HQ - RAMC OFFICES GHQ MELF FAYID
"JUST A VERY SMALL UNIT"
As Remembered By Edward Colthorpe
I served at the HQ of the RAMC Offices at GHQ MELF Fayid during 1951-53. My duties were as a P.A. Clerk to Col. McMillan and Col. Spicer, who were the Consultant Surgeon & Consultant Physician for MELF. I shared my office with WO1 Reg Bishop and also assisted him with the huge amounts of paperwork regularly turned out to him by the Head and Fatherly figure of our small unit, Major General Beveridge, to be followed much later by a newly arrived from the Far East, Maj Gen Drummond. Both positions which carried the role of Head of Medical Services for the Middle East Land Forces.
We were a very small unit, with more senior officers than other ranks it seemed, of which I believe we were only five in number – a Pte, a L/cpl, two Corporals and a WO 1st class, and he really was a WO 1st class. All superiors were good to work for, and our roles were likened to Professionals going about our jobs. I remember there being a Geordie, one from Wales, one from the South and myself from Suffolk. The specialist officers were made up of a Major General, a Brigadier, two full Colonels and a Major, to be followed up by a second Major Phillips sometime late in 1953.
We were a happy bunch – well as happy as conditions would allow us to be – what with the flies, water, food and too regular night duties, plus a corrugated roof that rattled at night when alone on duty on the very outer skirts of GHQ with the Flea Mountain to face us. Those damn lizards were a constant reminder of being alone in the office all night, with what I am sure were their army issued boots on. All to be compounded in the night of a night, when the MP’s could not provide us with a taxi to the distant airport at Fayid to pick up urgent drugs or mail from London. Yes on a motorbike. Have you ever carried an R’Enfield gun on a motorbike in the desert, without ammo, owing to the Geneva Convention rules of combat at that time? ‘Who said the British could be brave’. Fear, Perseverance and Stupidity rather than bravery now comes to mind.
And then there was our living camp. Oh well, perhaps that is all best left out of this item, as I have now got very used to non-swearing by now. Plus my parson might get to read this. I would like to hear from anyone I served with. Edward, Ed or Ted, cannot remember what the heck you called me - no suggestions please!