RAF 107 MU KASFAREET 1948-49
As Remembered By Mike Green
“THESE FOOLISH THINGS” -
Remind Me Of RAF Service In Egypt
A selection of events which have been etched on the old memory:
In May 1948 when at El Hamra Transit Camp, awaiting posting just after arriving in Egypt, there was an airman called “pip” who had (unbelievably) a wind-up gramophone which he carried around and continually played a record of “My Happiness” on the shore of the Great Bitter Lake. We must have heard this tune hundreds of times…
After going on armed desert patrol, I inadvertently lost a round of ammunition in the sand. Naturally I was anxious to find it, as it’s a justifiably serious offence to allow bullets to fall into the hands of people who don’t necessarily have your welfare at heart. So I set off with another airman to find it (a daunting prospect). After a time of tension, it was actually found in those endless sand dunes. The relief was indecribable. A miracle, or what?
In early 1949, due to circumstances beyond my control (heat, food, conditions), I had jaundice, which turned out to preceed hepatitus. I was sent to Fayid Hospital and stayed there for two weeks. For some reason best known to the doctors there, they decided to experiment on another airman and myself and try out a normal fatty diet on us. As anyone knows, a person with hepatitis should never consume fat, the liver in those cirumstances just can’t cope with it. Anyway, the experiment failed. I was seriously ill for at least two years afterwards and still have a dicky digestion. Incidentally, in Fayid Hospital all the patients in bed had to “lie at attention” when an officer appeared. (You couldn’t make it up!)
When on Leave in Port Said, near the Britannia Club, I witnessed a knife fight between two locals. The police just stood there, immobile, and did nothing but blow their whistles.
We were visiting Suez. While there, a number of locals unleased oil drums on us – making their opinion of British servicement very clear.
On arrival in Egypt from Blighty and after disembarking from the Samaria in
Port Said, we went by train to our Transit Camp at El Hamra. On the journey
south, we passed Egyptians who were toiling near the track. Upon seeing us,
they waved a certain part of their anatomy at us by way of greeting (I think).
Self at El Hamra 1948
It is almost 60 years ago but it’s etched vividly on our memories. Young men of 18, 19, 20ish in those days hadn’t travelled nearly as much as today’s young people and to go to the Middle East at that time was a real adventure.
Our time in the forces has resulted in lifelong friendships – people from all parts and from very varied backgrounds. The chaps I met were real friends and definitely the salt of the earth!