TCM RAF ISMAILIA 1953-56
MY TIME IN EGYPT
As Remembered By Maurice (Tony) Rayner
Having read the article in the May Issue of the last trip of MV Somersetshire reminded me of my trip to Port Said on her last outward journey. September 1953, I was in an RAF Transit Camp at Lytham St. Anne’s. We had been issued with a second kitbag of KD gear so we were obviously going somewhere warm, but no one would tell us where – and never did find out until we arrived at our posting. We were sleeping in Nissan huts, were told to hand in our bedding and report to the Square at 10am with all our kit ready to move out.
Next morning after we had all been marked present we were told to dismiss and
report at the same time the next morning, so most of us went to Blackpool for
the rest of the day. Next morning, repeat of previous day so Day 3, we didn’t
hand in our bedding. On the Friday the same so we asked for passes to go home
for the weekend. Reply – we do not issued passes – be back here
10am Monday – so most of us went home for the weekend.
This happened for 2 or 3 weeks until one day when we were dismissed we were
told to be back at 11am as we were moving out. Big rush to get ready but we
all made it!
We were loaded into lorries and taken to a small railway station. Eventually a long troop train arrived and we were loaded on board and set off. After some time we arrived at a small station in Liverpool. We were line up and marched off with a kitbag on each shoulder. There were one or two lorries following us and, from time to time, used to pick up airmen who had collapsed. Finally we arrived outside the Liver Building where a large ship was moored. We were all exhausted and the most welcome sight was the Salvation Army handing out free tea and buns (I’ve been a S.A. supporter ever since). After a while we boarded the ship up a very steep and long gangway (the tide was in). Allocated 8 to a cabin and told we could go on deck as the ship was about to sail. The deck was crowded and many men were throwing streamers. An Army band was on the quayside playing various tunes, one of which was “will ye no come back again” which I didn’t think was a very good choice! We disappeared into the October mist (I think it was 3rd Oct), but still didn’t know where we were going only that we were on the MV Somersetshire and this was to be her last trip. A daily quiz was run to guess how far we traveled each day. We were obviously going somewhere hot – current trouble spots were Suez, Mau Mau in Kenya or Korea. As we would be passing through the Med to all these places, it would be nice to see the Rock of Gibraltar, and should be close enough to get a good view.
The Bay of Biscay was rough, of the 8 in my cabin I was the only one that wasn’t seasick – must have been the time I spent as a teenager on North Sea fishing boats. From the daily mileage details I calculated roughly when we would pass Gibraltar. Several others were interested and we spent one day on deck but didn’t see Gib until about 03:00 and had a good view in the moonlight.
We had no tasks to do on board, only 30 minutes PT every morning. A Scottish regt was on board and gave exhibitions of sword dancing and plenty of bagpipe music. The cooks used to leave empty waste tins at the rear of the boat and we were allowed to draw rifles and ammunition for target practice off the stern. Also we saw flying fish for the first time.
We proceeded along the North African coast, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and eventually to Egypt, about 14 days from Liverpool. The day we arrived at Port Said I was cabin orderly (cleaner) but managed to get on deck and saw de’Lessops statue and the Custom House. Later in the day several names were called, including mine, and we disembarked over on a barge. Arriving on shore I was amazed to see Army, Navy and RAF personnel all walking around fully armed. I didn’t realize it was that bad. About 30 of us were put on an RAF bus, with armed guard, and disappeared into the night. From time to time the bus stopped, names were called and a few people got off. Eventually it was my turn along with two others. As soon as we were off the bus pulled away and we were left standing at a small gate which had two armed guards.
It was late. We were told to go to the nearby hanger where there were three canvas beds we could make up. We all had a very bad night as the RAF police used the hanger as a garage and were driving in and out all night. The next morning we had breakfast and reported to the station office. We asked where we were and told Ismailia – halfway between Port Said and Suez. We were allocated beds and told to report to TCM where we would be working.
We went on shift later that day (TCM never shut, day or night, 365 days a year). Sgt Smith was in charge of the shift of about 25/30 airmen and WRAF. It was a very happy shift with a very understanding Sgt., everyone was very friendly and helpful and we were always busy. I enjoyed my 15 months at TCM. I didn’t want to spend my spare time on the camp and, as we did a different shift each day, I asked what everybody else did in their spare time. We could walk into the Army garrison at Moascar where there were a few shops and a café. Ismailia town was “Out Of Bounds”, go swimming in Lake Timsah providing there were several of us, or volunteer for escort duty. I decided to go for the escort duty and drew a rifle and ammunition from the armoury and went to the Main Gate. After a while I was given a job on the NAAFI van, a Morris 8 E style, with an Egyptian driver who do not speak. We set off at high speed going through back street in Ismailia, eventually arriving at Spinney Wood, an RAF transmitter station. The journey worried me as it was a small van and my rifle was wedged between the floor and the roof. It would have been very difficult to move and use if required and I was very pleased when we got back home. So I decided – no more escorts for me! The old hands told me “don’t take rifles on escort, take a sten gun, smaller, easier to use, makes a lot of noise but totally inaccurate – wait until you have done your sten training before going out on escort again”
Sten training day arrived. A group of us were told to draw sten guns, then got into a truck and were taken a short distance into the desert. The Cpl then instructed us all about the sten, placing great emphasis on always making sure that the magazine had been emptied as the sten had a bad habit of starting up on their own. We stood in a line and fired two magazines and then walked with the guns facing out whilst the Cpl went down the line to check all guns were fully discharged. I was about 10th in the line and when he reached No. 8, my gun suddenly fired off another round! I’ve never seen anybody hit the ground so fast as that Cpl. Perfect display of what could happen, trust it to be my gun. After that I always drew a sten for escort duty.
I was also sent on grenade training, which wasn’t successful. Three of us and a Sgt went out a short distance into the desert where a trench had been dug, the sand piled up in front of it. Grenades were explained to us, and then we each had to throw a live grenade. These were to be thrown overhand but I said I could only manage underhand. This was not acceptable and I was told to do my best. I tried, unsuccessfully. The grenade went up and came down about a yard in front of the sand pile! When it exploded it moved most of the sand back into the trench with four of us still in there. I learnt some new words from the occupants! We scrambled out and I was instructed by the Sgt to dig the trench out. The other two airmen were given pass certificates; the Sgt glared at me and said I was never to touch a grenade again, as I would probably kill someone. He said that he was being demobbed soon and we were his last pupils and he wasn’t going to end his career with a failure as I would be his first – so I got a pass certificate!
I went on numerous escort duties and I think I visited every RAF camp in the Zone. Port Said was a regular run, and sometimes we would have several hours to wait at the docks. Providing there was 4 of us, we would go into parts of the town. It was strange walking round Woolworth’s with a sten gun over your shoulder. Sometimes on the way home we would see a donkey cart full of water melons. We were not supposed to stop anywhere but had planned how we could safely stop and buy melons which were very cheap.
Once I had to go to Fayid hospital for dental treatment. Turned up at SSQ where there was a minibus waiting but the Sgt in charge said he had no escort and I was detailed to draw a gun to be the escort. Orders duly carried out and I was sitting on the front seat chatting to the driver when an RAF Officer came out and ordered me out of the seat as she wanted to travel at the front. I explained that I was the escort and had to sit in the front. The Sgt came out and told us to go and asked where the escort was, but the WRAF officer would not move saying she was superior rank to the Sgt. We carried on to the Main Gate which led into Moascar garrison. Same problem but the officer would not move. Arrived at the main exit gate which was controlled by the RMP – same problem and was told to wait on some waste ground near the gate. It was getting hotter, the WRAF officer complained to the driver who said he had to obey the orders and could not move until the RMP authorized him. After a long wait it was obvious nothing was going to happen unless I was in the front seat. Eventually the officer walked to the gate and it appeared a big row was taking place. She came back with a very red face, told me to sit in the front seat and told the driver he could leave for Fayid. On arrival at Fayid I tried to hand in the sten and ammo but they said they couldn’t accept an Ismailia weapon. I went to hospital, explained the situation, was told to put the sten and ammo under my pillow when I had my operation. When I came round from the op they were still there, so no harm done.
The most exciting escort I did was quite a long journey. I finished shift in the Signals Centre at 13:00 and wasn’t on again until 07:00 next day. Later that afternoon I volunteered for escort duty. Arriving at the Guardroom I found 5 others already there. After a while the Cpl called for 6 escorts which just got me a job. Outside were 3 Standard Vanguard staff cars and we were detailed 2 to a car. I was in the last car and when we asked the driver where we were going he said the comedian Terry Thomas was in the middle car and we were to take him to another RAF station near Suez, cannot remember the name. On arrival we were told to park on the square. We all got out and Terry Thomas thanked us for a safe journey. He said he had been invited to dinner and then would be giving a show. He asked us if we would like to attend which we all accepted. An officer arrived to greet Terry and told us he had arranged a meal for us in the cookhouse and told us the time to be back at the cars, and he also pointed out theNAAFI. Terry Thomas pointed out that we all would like to see the show – the reply from the officer was that would not be possible as the show was for officers only and we were only airmen, besides which the hall was fully booked and we were carrying guns and ammo which was not allowed in the hall. Terry Thomas took the officers arm and walked a few yards away. The officer shortly returned to us with a very red face, pointed out the back door to the hall, told us to be there at a certain time and we could see the show. When we got in we found that we had front seats at the side but with a very good view of the stage. We eventually returned to Ismailia in the early hours. Terry Thomas shook our hands and thanked us for returning him safely and asked if we enjoyed the show which he had threatened to boycott if we were not allowed in! A nice escort job!
I was fortunate enough to go on 14 days leave to Gold Sands Leave Camp at Famagusta, Cyprus. Had to stay there for nearly 3 weeks though as there were no flights available to Fayid. I was also very fortunate to be able to visit Jerusalem and Bethlehem, visiting all the holy sites. Towards the end of 1954 and Agreement was signed with Egypt for UK forces to leave the Canal Zone. Trips were quickly arranged for troops to visit Cairo, the Pyramids and Sphinx. Priority was given to those due to go home soon and I was able to go on the second weekend. A very interesting trip which I was glad I didn’t miss.
Soon after that I was moved to El Hamra but delayed for several days. I eventually left Fayid early one morning in Jan. 1955 on board a converted Hastings bomber bound for Malta – and lunch. We flew quite low with a cheerful pilot who kept us informed as to where we were. He said there was only one parachute on board and he was sitting on it. We duly arrived in Malta, had lunch and the re-boarded for the UK. We had hardly left the runway and was still climbing, passing over Gozo, when the engine just outside my window stopped. After a short while the pilot told us of this failure and said he was returning to Malta for a possible repair. We had full tanks which would have to be emptied before we could land. This he would do by flying around Malta but told us to remain in our seats and not go to the opposite side of the plane to get a better view. He would fly round clockwise and then anti-clockwise so that we all had good views. On landing we climbed out and returned to the station buildings. As we approached them 3 Navy boys were sitting in a 15cwt truck and asked 3 of us if this was our first visit to Malta and offered us a quick tour of Valetta. We explained that we shouldn’t really leave the area but they said that the planes were always breaking down and would take several hours to repair, sometimes they take days. We went off and had a quick but very interesting tour of Valetta. When we returned the plane was reloading and we just managed to join the back of the queue. This time we took off with no trouble! The pilot explained the engine failure had been a failed magneto. We flew fairly low all the way to the UK mainly in the dark. Had a nice view of Nice which was all lit up.
Arrived at Lyneham where we were met by Custom Officers where we had to declare
everything we had purchased overseas. We were told we would be searched including
kitbags and anything not declared then we would be charged with “illegal
importing”. I declared a medium priced camera and watch, pair of sandals
and various mementos all of which were purchased more than 1 year ago. I was
charged duty on everything which left me with no money. I remember I had to
pay £6-7s-6d for the camera which was exactly what I had paid for it.
What a lovely welcome to the UK.