Our photo this week shows an air raid over Alexandria in Egypt during June 1941. This image is just one of 2000 to be included in the Bathurst Remembers World War 2 Exhibition which will take place from Friday to Sunday, February 25-28, 2022 at the Bathurst Showground, giving Bathurst a chance to honour those servicemen and women who served during World War 2.
IN today's photo the British and Australian searchlight beams are raking and lighting up the night sky during a German Luftwaffe and Italian air raid.
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The Sydney Morning Herald reported on the raid on June 6, 1941. Its headline was "HEAVY AIR RAID ON ALEXANDRIA" and stated: "Alexandria had its first large scale air raid of the war last night. It occurred while R.A.F. bombers were away attacking Benghazi.
"It is reported that more than 100 people were killed. High explosive and incendiary bombs were dropped. The developments of the past two days have thrown light on Germany's plans for taking over Syria, which is generally accepted as the next and probably imminent stage in the wide-spread battle of the Mediterranean.
"The Germans were sending specialists, airmen disguised as soldiers, along with German planes, in addition to 500 French guns, armoured cars, and munitions."
Leading Aircraftsman Len Black from Bathurst was there in the thick of it during this raid. He was a necessary and knowledgeable engineer in No 3 Squadron's ground crew.
After his initial training Len sailed from Australia to England where he continued his training. He departed from England on the Light Cruiser HMS Danae arriving in Egypt on November 4, 1940.
On the ship over they were immunised after lining up for the "needle parade".
There were lectures by the Medical Officer on heat and heat effects, camp hygiene and gas drills. There were daily physical training exercises and lots of cards, games of Monopoly and poker, 2Up and in the afternoon deck quoits and games of Crown and Anchor.
On Sunday they went to church in the mess. Organised boxing matches and pillow fights took place.
Len sighted whales and the ubiquitous flying fish. Meals on the vessel each day included ham and tomatoes, herrings in sauce and pineapple, dry biscuits, cheese and one cup cocoa.
There was Foster's beer on board in limited amounts. On arriving in Egypt Len soon learnt there were plenty of flies, fleas, dust, stones, water was scarce with very cold at nights in the deserts.
Len soon joined his squadron which operated in the Mediterranean Theatre. His meals were mostly bully beef.
He found that there were sometimes torrential rainstorms what could flood their landing strips and flood their tents.
In late 1942 Len was at Sidi Haneish Airfield in the Egyptian desert when he was ordered to return to Australia for further tropical training and reassignment to New Guinea.
The World War 2 Exhibition next February will consists of 600 "Snapshots of World War 2", 130 "Wall of Valour" and some 1300 other images in PowerPoint presentations.
More than 200 people and families have contributed all sorts of World War 2 images for the exhibition. The mammoth exhibition will be open to the public each day from 9am to 5pm except on Monday when it closes at 4pm.
More than 30 guest exhibitors will converge on Bathurst to display some 4000 military items and other World War Two memorabilia. More than 40 World War 2 military vehicles are expected to be displayed over the four days.
To mark the 100th anniversary of the RAAF there will be three specific displays and dozens of aircraft models for the public to take in. There will also be a rustic military picture theatre showing wartime newsreels along with three large screens of war images from around the world.
For more information on the exhibition contact Alan McRae on 63315404 or email amcrae@lisp.com.au.
