Half an hour later we were on our way. The tanks ground along behind us and I faced the task of retracing our circuitous route back to the main road. Luckily some white paint was still visible and I steered us north again with a sigh of relief.
"That Dabo" said Larreur, "He turned off the right road to find a pub!"
He then muttered about severe punishments then turned to me again, "At least it lets you out, Dennis." It did, of course, and I came out of the whole business with my reputation for handling Berber-Arabs enhanced.
It seemed hours later when we ground into the compound to join the rest of the division. Behind us the six Shermans came to life, hatches were opened and all the crews roared "Men of Harlech" to the fury of those who were trying to get some sleep.
We did get the whole division to Hull and were soon involved in the preparations for joining the great invasion armada. As far as I know Dabo never did get punished for deciding to find an English, or Welsh, pub but I did run into him once more when I learnt some very surprising news.
It occurred a week or two before, for me, the war ended. I was parked outside Larreur's office trying to warm up slightly before driving off to find my sections of tanks. A rather unkempt and unshaven figure appeared and greeted me warmly. It was Dabo, now a Captain and with medal ribbons to mark his very successful career. I had heard of his exploits from colleagues who dreaded going out on patrol with him because he always led them into trouble. His wild behaviour was perfectly suited to create a very successful tank commander. I asked if he ever saw the Welsh people again.
"Oh yes" he said "I'm going to marry one of them . She is over here now, and what about you Sergeant-Chef?"
It seemed that Dabo's family influence and the extraordinary ease with which the American Army Air Force could fly even civilian's about in the middle of a war had enabled all this to take place. Larreur was involved because the lady at the pub, who turned out to be a widow, had been recruited to act as chaperone. She and Larreur, to use Dabo's words, 'had found a lot in common'. I would dearly liked to have heard more but loud shouting caused Dabo to say a hasty 'au revoir' and rush off into the night.
I never was able to hear whether Dabo survived and the marriage took place. My only point of contact with the Division after I returned to England was through Larreur. In view of Dabo's remarks it seemed likely to be tactless to raise the question with the Sergeant-Chef. The interpretation of the expression 'a lot in common' could be very wide indeed!