RAF 20 MU - PORT FOUAD/PORT SAID 1948-49
As Remembered By Joseph Roddy
Recalling my time at Port Fouad and Port Said, 1948/49, I have some great memories.
Our C.O. was Squadron Leader Whittaker who was mad on photography. I recall how he would set up things, and get us poor sprogs involved. On a few occasions he would light a bonfire with anything that would burn then have us with a large hosepipe, filming us putting out the fire! I remember water going absolutely everywhere as we tried to control the hoses and we would be soaking wet. Then he would say “OK lads, take a break”. We had only minutes off before starting again. The language among us lads was choice!! But looking back it was fun!
20 MU Port Fouad 1948/49 - I'm centre back row with beer bottle
Being on Movements we had our red armbands that let us board many ships coming into Port. We would be invited into the second class lounge, never the first class, and people would ask us to post letters for them at Port Said. They always gave us half-a-crown and we would post them “Forces Mail” - 2½d – as Del Boy would say, “a nice little earner”.
There were two coal burners – the Empire Chubb and the Empire Roach. The captain of the Roach had been sent over just after the war to bring it back to Newcastle but the authorities changed the arrangements and kept the boat on local work – Malta, Cyprus, Greece etc., so the poor guy hadn’t seen his wife for 3 years. He had a Sudanese Steward who must have been 6’7” tall and made the best coffee you have ever had.
Working on the docks was an education, being involved with the local labour. German P.O.W.’s were sent back in 1949, boarding the Empire Troopships. Most of them were like our lads, conscripted, “shut up and do as you are told”. I shook a few hands and wished them luck when they left for home..
I enjoyed my time in Egypt and on reading the items from some of the lads at Kasfareet, 107 MU, I can let you know that Warrant Officer Stewart was posted from us to you down there. He was a great bloke, time served (I think he’d done about 30 years) and nobody messed with him. Squadron Leader, Wing C or LAC, it made no difference – the word was “Don’t mess with Stewart”. I loved him, he was really old school.
I was there when Palestine was being evacuated and there was a Guard of Honour on Abbas Quay for some of the ‘top brass’. We worked on the docks – a good time really.
I remember relaxing in the “Hotel de la Poste”, drinking hooch rum and Stella beer. Steering clear of the “Clifty Wallahs” who would have your watch off you before you knew what time it was – they were only about 10 years old – but they’d leave Paul Daniels standing!
Being in the Service did me no harm at all. Learning how to work with people,
relying on people and them relying on you. Yes, great memories. Wouldn’t
have missed it for anything