0615
“A” Party started moving, had a hot breakfast at 06.45 and the convoy pulled out punctually. Owing to recent rains, the trip onto the tarmac road at MAGRUN – 16 miles – took 5 hours. Two pans were the principal obstacles. In the first 12 fully loaded vehicles, and in the second 17 – including all the trailers – managed to get bogged. These were all towed out by the Crossley 3-tonner and once on the tarmac, the convoy made good going although road traffic was too heavy to permit strict discipline, particularly regarding distances between vehicles which stretched considerably during the rest of the day. Only 109 miles was done when the leading vehicles were turned off the road for the night's camp. By 20.00 the only vehicles which had not arrived were the M.T. Section and two refuelling bowsers, one containing M.T. fuel.