Philby was Assistant Political Officer at this time.

Edge soil.

Through French Civil Post

Period of Native rebelion.

[One of the most difficult Portuguese military campaigns was waged against the Dembos, a Kimbundu-speaking people who lived less than 150 kilometers northeast of Luanda. The Portuguese attacked the Dembos repeatedly over a period of three years before the Dembos were finally subdued in 1910.]

"I have just received the following from the Naval Ministry: 'Your position, and that of the others who have recently landed, will be determined by the end of the week. We suggest that you don't take redundancy until the end of June in order to allow you the best chance of succeeding in your application for military chaplaincy. I will advise you of the decision taken. I hope this will be satisfactory. For the moment, re-arming the 'France IV' is out of the question.'

This afternoon I've made a few visits, first to the ……* then to Madame Edener, the Colonel's wife, who lost her only son at the front, then to the daughter-in-law of Admiral Guesli, widow of a naval Lieutenant who died aboard the 'Leon Gambetta'.

"it will be no breach of censorship for me to tell you we have been with an Indian Division and for a time we were with some N.Z - particularly at Sidi Rezegh , to where Echlons had advanced rather too quickly I think - however we found ourselves being shelled to blazes on three sides - our 18 pdr & 25 pdrs were dodging about, actually laying between our lorries at times & of course we got Jerries return fire too close to be comfortable. On Dec 1st after 5 days of this we heard a S.A. Div were moving up to relieve the pressure & a cheer went up when we saw, in the distance, a convoy racing towards our back door. We were fully occupied, as you can imagine, at the front and on two sides taking cover from the shells, but to our horror when next we looked thro' the glasses we saw that the convoy was hostile - dark uniforms & types of M.T. now too easily recognised. Orders were given to man every available slit trehcn & parapets were hastily thrown up facing the other way & we all thought we were in for a packet. There was a small pocket of Infantry patrolling only a few hundred yards between us & the advancing column & and one of their fellows opened up with a Bren. Imagine our surprise & relief when the column stopped & all the fellows jumped out & threw up their hands !!! They were Italians, we took 110 prisoners, including 2 officers who certainly could not have been in touch with the situation as they were fully armed & had anti-tank guns as well. Some of the M.T. at rear made off into the desert but were ultimately rounded up by Bren carriers & the Infantry bagged the other prisoners. A prayer of thanks went up - for we were certainly "on the spot" & we hope we never have such an experience again. You will be sorry to learn that Major Hodgson-Mackenzie of the Swaffham Bty was killed, also several other local fellows. Major Cartwright & Major Boag have been wounded." "