Another scorcher of a day, the forenoon was without a breath of air to relieve the oppressive heat, the sky was cloudless and the sun beat down with pitiless intensity. In the late afternoon the clouds began to gather on the horizon and soon it appeared as if we were going to have a thunderstorm.
The whole squadron fore-gathered in the open to watch the strange sight. Terrific clouds of dust were being driven before the rain and in a few moments a violent dust storm broke over the camp. The wind and dust whistled through the tents and soon the dust was transformed to flying particles of mud as the drops of rain began to patter down. Meanwhile the sky was illuminated by vivid and continuous flashes of lightning.
Unlike the violent thunderstorms of our own high veld there was practically no thunder. Only a distant and muffled sound not much akin to our Southern thunder. But the lightning was there flashing across the sky just as if nature was laughing at the big guns of ALEX. and TOBRUK.
The whole skyline was ablaze with the reflection of the desert lightning. And then came the rain, torrents of water, refreshing and invigorating. Soon it was all over and with the coming of darkness, the strange desert dust-cum-thunderstorm was a thing of the past – a memory not soon to be forgotten in this land of oddities.
Our little concert party paid a "diplomatic” call this evening to AMRIYA and gave a concert at the R.A.S.C. there. It was a huge success and the hosts did our boys proud with a watermelon feast!