37 LAA SQDN, RAF REGT, ABU SUEIR 1951-53
As Remembered By Tom Smith
NATIONAL SERVICE WITH THE REGIMENT CHANGED MY LIFE
I was born in rural Lancashire in 1933, the son of a farmer. As I grew older, it was expected that I would follow in my fathers footsteps into agriculture. When I was about six years old, my family moved to a farm on the outskirts of Liverpool, during the Second World War. We were never short of food living on a farm, plenty of rabbits, pheasants and vegetables etc. At school I never did achieve much, apart from gardening and wood work. I left school at fourteen and chose to go into horticulture, rather than farming, even though I was a member of the Young Farmers Club. I had learned how to use a shotgun, and all manner of agriculture implements and could even drive a tractor. I started work as an assistant groundsman at the Liverpool Police sports ground and later worked at the Liverpool Parks Department, studying for a Royal Horticulture Certificate.
When I nearly reached the age of eighteen, I received ‘that Letter’ telling me I had to do National Service. I chose to join the RAF. Following square bashing etc. I was asked what trade I would like to follow and, looking at the options, I chose the RAF Regiment. The following two or three months were spent at Watchet and Dumfries leaning how to use all manner of weapons, from a simple knife to a 40mm Bofor gun. We were taught to work as a team or as an individual, looking after one another, we were also taught how to kill the enemy if necessary.
At the end of training I became a member of the newly formed 37 LAA squadron. We thought we were going to Germany but due to the political situation in Egypt, we were flown out to the Canal Zone, Egypt to guard the airfield at Abu Sueir – what a difference from the green and pleasant farmland of England to the barren desert, with the Egyptian farmers struggling to grow their crops in those dry sandy conditions, but they managed it somehow.
Once we settled into our tent lines (four to a tent) and we had been issued with our 40mm Bofor guns, the Squadron needed detachment commanders for the guns. Our C.O. selected the six who had come top of the Bofor course at Watchet and I was one of them, so was given two stripes. I was later offered a third stripe if I sat and passed the educational exam but I declined the offer as I did not think that I was clever enough, or had the right temperament to become a sergeant. Some of the corporals did sit the exam and were promoted.
Our tasks in the Canal Zone were varied – guarding the airfield, road blocks, crashed aircraft recovery, numerous exercises, route marches and guarding the bomb dump and the HQ Alio building in Ismailia.
On the whole I enjoyed my time in Egypt with the Regiment but looked forward to returning to civilian life. I was demobbed in June ’53 and returned to my old job but could not settle down to it after the leaving the Regiment behind. I missed the camaraderie and discipline. During my time with the Parks Department I helped extinguish a fire and a comment from one of my workmates, “You’d make a good fireman” prompted me to apply to the Liverpool Fire Brigade. I sat and passed the entrance exams (much to my surprise) and my application was accepted. My wages almost doubled and I was back in uniform. Regimentation and discipline was the order of the day and I was working with a crew again. I completed nearly thirty happy years with the Brigade. The largest fire I attended was a department store in Liverpool city centre where eleven shoppers and staff sadly lost their lives.
I can only put the change in my life down to being called up for National Service and my time in Egypt with the Regiment. I am turned eighty now but still love gardening and anything to do with argiculture.
Come on you Canal Zoners, put pen to paper and let’s hear how you returned
to civilian life.
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The RAF Regiment was originally formed during World War II; its primary role was to defend airfields from air and ground attack. The RAF Regiment is the 'army' of the Royal Air Force. In 1951, after several months of intense training, we were formed into 37 Squadron and embarked to Egypt to defend an RAF airfield at Abu Sueir. We lived under canvas, sleeping four to a tent. It was very hot during the day and a bit cold at night. During the daytime we were pestered with flies and then the mosquitoes took over at night. Although Egyptian terrorists received a bounty of £100 for killing a British Officer and a slightly reduced rate for anyone of lower rank, fortunately our Squadron suffered no serious casualties, although personnel from other units on our camp at Abu Sueir did.
1. A long time ago in a foreign land
Mostly barren and covered in sand
A fight broke out one hot day
It was all concerning a waterway
Owned by the British and the French
It was a bit more than a water filled trench
A desert canal, Suez by name
To which the Egyptian tied to make a claim.
2. It was for help the troops called home
To defend British possessions, in the Canal Zone
In England's green and pleasant land
Young men were called to lend a hand
National Service they had to do
And to take up arms for a year or two
From all walks of life, some a bit green
Armed to their teeth, they were soon very keen.
3. A Squadron of gunners, 37 Ack-Ack
Trained and disciplined to fight back
On active service they went out
To the land of the pyramids to give their clout
Guarding airfields was their aim
Front Egyptian planes that never came
It was from behind they had to look
The Egyptians didn't play it by the book
4. Guerrilla warfare isn't quite cricket
Even when played on a sandy wicket
A sniper here, a landmine there
Or a hand-made bomb to part your hair
Many men died, some were maimed
But the Egyptians they were never blamed
Each year on a November day
We stand at the cenotaph and pray
5. For the men who died and never came home
And for the Country we served for our Kind on the throne
Medal's in hand, we feel so proud
That we returned to our homeland
Thankfully all our Squadron came home
To meet each year, "How time has flown"
Fifty-four years, "As long as that?"
Since we first met as desert rats.
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