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The heat was unbearable

In spite of sandstorms in North Africa or freezing rain in Italy, soldiers living for weeks at a time in tents or slit trenches had to keep clean and maintain their personal hygiene. Washing dirty bodies and clothes, shaving, digging latrines and avoiding disease were all vital if the health of these soldiers was not to suffer.

Eric Murray

Eric Murray's biography (PDF, 46 KB)

Eric remembers the heat of the North African desert in 1944.

Eric Murray's transcript (PDF, 31 KB)

Robert Hawksworth

Robert Hawksworth

Robert Hawksworth's biography (PDF, 51 KB)

Robert remembers sandstorms in North Africa in 1941.

Robert Hawksworth's transcript (PDF, 32 KB)

William Virr

William Virr's biography (PDF, 47 KB)

Remembers snow, mud and rain during in Italy in late 1943.

William Virr's transcript (PDF, 124 KB)

Fred Cottier

Fred Cottier's biography (PDF, 50 KB)

Remembers the problem of sanitation in the Arakan in 1943.

Fred Cottier's transcript (PDF, 29 KB)

Joseph Clark

Joseph Clark's biography (PDF, 50 KB)

Remembers the ingenious 'Desert Rose' in North Africa in 1942.

Joseph Clark's transcript (PDF, 34 KB)

William Ridley

Robert Hawksworth

William Ridley's biography (PDF, 50 KB)

Remembers the luxury of a two-minute shower at Gazala in 1942.

William Ridley's transcript (PDF, 31 KB)

Leslie Thornton

Leslie Thornton

Leslie Thornton's biography (PDF, 50 KB)

Remembers using petrol to dry clean clothes in Italy in 1944.

Leslie Thornton's transcript (PDF, 30 KB)

William Cornell

William Cornell

William Cornell's biography (PDF, 49 KB)

Remembers malaria precautions in India in 1943.

William Cornell's transcript (PDF, 39 KB)

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