RAOC 9 BAD, ABU SULTAN 1948-49
As Remembered By Colin Taylor
RAOC Ammunition/Tech Store Man - Class 2
Prior to going to Egypt, August 1948, I was stationed at 24 A.S.D. Worksop, where Sherwood Forest was one large ammunition depot and ‘Out of Bounds’ to the public.
I left Liverpool on the SS Empire Halladale bound for Port Said and then onto Port Fouad for transit to 9 B.A.D. Abu Sultan, which was a very busy depot responsible for supplying ammunition to all land forces in the Middle East.
On arriving at the camp (I believe this was a Saturday), flags were at half mast and a funeral had just taken place. I met a couple of pals who were with me at Worksop and they told me that a lad had been shot and killed doing perimeter guard duty.
During February 1949, as a Lance Cpl with four lads, I took command of the armoury, taking over from L.Cpl Nobby Clark. At this time I allowed two men to enter illegally which they did prior to going to the NAAFI. Their names were L/Bdr Eddington and Private Leyland. I didn’t know the Nobby kept a loaded Browning 9mm semi-automatic pistol under his pillow. Someone there picked up the weapon and accidentally discharge a round, penetrating and passing through the body of, I believe, the L/Bdr. I rang the Medical Officer who came straight away; he then got an ambulance to take the patient to BMH Fayid. RSM Jenkins was the Orderly Officer, I rang him and he was on the scene quick and gave me great support as I was very shocked. I don’t know to this day if the patient lived or not. I was charged with negligence against standing orders and demoted. Within a fortnight I had my stripe back, apparently I was in to be a full Cpl. I left Egypt for home in July 1949 on MU Devonshire. My discharge group number was 112.
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RAOC Ammunition Team |
Our Team on Depot with native labour |
Visit by LT General Hersking | |
