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War Memorial
Australia

William had a story published in “Soldiering On” which was one of the books distributed to the soldiers of the Australian Army and was made up of contributions by them while they were in active service. William’s contribution was from Syria and occurred just after the Armistice of Saint Jean d’Acre was signed in 1941 when the troops remained to patrol the area. It was titled “The Snows Came.” Starting in summer, Howard describes life for the troops remaining in the area:
“Life became idyllic. In the cool of the evening troops wandered through the picturesque mountain villages and relaxed in open-air cafes before returning to their beds under the stars. After this rest there would be work, but the languor which the heat produced made even thinking about it tedious. Under such circumstances it was difficult to imagine the same country bitterly cold.”
Howard continued by describing how preparations were made for winter as it became colder.
“Firewood supplies were investigated, clothing stores restocked and the tents and huts which were rapidly springing up made draught proof”
Then the snow arrived:
“A few days before Christmas the snows came, gale-driven with a force that stung exposed faces and sent even the most hardy scurrying for shelter. Within an hour, all the higher peaks and plains of the Lebanese mountains were covered, transforming open, inviting landscapes into bleak, arctic-like wastes.”
Howard then described the initial reaction from the Australian troops:
“Cautiously the Australians - most of them having their first experience of snow - ventured out; but within a few hours yells of delight echoed throughout every camp as snowballs found their targets with increasing accuracy. The first atmosphere of gloom changed to one of carnival.”
All through Christmas Eve and into the early hours of Christmas day, Howard explained, the transport drivers on supply lines from Beirut were travelling very slowly across ice-covered mountains to deliver thousands of turkeys to the troops for Christmas dinner.
they were all delivered and the celebration was:
“...probably the happiest Christmas any man could spend away from his folk.”
After Christmas, there were heavier falls and bigger problems. Howard recounts the many ways Australian troops were resourceful in these new weather conditions.
When firewood became scarce, Australians constructed “stoves from old oil drums in such a way that old sump oil could be burnt at a temperature that would make the drum red hot…it was considered reasonable to use any oil that was not vital for maintaining transport.”
When roads became impassable:
“Snow ploughs, under the control of engineers, cleared one-way traffic lanes over the mountain roads, and members of provost companies regulated the flow of traffic. Gangs of men were put to work with shovels…
“Light aid detachments patrolled the roads, using their specially equipped to rescue vehicles which had skidded off course…
“Back in vehicle parks, drivers were puzzling out how to overcome the effects of cold on their engines…Early morning starting, too, was a problem, but that was soon solved by keeping at least one vehicle warmed up so others could be stowed for parking.”
Howard noted that mobility problems have stopped armies well experienced in snow operations and praised the troops in Syria:
“In less than a week they had become snow wise, and with the improvisation for which Australians are famous, had found ways to keep roads clear and traffic on the move with a minimum of hindrance.”
He continued by explaining the problems confronting the frontline men in keeping their arms and ammunition protected and dry while on the move and how they experimented with home-made snowshoes and toboggans.
Meanwhile the Australian command formed a snow patrol from the soldiers that had experience with skiing which then trained at Cedars in Lebanon. Howard concludes his piece by recounting the beauty of the Lebanese mountains under snow and how they would be remembered for a long time.
from “Soldiering On” 1942, Australian War Memorial