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Age
20 Years

24th February 1944

I went ashore for a walk by myself this afternoon.

I walked first to the eastern extremities of the town , made my back to the docks along the water front road and from there went north west to the main town, finally emerging into the surrounding hills. I climbed the nearest of these to the “Hopital Milatair” where I had to finally come to rest. In getting there, I passed many small huts used as homes by the Arabs and poor French. They were all in a filthy and derelict condition, scattered over the hill side. The little children played in the street just like other children and many of them were innocently pretty though what ghastly poverty.

I frequently came across while in town, army dumps. Piles of crates, lorries, tanks and motor bikes etc. all heaped together. Other dumps contained derelict lorries etc. Bomb damage was considerable. The French people seem for the most part to be very poor and with sad expressions. Young girls are running around loose and there is a general air of resigned despair.

The two noble buildings in the place are the “Chemin de Jer” and the “Bureau de Poste” (station and post office). Both are in the modern style and look very effective.

This evening G and I saw ‘Freedom Radio” in the Colisée, a very broken down cinema.