Most people do not wish war on their societies. However, war has been with us since time immemorial and is part of of our everyday lives. Reflecting on this sad reality, I wrote a song based on a true story of my father in the second world war highlighting the madness and futility of events that never end and nobody really wins.
The art shown here are water colour paintings by my father RO/3591 Major Philip Pierpoint Miles. They are his personal recollections of war scenes before and after his capture by the Germans in the Western Desert in 1942 and painted under extremely severe war time conditions at an Italian prisoner of war camp in Chieti which lies East of Rome going towards the Adriatic.
Sudan 13 September 1940. We move off from Port Sudan for Gebeit in the Red Sea Hills.
I personally visited this camp in the summer of 1961. My father spent three years in Chieti before being transferred to the Germans in Mooseburg which is in today’s Poland. His prisoner identity was Kaf. Nr. 1624/V111 F at Oflag V111 F. He remained under German control until release by the Americans in 1945. The first 12 pictures have my father’s comments on the back. The remainder are general battle painting recollections but without commentary.
Clive P. Miles
Eritrea 21 March 1941 Fort Dologosodoc. I spent the night 20/21 building sandbag traverses across the concrete walled trenches of the fort. Dawn saw a terrific bombardment on the position followed by an attack by the Alpini Brigade The attack was thrown back by 3/5 Mashrata Light Infantry (depicted resting after the attack) and the 6/13 Frontier Force Rifles.
Abyssinia June 1941 Petrol Drum Corner. This hairpin bend 2 ½ miles south of Amba Alagi had been completely demolished by the Italians. I built a new corner from 40 gallon petrol drums, blowing the face off the adjoining small hill on the left. No. of drums used approx. 3,500
April 1942 Sullum Hill
Western Desert 0600 hours 5 june 1942. 9th Indian Infantry Brigade moving forward to the starting line on the Trig Hachiem for their attack on Sidi Mufta.
Western Desert (Cyremica) About 1800 hours 5 June 1942 I am caught in a counter attack 21st. Panzer Division. I am on my way back to my own unit from Brig. H.Q. but cannot get through. In front of me an anti tank gun crew have had their vehicle knocked out. I see some are surrounded and as I step from my truck a 50 mm. armour piercing shell passes through my windscreen burning my face. Having picked up the survivors of the gun crew, I go East like hell!!
Western Desert (Cyremica) 5 June 1942. a few minutes later than the previous picture. Having got the gun crew into my truck there is no room for me so I ride on the running board. Note A.P. shell hole in the windscreen.
Western Desert Night 26/27 June 1942 20 miles S.E. of Mersa Matruh At dusk 26 June, I ordered my company to rendezvous 17 miles to the East. South of Bagash) I myself remained with brigadier Reid near sidi Hanza to watch the progress of the enemy 90th Light Division attack our position along the Swini Track. Later as our column pulled back I took over command of the brigade ammunition column and moved East. Twice during the night we were located by enemy aircraft which dropped flares but took no further action.
Fuka 28 June 1942 The last stand of the 29th Indian Infantry Brigade. Rearguard of V111th Army withdrawing on El Alamein. The brigade main column, reduced to some 300 men, 3-25 pounder guns and 1 bofor, fail to hold an attack by 28 German MK 111 tanks supported by German and Italian infantry and are over-run. Seeing the position hopeless, I ask permission from Brig. D. Reid D.S.O. M.C. to pull out. Permission is given and I run for the tank seen standing at my H.Q. (top left hand of picture) Continued next picture.
Fuka 28 June 1942 Narrative continued from previous picture Whilst I have been away to seek permission from the Brig. To pull out, my men join in with the infantry in flight. Whilst running back to my H.Q., I see Lt. Beart Fosse leave his slit trench, jump in the truck and make off at high speed abandoning myself, Lt. Hobson and Captain Bristow to our fate. I call to the two latter to run to my truck (right hand corner of picture) but we are too late. A tank coming up behind the crest of the dune opens fire and we are compelled to run back and throw ourselves in the slit trench shown in the center of the picture. Here we remained for nearly 5 hours waiting for the enmy to clear off.. Just as we were preparing to hile it, a German truck drove within a few feet of us and we were spotted and quickly popped in the bag
