Cpl. Harold Arthur Caley
British Army 1st Air Formation Royal Corps of Signals
from:Liverpool
My father Harold Caley was a dispatch rider and had an accident whilst on a run from Algeria through the road over the Atlas mountains to the Tunis Front in January 1943.
The following is an extract from his book 'A Jumble of Memories and Odd Thoughts': "At the foot of the mountains, everything! Every vehicle, every person had to stop, nothing moved during daylight but as soon as the sky became dark everyone was on the move. The road had a sign at the start showing the number of vehicles shot up and the latest death toll on the 20 mile straight stretch known as 'Messerschmitt Alley'. On the evening I was there, immediately I was given the word 'go', I started down the 'alley', but a poor motor cyclist had no chance; the Americans had no motor cycles, only jeeps and not many of them, in the main it was wagons, tanks, guns and American half tracks carrying troops. It was an American half track that put paid to me and the bike. The Americans held to the middle of the road going like hell and gave no room to anyone or anything. I don't remember much about being hit, one moment I was riding right at the side of the road with no lights on and next thing I remember was being in a New Zealander's 30cwt truck taking me to a field hospital. I had been found unconscious with blood everywhere, two black eyes and my nose not broken but pretty bloody. In hospital on a stretcher for eight days then I was back in camp with eight mates in a tent. At least no charge for losing the bike!"
