March 8th, 1940 - Sidi Barrani
"Company to form hollow square! Company, Halt! Center rank right, Rear rank left - TURN!" The sargeant major's voice echoed throughout the dusty parade square, while we smartly obeyed the drill, our boots clicking in unison as we
turned inwards.
It's been over a year since I've first set foot on this land of sand, and i can't say i am very fond of it. The air is dry and hot, the first thing you notice when you walk out of a cooled building is the sudden blast of sand and heat into your face as you open the door.
Then again there aren't many air conditioned buildings in Cairo.........
The sargeant major saluted, making way for Brigadier Matthews, who commanded our brigade, which in turn was part of the 7th armoured. We have come a long way from the bunch of unprepared sobs we were when we landed in 39, but like any tank army, we were still untested, untried. The Brigadier spoke.
"Soldiers of the 7th Brigade! As of yesterday, March 7, 1940, I have received word from our minister of war, Lord John Gort, that the enemy forces of the third Reich have attacked and taken Troyes."
He paused for a moment, letting the information sink in, before continuing. "The French Military is expected to collapse in the near future, and it is of our best interest that we prepare for the worst. I will quote from the minister himself, that we are to '
do whatever it takes to preserve Britain's hold on the ports of Alexandria and Suez.' "
The Brigadier then folded the order and placed it in his pocket.
"We are to dig in, and fortify our positions. Although the Italians have yet to make a move, General Wavell believes it is wise to begin constructing fortifications. The 7th brigade will do so here at Sidi Barrani, your colonels have received their orders and each battalion shall be put to work constructing our defenses. That is all for now, work shall begin tomorrow, parade in the morning. Till then, dismissed."
"Damn." I whispered under my breath, there was only one thing worse than sitting around in this unbearable heat, and it is digging trenches and laying mines in this unbearable heat.
"Well, we're going to have a fun time aren't we fellas?" Murphy sneered as we left the parade grounds. He was the easy going member of our company. A blond and tall Devonshire man who drank like there was no tomorrow. The Provosts however, had yet to catch him, we found it amusing how he would mix the water in his canteen with alcohol, we guessed that it was his way of keeping his nerve during a fight, by going to battle tipsy.
"Say James, how about we go to the town to-night? Let's make the best of our free time!"
"By getting yourself stark drunk? Are you mad?"
"No, just sober." Murphy said jokingly.
"Perhaps you'd fancy a week in the guardhouse Private Murphy?" A booming voice came up from behind us, and we jumped. It was Sargeant Allan, one of the ANZACs who came all the way from his native land to fight with the 7th. He wasn't as tall as Murphy, but the man was perfectly fit, by looking at him you would think that there was not an ounce of fat in his body.
"I dunno sarge, peeling potatoes in the guardhouse sounds pretty easy compared to trench work."
"Who said you'll be peeling potatoes?" Allan grinned. "You'll be doing your own trench work in the guard house." he pointed to the latrines. Murphy suddered. I just laughed.
Allan shrugged, "Well i suppose i can let you go this time murphy, come now! Back to camp, we got a tough day ahead of us."
"Yes sarge." We both said grudgingly.
"So.. do you think that the Italians will invade sarge?" I asked curiously.
"Hard to say Harris, Hard to say, but we'll give them a good trouncing just the same." Allan laughed. "Now lets not worry about those sods, i feel like a drink. Mister Murphy! Lead the way!" The private could only laugh as his sargeant led them to the nearest bar.
I thought differently though...There were so few of us and so many of them....this wasn't going to be a cushy job for us.
(The desert Front, March 1940)
(In the first game, i had no idea what convoys were and how unlucky of me that i chose britain 
