Post by Diarist on Oct 23, 2015 13:12:54 GMT 1
My friend CPT Guy Simonds was waiting for us when Sally and I arrived at Toulon railway station. He was driving the car which we could use for our vacation, a 1934 Citroen Traction Avant. We checked in at the hotel then went down to the restaurant-bar to meet a bunch of our TRADOC colleagues. We had a lot of news to exchange. General Smith had gained a reputation. His troops 'suffered' live fire training, keeping fit, long marches with pack and looking like soldiers not tramps. The soldiers weren't allowed off post unless their uniform was immaculate and may God help you if you came back drunk! He has gained respect though. Don't feel sorry for the goddamned Italians, just kill them!
Sally didn't know that George Patton was a 3-star General here. "I'll tell you later", I whispered. We were invited to his table and he greeted us warmly. He asked when we had married and I said that it is just our cover. We are taking our honeymoon first and if it goes down well, then we'll get married. We told him about the house we had bought and that I had been offered a company command in the new Parachute Regiment but had turned it down. We'll talk business tomorrow.
I had nice entrecote, almost a whole bottle of Beaujolais and I'm sure that I'll sleep well. We shall be leaving for Italy on Tuesday morning, the 6th of August.
Our car:
