INSPECTION - HIDE EVERYTHING!!
As Remembered By Sgt. Mike Bennett, REME att 5 BOD TEK
THE GENERATOR
Before we heard about the proposed inspection we, contrary to W.D. Regulations, equipped our workshop with 110 volt electrical supply – utilising a generator powered by a Ford V8 engine. All parts being obtained from the huge depot within TEK Garrison which was named ‘The Graveyard’. Prior to acquiring this very useful piece of equipment all machining operations eg drilling a hole, necessitated taking the vehicle or component to another workshop approx. a quarter of a mile away.
With the inspection looming we had to hide this unauthorised piece of ingenuity
or come up with an acceptable reason for it’s presence. Therefore we “borrowed”
a mechanical digger and excavated quite a large hole. With the aid of a crane
(which happened to be conveniently at hand) we lowered the complete power unit
into it’s temporary home completing the exercise with a few sheets of
iron and a covering of sand. This time the subterfuge was successful.
With the inspection over we recovered our power unit and it was still operating
efficiently when I left TEK Garrison in 1955
G.O.C. (MIDDLE EAST) INSPECTION TEK XMAS 1954
Prior to the announcement of the above inspection, we had been in the habit of taking a 16ft sailing boat to and from the Bitter Lakes each weekend. This boat had been built from scraps in our own time to avoid having to pay good money hiring one each Sunday. Having heard of the pending inspection – where do you hide a 16 ft sailing boat in the middle of the desert?
After much thought and debate in the Sgt’s Mess it was decided to study the route the G.O.C. was to take and plan a route for the boat to keep it one step ahead of the G.O.C. and his entourage – ALL DAY…!! Quite a demanding scheme.
The day seemed to go very well and at one point the G.O.C. was in our Mess and the boat was in the garden – just underneath one of the Mess windows. Still all appeared to go to plan and we were quietly congratulating ourselves on the overall success of the exercise when the Senior Member was heard to to quote the G.O.C.’s last words as he left our area:- “I do hope your chaps enjoy many hours sailing on the Bitter Lakes…!”
The G.O.C.’s staff had undoubtedly carried out their pre-tour homework very thoroughly! Are their any members who remembers this episode?
Prior to the GOC Inspection it was decided that all footmarks would be removed
from the dust/sand in the sleeping quarters area. I was one of the Sgt’s
detailed to arrange for this clean up! We walked backwards until we reached
the road, where a 1tonner waited to collect us – and the brooms and take
us out of harms way!
I often wonder can anyone tell me what happened to this sailing dinghy before
our troops left Egypt. Did someone sail it home???