Random Jottings on Life at the Front

Living Conditions

Winter was atrocious with temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees. I can recall observing a convoy of laden US trucks driving across the frozen Imjin River right next to the US engineers constructed temporary bridge.

We lived in bunkers (sometimes called hoochies) which were dug into the slope facing away from where enemy shells or mortar bombs would do most damage.

To provide heat in our hoochies we had REME (Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers) constructed heaters. These were made up from an old ammunition shell steel box with angle iron legs and gravity fed from a petrol jerry can located on the roof which made life just bearable. Each bunker had two pairs of double deck beds constructed with angle iron and combat telephone wire to form a mesh on which to place your sleeping bag. Our living bunker walls were of earth with the ceiling (!) constructed of 25 pounder shell metal cases filled with earth. Above that the roof (!!) consisted of tree trunks, earth, rocks and our ponchos pinned down.

During winter the 15cwt truck we had located at base had to be started at regular intervals even with its antifreeze, as did the Centurion tanks in the line. A chorehorse (petrol driven battery charger) operated on an almost continuous basis back at camp.