“ADDRESS TO A CANAL ZONERS MEETING”
I am here because I was there
My County to defend
I went where I was wanted
On that you could depend
I lived in tented billets
And tin-plated Nissan huts
The blooming sand got everywhere
And nearly drove me nuts
I did as I was ordered
By NCO’s and such
And if you didn’t like it
It didn’t matter much
We suffered Para-Typhoid
And things that flew and bit
And many bangs were heard at night
From El Hamra to Kabrit
We guarded and paraded
Did escort duty too
We darned our socks unaided
And always frequented the ‘loo’
I worked on many Vampires
With rifle close to hand
Then came the day my tour expired
And I had to leave this desert land
Duty done – not all fun
I was going home from there
I was coming home to mum
With memories to share
Again I say as I began
It made of me a better man
I am here today because
I was once over there
LAC Brian Waghorne
ex: RAF Deversoir 1951-53