RASC 30 COY, SUEZ GARRISON 1952-55
“GIVE US THIS DAY……..”
As Remembered By John (Brummie) H. Brown
30 Company RASC was based in Suez Garrison. A broad range of vehicles were there to serve the needs of the Garrison – ambulances, petrol & derv tankers, 3 tonners, TCV’s and so on. My first duty on joining 30 Coy was on tanker deliveries, not very glamorous and not the cleanest either.
After a while I was transferrred to ‘A’ Platoon and allocated a Bedfor QL, TCV, much more civilised! Now a driver could wear ‘proper’ military clothing, KD’s in summer and BD’s in winter. Transporting troops around the Canal Zone was quite interesting.
Me with my Bedford QL, TCV
In late 1953 the RASC Bakery in Suez won the MELF award in a bakery competition and this was noted, apparently, by the C in C General Sir Francis Festing. His good lady wife requested that she would like a delivery of two loaves per day from this trophy winning bakery. This was the beginning of the ‘Bread Run’ that was to continue until the Garrison was closed in early 1955.
My day started at the bakery to collect the bread and then pick up any personnel who needed to travel north, plus collecting mail for delivery to Fayid and Moascar. The happiest travellers were those who would be taken to the Fayid Transit Camp, this being the first leg of their journey home and demob.
Lunch at Gebel Maryam then the return journey, calling at Fayid Transit Camp again for the new arrivals from the UK who were destined for Suez (you lucky people!)
In 1954 the newly appointed C in C Sir Richard Hull carried on with this arrangement of daily deliveries so I was to carry out my daily routine of travelling 180 miles round trip until my turn came to return to the UK.