Robbie Condliffe

Extract from my grandfather's war diary: 02-09-1942 Airforce activity all day almost entirely ours. Weather is calm. Latest estimates 70 Jerry tanks destroyed. 4 L.A.B. is forming columns as Jerry’s attack switches North to smash at Italian Infantry, and B Echelons. We got two officers of the 4th Hussars in at 1900hrs one was an eye injury. He lost the sight of one eye (2nd Lt J. D. Herst). The other Captain Robert Beachcroft died at 2315hrs. I had the job of making an inventory of the letters kit and came across the photo of a lovely Egyptian swimmer, Miss Marcelle Eynaud, 3 Rue Ishmail, Heliopolis, according to letters – which my job forced me to read – he was very much in love and wanted to marry her but could not obtain the necessary permission. He left her all his personal effects in a witnessed will. He died of a G.S.W. Parietal Lobe lobe of brain without regaining consciousness. C. Y Winter laid him out. Padre Davidson, who knew him well, administered the last sacrament.