Hello and welcome to this edition of Between the Lines, the podcast that desiphers the

handwriting, unfolds faded pages and dips into the details of Diaries, log books and letters

written during this same week, there or thereabouts, in 1943, some 80 years ago.

Let's start with a quick recap of the situation.

We're looking at the third week of April 1943. In Europe, Braiman has been attacked in daylight

with a loss of 62 enemy aircraft. There's also been a heavy raid on Scotland, 127 bombs on

Aberdeen, raising 12,000 homes to the ground. On the eastern front the Red Army has been

facing fierce German resistance, but in North Africa the tide has really turned. Let's catch

up with regimental Sergeant Major Jack Ward. The Ward Diaries, for the 56th Heavy Artillery

Note, they're now embedded between St. Gilbert and Longstop Hill. The extensive enemy air

activity gets a mention, and so too does the number of rounds they're firing, but there's

not much forward progress. It's all very frustrating, as the shells seem to fall between

the enemy's tanks. Jack can see that the enemy is moving, but the truth is, he's not going

very far.

April 15th. No post yet, but New CEO is sorted today. Don't expect to see Colonel Grant

back. Bad luck. We are being held up on the left flank. 8th Army now, 240 miles from

two needs. April 18th. I've moved to a forward area, but we'll be now up on the left flank,

hard fighting. Grand day though. Very hot. Receive their mail at last night, but no

seamail yet. April 19th. Saw Jerry coming down in his parachute yesterday. Very hot, and

getting alter. We're expecting a big move, any minute. Roll on. Let's get it over.

You can feel Jack's frustration. Not least, as yet again, it's another increasingly warm

day in Norventunisia. After the misery of a cold and often very wet winter, the weather

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