to report us since the officers supped up with us. In fact, we broke the rules on several occasions by firing at baboons that was technically a waste of “ammo”. With hindsight we could well have revealed our position. At times we seemed to delight in breaking the rules occasionally. Once we chased and shot a type of gazelle and feasted on the meat – it was delicious.
Occasionally we would take a detour off the beaten track and make our way to one of the small villages dotted about where we could trade with the natives. We found their greatest need was not clothing, food or even cigarettes but matches – and we had a plentiful supply of those. For a few boxes of matches we often able to obtain eggs, goat’s milk and even the occasional chicken, all welcome additions to our rather mundane rations. It was during one of these visits to a local village that we experienced the happening of a lifetime.
As we approached the village in the stifling heat the ground was shimmering in front of us. Suddenly on the horizon we saw a big black cloud. We wondered if a battle had started and we were witnessing shells exploding. Someone suggested that storm clouds might be gathering. Storms were very infrequent but they did happen and they were truly terrifying to witness. As we reached the village a curious sight met our eyes. The villages were collecting up all their pot plants and hurriedly taking them inside. Others were covering up their little plots of land with anything they could find. A large number of men and women were kneeling with their foreheads touching the sand, all facing in the same direction and letting out a wailing sound. They were obviously praying and so completely ignored us. We tried to communicate eventually but everyone was jabbering away together and we could make no sense of it. We were getting nowhere fast so we decided to move on to the next village.
Suddenly I heard a noise that I took to be coming from my engine. It was a loud humming noise and Corporal Raybould, who was sitting beside me, suddenly pointed. He had noticed that the big black cloud we had seen on the horizon was assuming greater proportions all the time. What is more it was moving toward us. The ration truck, which was some way in front of us, suddenly stopped so we did likewise. Then without warning the sun was completely blotted out and we began to hear “thuds” on our windscreen. We were forced to shut our eyes as something started hitting our faces with a stinging effect. Wiping my eyes and peering through my fingers I saw them. Insects were everywhere, on our arms, legs, crawling down our clothing and completely cluttering the cab. I could see that they resembled grasshoppers but were very much larger but they were not actually stinging us. Corporal Raybould had pulled a groundsheet over him and I quickly followed suit. The drumming on the groundsheet was incessant made all the more eerie by us being in the dark under the groundsheets. I remember staring at the luminous face of my wristwatch. Thus I was able to ascertain that we remained like this for nine minutes.
I was sweating profusely by now but suddenly the drumming stopped and I cautiously lifted a corner of the groundsheet and eagerly gulped down some fresh air, hot as it was. As I looked, Corporal Raybould emerged also and what a sight greeted us. Those green insects were absolutely everywhere crawling over everything. A lot were dead. The sun was now visible again and the insects crawling around in the cab suddenly took to the air leaving their dead behind. Soon the black cloud had reformed and was heading off into the distance. All around, any plant life had all disappeared completely, absolutely nothing was left. Corporal Raybould and I spent the next few minutes clearing the dead insects from the cab and then proceeded to scrape them from the radiator honeycomb that was completely blocked. Soon the ration truck was signalling that it was time to move on.
When we reached the next village we found that they been caught totally unprepared. Every bit of greenery had gone and we had to leave them some supplies though we could scarce afford to.
We had all read about locusts in our Bibles but now we had experienced them for out ourselves. I often wonder how many there must have been to blot out the sun, probably millions I guess.
Thank God we do not get the things back in Blighty.