CHILDHOOD IN THE ZONE
As Remembered By J. Graham Hopkinson
I went to Egypt aboard the Empire Windrush circa 1949. On landing at Port Said our first week was spent at 211 Transit Camp in Ismailia after which we moved to a temporary quarter at TEK. My father, George Hopkinson, was a career soldier (served 38 years) joining the Army as a boy of 14 in 1917 at Woolwich.
When he was posted to Egypt he was then a Major in the REME and stationed at 2 Base Workshops. After TEK we moved into a Greek owned flat in Arashia (a suburb of Ismailia). My brother, Bryan, then aged 16 went to the English School, Cairo. I, a mere 8 year old, went to the Army school in Moascar and later in Fayid. We had a pretty normal life, going shopping in Cairo, Port Said etc. I remember well the French and Greek Squares in Ismailia. I remember the Open Air cinemas and, of course, the A.K.C.
School finished at noon each day and we generally managed to go down to the beach clubs at Lake Timsah for the 2 o’clock convoy. Sometimes we would go to Ferry Point for a close up look of the ships passing through the Canal.
When the trouble started to get out of hand, we were moved to 88 Canal Cottages, Fayid (behind the wire) and although restricted we still managed to live OK (as seen by a young boy). I had joined the Cubs, initially 5th Cairo, Moascar Garrison and in Fayid the 1st Great Bitter Lake, 2nd Cairo.
In 1951 my brother came home on ‘Call Up’ and was on the Suez landing in 1956 with the Para Brigade.
We returned from Egypt in September 1952 on the RMS Asturius and were posted to Warminster, Wilts (27 Command Workshops).
I would love to hear from
anyone (perhaps at school) who remembers me or my family.