Crusader (A Novel of WWII Tank Warfare) Jack Murray (best e reader for epub TXT) 📖

unlikely event of contactwith the enemy meant that shorts were forbidden. Cuts in the desert healed veryslowly and could be infected further by flies who may have spent a lazyafternoon near the latrine.

Behind them they heard a sergeant barking orders. As it did notappear to affect them, they continued concentrating on the engine. Thecommotion grew louder, though. The two boys looked up from the engine and saw asmall crowd of Afrika Korps assembling by one of the tanks. In the centre ofthe group was Major Gunther Fenski. Beside him was an embarrassed lookingLieutenant Basler.

‘Gather round,’ said the grinning head of Manfred’s battalion.Manfred and Kohler strolled over towards the group. Basler, their troop leader,seemed ill at ease. He was a serious man doing serious work. He was notrenowned for having much of a sense of humour. He never joined in any joking.For this reason he was treated with some suspicion by the others. However, hisfighting qualities were not in question. This was about to be made manifest ifManfred’s suspicions were realised.

‘This regiment,’ began Fenski, ‘has proven itself time and timeagain over the last few months. The enemy was sent scurrying back to Egypt.’

This brought cheers from the men. Fenski put his arms up andgrinned broadly.

‘Soon we’ll send them back to England, to Australia, to SouthAfrica.’

A loud cheer erupted at as Fenski’s voice rose to its conclusion.

‘If I had my way, you would all receive medals for your heroism,for your sacrifice, for the way you’ve shown what our country is made of, forshowing how we, with better leaders, would have won the last War.’

Stretching things a little bit, thought Manfred, but he foundhimself emotionally charged all the same.

‘Today we honour Lieutenant Gunther Basler, and not just becausewe share a name.’

Perhaps not the strongest joke but even Manfred laughedgood-naturedly. Fenksi removed from his pocket a box. He showed the contents ofthe box to everyone. A cheer went up at the sight of the honour; Fenski tookout an Iron Cross and attached it to the collar of Basler whose face had afixed grin that said, ‘end this, please’.

Immediately a round of applause broke out from the ranks. A fewshouts from the men called for Basler to make a speech. This made Manfred laughas everything about the lieutenant’s face suggested this was the last thing hewanted to do.

‘Will you say a few words?’ suggested Fenski, stepping back togive Basler the limelight.

Basler gazed at the faces in front of them. Despite hisreservations about the supposed background of Basler, Manfred had to admire thesudden composure he was displaying following the obvious initial discomfort.

‘Thank you for this great honour, Major Fenski.’

‘Strictly speaking, it is we who are thanking you, lieutenant,’replied Fenski, nobly.

This was greeted with amusement by the crowd.

Basler nodded in acknowledgement before continuing.

‘There are many men who deserve this more than I do. I, in factall of us, are here because of what they have forfeited. If I cannot thank youfor this great honour, then I shall thank them. Now get back to work.’

There was a mixture of clapping and laughter from the soldierslooking on.

‘I think that’s an order,’ added Fenski with an amused twinkle inhis eye. He led the soldiers in a final round of applause before the crowd dispersedback to where they’d come from. Fenski stayed with Basler.

‘You’ll never make senior ranks until you learn to accept praisewithout shame and take credit for things you’ve never done, Gunther,’ said Fenskiwith a wry look at the lieutenant.

‘I just want to make it out of here in one piece, sir.’

Fenski grinned and clapped the lieutenant on the back.

‘You and me, both, my friend.’

 11

El Alamein, Egypt,  September 1941

The tent flap rippled in the light wind that wafted through thecamp. Lister raised his eyes from the letter on the table and looked at themovement. He hoped it was not a portent of a sandstorm. There’d been nowarning, not that there ever was. He got up from the table and called overSergeant Graves. He gave some instructions and returned to his tent.

A few minutes later Captain Aston walked in followed by MajorsWarren, Miller and Laing. Other officers followed. Captains Longworth, Cuttwell,Gjemre and Ainsley, Lieutenants Turner, Crickmay, Delson and Hutton. There werenot enough seats in his tent, so Lister stood up. He briefly summarised thecontents of the communication which was lying open on his table.

‘Any questions?’

Major Miller spoke first. Lister noted the troubled look on Miller’sface.

‘Cunningham? Am I right in thinking he’s new to desert warfare?’The question was diplomatic even if the implication was clear.

‘Well both he and General Auchinleck will be new to this sort oftheatre. We all were. If he’s not already here, then he’ll be here soon. I knowClaude Auchinleck. He’s a logistics man. He won’t move until he he’s readywhatever the politicos might want. This is good. You don’t need me to tell youwe’re facing superior equipment, firepower and air power. He’s the right man toeven things up and give us a fighting chance.’

‘But as the major says, neither knows anything about desertwarfare,’ pointed out Aston. The cheroot was fixed to the side of his mouth. Itonly just masked the supercilious look that accompanied the remark.

Lister looked at his captain and felt like pointing out that ifCunningham knew little about desert warfare then it was twice as much as Aston.He smiled instead. However, Aston was warming to his theme sensing that theother officers were agreeing with him even if they felt uncomfortable about histone.

‘And he knows nothing about the men around him. Their strengthsor, more likely, weaknesses.’

‘Changing horses mid race is never ideal, I agree,’ respondedLister, ‘but we have to work with this. Now, I propose we let the men know thatthey won’t see much of a change initially but, trust me, once Auchinleck isgood and ready we’ll be on the road to Tobruk. He’s indicated as much. Considerthis gentlemen, by early winter we’ll have over one hundred thousand men, eighthundred tanks and close to one thousand aircraft. Rommel may match us for menand tanks but not for planes. The balance is tilting again.’

The officers