Citations: |
LG Sup 24 November 1942 pg. 5091 - "Corporal Buchanan, and Privates P. Williams 242479 and F. J. T. van Niekerk 27321 of 2 Transvaal Scottish (the latter has been recommended for a M.M.) together with Sergeant van Heerden and another Private, Private Hattingh, escaped from Tobruk, in spite of two Artillery officers trying to dissuade them, and their platoon leader telling them it was useless and only very reluctantly giving them his map and other equipment needed for their break-out. The party hid on the coast during the day of 21 June 1942 and set off that night. Their route was as follows: West to near Momment road - due South with Acroma Keep on their right - East, passing about 18 miles South of El Adem towards Sidi Omar passing 18 miles South of Sidi Omar - walked not quite parallel to wire - turned East - reached minefield near Mersa Matruh - turned inland towards El Daba - abandoned truck - made for the beach and followed it to El Alamein. On the fifth day, Corporal Buchanan, Private Williams, and Private van Niekerk, went to look for water and lost the others with their equipment. They searched vainly for 9 hours, then had to start again from scratch without food or water. They walked 40 miles to the nearest Bir - where they met a party of Royal Engineers under the leadership of Lieutenant D. A. G. Allan 101031, 1st Field Squadron (who has been recommended for an M.C.). They had been walking for 34 hours practically without halting and without water. After two days' rest they continued with 3 Royal Tank Regiments from the Bir, and later 4 more fugitives joined them. At this point they found an abandoned lorry and made it work. The rest of the journey they were in constant danger of recapture - they had no map and after two days' travel came across more and more enemy tracks and convoys. They abandoned the lorry and walked fearlessly towards the coast among enemy troops, trucks, guns, etc. They spent the day on the beach, drenched by the sea and in fear of being caught. In the evening they were chased by a German patrol but escaped and reached the Rand Light Infantry. Throughout the trip they destroyed all equipment which they thought might be of use to the enemy. Corporal Buchanan and Private van Niekerk, in spite of attempted dissuasion at the start, great privation (they were dependent on derelict vehicles for water and food) and constant danger of recapture, reached our lines through sheer courage and tenacity. Their journey took 18 days and they walked 170 miles and rode 300 miles as the crow flies." |
Son of James and Margaret Buchanan (nee MacEchen), 105a, Dunbar Street, Bellevue, Johannesburg. Born Johannesburg. A refrigeration mechanic and a clerk. He was unmarried. Commemoration stone in Johannesburg (West Park) Cemetery. |
