8.2 Alan – A Desert War

Friends in the Desert – Alan and Bryn in World War 2

Alan Alfred West 1015318 RAF.

DoB. 14May1918. Enlisted 10Aug1940. 5ft3 Darkbrown hair,hazel eyes 33”chest.

UK Service: 16 Aug 40 RAF Cosford. 21 Dec 40 Promoted to AC2. 11 Jan 41 Occupational Training Flight Mechanic. 1 Nov 42 Promoted to LAC.

Billeted at: Nov 41 19O TU RAF Kinloss, Scotland. Mar 42 24O TU RAF Honeybourne,Worcs. Apr 42 Convoy Glasgow to Middle East

Qualifications: Dec40 Ex Rev Mechanics 63.6%. May 41 Reclass 65.6%. Nov 42 LAC Reclass 80%. 1943 Hurricane II

Middle East Service: 13Apr 42 Troop Ship to Bombay. 18Jun 42 119^thMaintenanceUnit Shaibah. 31Oct 43 Admitted GBG? Hospital. 20Nov 44 Stn Heliopolis.

Bryn and Alan were together in Cairo at Christmas 1944. 

Return Home and Discharge: 19Apr45 Home to 5(P)AdvFlying Unit. 30 Oct 45 Hospital till 12 Feb46. Humane Society Bronze Medal & Bar. 18 Mar 46 101PDC Kirkham Released.

Richard Brynley Evans 1162378 RAF.

DoB. 30May1913. Enlisted 22May1940. 5ft8 Light brown hair, blue eyes 36”chest. Good Conduct Badge 1stA 21 Aug 43 Absent 31 May 41- 2 Jun 41.

UK Service: 23 May 40 2RC Cardington Reserve. AC 1. 24 Aug 40 7RC. 6 Sept 40 Technical Training School. 1 Apr 41 Promoted to Aircraftman 2 (AC2). 1 July 41 Promoted to Leading Aircraftman (LAC).

Flying Log: 4 July 41. Flt/Lt Sales. Air Test, 10 minutes. 14 July 41. FO Karbinski. Cardiff to Weston. Zoyland. 25 minutes. 17 July 41. FO Karbinski

Billeted at: 2 Jan 42 Weston Zoyland, Somerset. 4 Feb 42 Still at Technical Training School. May42 Tfr to Wilmslow, Manchester then Glasgow. May 42 Convoy to Middle East.

Qualifications: Jan 41 Electronics 52%. Mar 41 Electronics Reclass 62%. Jun 41 Electronics Reclass 84%. Dec 41 Exper. Liquid Cooled. Aug 42 Electronics Reclass 81%. 1943 Cheetah Hercules

Middle East Service: 29 May 42 RMS Aquitania Troop Ship to Egypt. 19 Sept 42. 104^th MU Egypt and Sudan. 18 Nov 42 130^th MU Ft Abukir,Alexandria Egypt. 22 Mar 44 119^th Maint Unit, Shaibah. 20th Nov 44 Stn Heliopolis

Return Home and Discharge: 23 May 45 Home to 32^ndMaintenance Unit. 26 Nov 45 101PDC. Africa Star & Ribbon. 22 Feb46 Released.

Political Situation in Palestine before the second World War

The Arab Revolt of 1936–39 had been the first sustained violent uprising of Palestinian Arabs in more than a century. Thousands of Arabs from all classes were mobilized, and nationalistic sentiment was fanned in the Arabic press, schools, and literary circles. The British, taken aback by the extent and intensity of the revolt, shipped more than 20,000 troops into Palestine, and by 1939 the Zionists had armed more than 15,000 Jews in their own nationalist movement. The revolt began with spontaneous acts of violence committed by the supporters of Sheikh Izz al-Din al-Qassam who had been killed by the British in 1935. At that point the Arab political parties formed an Arab Higher Committee who called for a general strike, nonpayment of taxes, the closing of municipal governments whilst also demanding an end to Jewish immigration, a ban on land sales to Jews, and national independence. Simultaneously, Arab rebels, joined by volunteers from neighboring Arab countries, took to the hills attacking Jewish settlements and British installations in the northern part of the country. By the end of 1936 the movement had assumed the dimensions of a national revolt, the mainstay of which was the Arab peasantry. Even though the arrival of British troops restored some semblance of order, the armed rebellion, arson, bombings, and assassinations continued. 

A royal commission of inquiry presided over by Lord Robert Peel reported in July 1937 that the revolt was caused by Arab desire for independence and fear of the Jewish national home. In the face of what it described as “right against right,” the commission recommended that the region be “partitioned”. 

The Zionist attitude toward partition was overall one of cautious acceptance – for the first time a British official body explicitly spoke of a Jewish state. The commission not only allotted to this state an area that was immensely larger than the existing Jewish landholdings but recommended the forcible transfer of the Arab population from the proposed Jewish state. 

The Arabs were horrified by the idea of dismembering the region and particularly by the suggestion that they be forcibly transferred (to Transjordan). As a result, the momentum of the revolt increased during 1937 and 1938. In September 1937 the British were forced to declare martial law. The Arab Higher Committee was dissolved and many officials of the Supreme Muslim Council and other organizations were arrested. The mufti fled to Lebanon and then Iraq, never to return to an undivided Palestine. 

Although the Arab Revolt continued well into 1939, high casualty rates under Martial Law gradually eroded its strength. According to some estimates, more than 5,000 Arabs were killed, around 15,000 wounded, and 5,600 imprisoned during the revolt. 

Although the Revolt had signified the birth of a national Palestinian identity, it was unsuccessful in many ways. The general strike, which was called off in October 1939, had encouraged Zionist self-reliance, and the Arabs of Palestine were unable to recover from their sustained effort of defying the British administration. Their traditional leaders were either killed, arrested or deported, leaving the dispirited and disarmed population divided along urban-rural, class-clan, and religious lines. The Zionists on the other hand were now united behind Ben-Gurion, they had been given permission to arm themselves, and were cooperating with British forces in attacks against Arabs.

However, with War with Germany on the horizon the British government were forced to reassess its policy in the Middle East. If Britain went to war, it could not afford to face Arab hostility in Palestine or in neighboring countries. In November 1938 the Woodhead Commission recommended against Partition largely on the grounds that the number of Arabs in the proposed Jewish state would be almost equal to the number of Jews. Instead it put forward alternative proposals drastically reducing the area of the Jewish state and limiting the sovereignty of both the proposed states. This was unacceptable to both Arabs and Jews. 

In May 1939 the British government issued a white-paper which essentially yielded to Arab demands. It stated that a Jewish national home should be established within an independent Palestinian state. During the next five years 75,000 Jews would be allowed into the country; thereafter Jewish immigration would be subject to Arab “acquiescence.” Land transfer to Jews would be allowed only in certain areas in Palestine, and an independent Palestinian state would be considered within 10 years. The Arabs, although in favor of the new policy, rejected the white paper largely because they mistrusted the British government, and they opposed a provision contained in the paper for extending the mandate beyond the 10-year period. The Zionists were shocked and enraged by the paper, which they considered a death blow to their program and to Jews who desperately sought refuge in Palestine from the growing persecution they were enduring in Europe.  

The Middle East in the Second World War

During the war years the Jewish community in Palestine was vastly strengthened. Its moderate wing supported the British; in September 1944 a Jewish brigade was formed—a total of 27,000 Jews having enlisted in the British forces—and attached to the British 8th Army. Jewish industry in general was given immense impetus by the war, and a Jewish munitions industry developed to manufacture antitank mines for the British forces. For the more extreme Zionists however the war and the Holocaust confirmed that a Jewish state must be established in Palestine. Important also was the support of American Zionists. In May 1942, at a Zionist conference held in New York Ben-Gurion gained support for a program demanding unrestricted immigration, a Jewish army, and the establishment of Palestine as a Jewish commonwealth.

The Arabs of Palestine remained largely quiescent throughout the war. Their Mufti leader had fled to Germany from where he broadcast appeals to his fellow Arabs to ally with Hitler against Britain and Zionism, but he failed to rally Palestinian Arabs to the cause. Although some supported Germany, the majority supported the Allies and over 23,000 Arabs enlisted in the British forces. While the Arab Revolt had ruined many Arab merchants and importers, increases in agricultural prices were benefiting the Arab peasants who had begun to pay back accumulated debts Also British war activities, whilst also bringing new levels of prosperity, further weakened the traditional social institutions of the family and village by helping to create a new urban Arab working class. 

The Middle East was not one of the bloodiest battlefields of World War 2, but it was strategically vital to the Allied Forces at the end of the British Empire. After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I, France had acquired Lebanon and Syria as part of a League of Nations mandate. Great Britain, already controlling Egypt and the Suez Canal, occupied Palestine under the same authority. Nazi Germany was not slow to recognize opportunities to undermine French and British authority in the Middle East and after World War 2 began they sent agents to the region to foment unrest. At stake was Great Britain’s best route of access to India and the rest of Asia, and guaranteed supplies of oil. By the summer of 1941 however, and until the USA entered the War, Britain’s hold on the Middle East was precarious. 

Fighting in North Africa had commenced with the Italian Declaration of War in June 1940. The Italian 10^th Army was destroyed in Operation Compass in December but the German Afrika Corps initially under Rommel arrived in February 1941 to support the Italians, rallying the forces and preventing total defeat. The Allied route through the Mediterranean Sea to the Suez Canal was blocked leaving only the far longer route around Africa. Across the desert to the west the combined German and Italian forces threatened Libya and Egypt. The Americans entered the War in December 1941. Eventually when in October 1942 under Montgomery the Allies won the second Battle of El Alemain (about 100 miles West of Alexandria) this pushed the remnants of the Germans and Italians back into Tunisia. Then in Operation Torch the Anglo-American landings in November 1942 along the coastline from Morocco and Algeria completed the pincer movement on Tunisia, resulting in the eventual surrender of the Axis forces in May 1943 and the end of the North African Campaign. 

But to the North of Egypt a serious threat to Allied control of the Middle East remained. After the fall of France in June 1940, the previously friendly French control of Lebanon and Syria had come under control of the Vichy French regime who were friendly to Germany and in May 1941, the Vichy French signed an accord with Germany allowing their forces access to bases in Lebanon and Syria. This had the potential of opening the door to German forces through Iraq, from where they could very easily encroach further into Lebanon and Syria and from there threaten Palestine, Egypt and the Suez Canal. In April 1941 a pro-Nazi coup cut the air and land route between Egypt and India and threatened Allied oil supplies. In June 1941 British forces invaded across Palestine and Iraq, and heavy fighting took place on land, in the air and at sea. The British captured Baghdad at the end of May and the Coup leaders fled. The capture of Damascus followed on 20 June but Vichy French forces beaten yet and fierce fighting continued.  

Attention turned to eastern Syria, where the British needed to seize control of vital bridges over the Euphrates River if they were to have any chance of completing their campaign successfully. Although the 10th Indian Division had captured Baghdad in May 1941 it remained an almost totally inexperienced formation composed of men from India, Britain, and what is now Nepal. The plan was now to march the Division 200 miles across unforgiving desert terrain before it even reached the Euphrates where they would then have to fight. One force would attack the enemy from the south while another circled around and enveloped the position from the north, taking the enemy from the rear. 

The attack was launched on the morning of 3 July 1941. Taken completely by surprise the French garrison broke and fled, leaving behind tons of supplies and leaving the bridge across the Euphrates intact. The Vichy Regime surrendered on 11 July. From then the Middle East remained a gateway into which the Allied powers could pour men, munitions and other supplies necessary to its war effort, and had access to oil affecting and supporting the outcome of the conflict not only in North Africa, Italy and the rest of Europe but also across to India and the Far East. 

In July 43 the Allies invaded Sicily taking the island in August and opening up the Mediterranean sea-lanes for the first time since 1941. In September 43 the Allies started on Italy and the War moved further away from the Middle East into Europe, whilst still continuing in the Far East. 

Alan’s War. An account of the Troop Ship Convoy in which Alan probably also sailed: 

Convoy to the Middle East – April 1942 (BBC – People’s War)

“On Monday I took the train up to Liverpool where I got kitted out with my tropical gear. We then entrained and went up to Glasgow and boarded the ship – the RM AORANGI – Union Steamship Company of New Zealand – a Canadian-Australasian Royal Mail Line. It had diesel engines – not steam. We were there quite a few days. While we were there the USS Wasp – an aircraft carrier came in and tied up opposite us. Eventually we sailed around the middle of April 1942 in a convoy. The Convoy was one of the largest that sailed – there were boats as far as you could see – I think around 50. We had a few destroyers around and two cruisers in the middle. It was quite terrifying when we were in a storm, because the boat next door would suddenly point towards the ship you’d think it was sailing at you.

The convoy took a very indirect route – right over towards Newfoundland. There were one or two days when we had to sleep in our clothes because of U boats. We used to do maneuvers to avoid U boats – Zig Zags etc. We sailed for 15 days and eventually ended up in Freetown. We also got stuck on a mudbank – to get off we had to run from one side of the deck to the other! After Freetown, we were joined by a ship carrying seaplanes (Walruses) which it used to fire off from time to time. When we passed Cape Town the convoy split and our ship became the Commodore’s ship. One night there was terrific bang and the alarm bells rang. One of the boats had hit a floating mine. We saw it bow down in the water. We were on the boat another 20 days to get from Freetown to Durban This was 35 days since leaving Glasgow. We got off the ship and went to Durban racecourse where we were billeted. Next morning we got paid and went into Durban town. It was a nice town – We got picked up by a nice family who took us home for dinner. On the Monday morning, we re-embarked on the Mauritania (the second Mauritania) bound for Port Suez.” 

This sounds like Alan’s convoy but he was probably not on the RM Aorangi. Was he on the K13 or Q31 HMT Nevasa pictured in his album?  Alan sent a postcard to his brother Ray from Durban dated 22 May 42. “A very modern city, very Americanised.” The Convoy split at Durban. Alan went from here to Bombay, India from where we have photographs. From there he sailed up the Persian Gulf and further up the Shatt-al-Arab river just short of Basra. Then on to RAF Shaibah.

119 Maintenance Unit – RAF Shaibah

RAF Station Shaibah was originally established in 1920. It is a small and primitive airfield with a harsh, hot and humid climate, lying near Basra, just south of where the rivers Tigris and Euphrates meet to form the Shatt Al Arab river. At the outbreak of War in 1939 British presence in Iraq was only here and a flying school at Habbiniyah near Baghdad, but by 1940 244 Squadron was resident at Shaibah – a bomber and anti-submarine unit. Then, between Oct 41 and July 45 the 115^th and 119^th MU were stationed there, along with an Aircraft Erection Unit responsible for the re-assembly of Spitfires delivered by ship and destined for the Soviet Air Force. It is possible that the base consisted of only 100 to 200 RAF personnel. Like many Camps in the Middle East had an open-air cinema. Bryn’s diaries report severe storms and temperatures exceeding 100 Fahrenheit. To survive here it is suggested that discipline may have been more relaxed than elsewhere. Comradeship extended to all ranks and was very strong. “Ginger” was the Orderly Room Clerk. Spare time included “horse-races” with cut-outs and dice. Songs were “Hurrah for Dapper Dan” (the Camp Sanitary Wallah) and “The Shaibah Blues”. 

The Shaibah Blues
Sure a little bit of mutti fell from out the sky one day, And it landed in the ocean oh so very far away.
And when the Air Force saw it sure it looked so bleak and bare, 

They said “That’s what we’re looking for – we’ll build an airfield there”.
So they sent out river gun-boats, armoured cars and SHQ, 

And then their finest squadrons into that maksheen blue.
So peechi I’ll be going to a land that’s far remote 

Until that day you’ll hear me say Roll on that maksheen boat”
I’ve got those Shaibah Blues, Shaibah Blues.
I’m fed up and I’m mucked up and I’m blue.

Alan arrived into 119 MU at Shaibah in June 42 and his album has pictures of the Camp and of trips visiting Baghdad, Babylon, Jerusalem and the surrounding countryside. Bryn arrived in March 44. Both appear to have been there until November 44. At some stage during this period they became steadfast friends that lasted a lifetime. Bryn’s diaries certainly put him working at Shaibah from March until the end of June, but then he was placed “on attachment” to Sharjah, Oman from July 1944 through to November. We assume Alan was stationed with him in Sharjah, because he was certainly there when he was awarded the Humane Society Bronze Medal for his actions while swimming on the beaches of Oman (and remember Alan was only 5ft3”):

On 30 Sep 44 an organized bathing party was in progress at Sharjah. The sea being rough and the tide receding, an airman was washed off a sandbank into deep water. LAC West, with an officer, immediately went to his rescue and succeeded in bringing him ashore despite a struggle by the airman who, being a poor swimmer, had developed panic. Another airman was then observed to be out of his depth and in great difficulties. LAC West, who is not an outstanding swimmer, accompanied by two other airmen at once swam to the rescue but they were unable to make appreciable progress against the current. His companion other airmen who had joined in had to abandon the task but LAC West insisted on persevering and after battling for forty minutes succeeded in bringing the airman ashore, thereby undoubtedly saving the airman’s life. 

Bryn’s diaries say he often went swimming during the summers of 1943 and 44 but he doesn’t mention swimming on that day, or indeed at any time after 20^th September. Could it have been their shared interest in photography that got them together? Maybe it was just that in December 1944 they were posted together to transfer to Egypt with 6 others (incl. Len, Jock, Ginger?). To get there it took two weeks travelling between Transit Camps, initially by lorry and bus covering over 800 miles across the Iraqi & Syrian Desert to Damascus, then another 500 miles by train to Haifa and on to Cairo for Christmas and the end of the year. The only time that an “Allan” is mentioned in Bryn’s diaries is at Christmas and the New Year in 1944/45 when time was spent touring Cairo, a city where Bryn had been before, but Alan (to my knowledge) had not. We do not have any diary entries after 2 January 1945. If I read the writing correctly they spent this time stationed at RAF Heliopolis outside Cairo. It was another 4 months before Bryn and Alan separately came home to England so there was plenty of time for the visits to the Pyramids at Giza, Memphis and Luxor shown in the photographs in Alan’s photo album. 

On arrival home in March/April 1945 Bryn was stationed with the 32^nd MU at RAF St Athan, Glamorgan, so quite close to his family, and Alan was not far away from family in Birmingham, at 5(P) Advanced Flying Unit at RAF Ternhill near Market Drayton in Shropshire. At the beginning of November 45 Alan went into hospital outside Bromsgrove for three and a half months for reasons not yet identified. Both were de-mobbed from the 101 Personnel Despatch Centre at Kirkham, Lancashire, Bryn in Nov45 (released Feb46), Alan once he got out of hospital in March 46.  

The War Diaries of Richard Brynley Evans. 1162378 RAF. Rifle 3796 Bayonet 0291   Watch (Inside 56673, Outside 827237). Rolls Razor B381708.

Thursday 29 May 1942. 2am left Wilmslow, Manchester, arrived Gourock, Scotland and embarked on “Aquitania”. Note: There is nothing in Bryn’s diaries about his Troop Ship voyage. However records show that RMS Aquitania departed in Convoy WS19P on 1^st June with Destroyers. In heavy weather Aquitania broke off independently as WS19Q on 7^th June due to greater speed. Called at Freetown (West Africa) on 11^th June. Then 3 days at Simonstown, South Africa 20^th June, then Diego Suarez, Madagascar from 30^th June, 24 hours at Steamer Point, Aden on 3 July. Disembarked at Port Tewfik (also Port Suez) at the northern end of the Red Sea, Egypt 8^th July. 

9 July 42 Immediately posted to Khartoum 17^th Maintenance Unit (although departure may have been a week later).

Diaries

Later in July;

Left Fayid Transit Camp (near Ismailia by Timsah Lake) 11.15am by lorry. Boarded train at Kasfareet for Fort Toufiq. Changed trains here and travelled to Cairo arriving at 11.30pm. Again changed trains for Shellal arriving the following day at 9.00pm. Here we embarked on the River-boat for travel down the Nile.

Monday 1 Aug 1942. At 2.30pm passed the Temple of Abu Simbel, the last temple before disembarking. Four huge figures cut out of the solid rock being placed two each side of the entrance to the Temple, cut into the solid rock itself. After 4 days travel down the Nile we disembarked at Wadi Haifa. Here we boarded the Sudan railway train. The following day we arrived at Atbara. Here the train was split, half went to Khartoum and we went to Port Sudan arriving at our unit the following day at 10.00am. 

Wednesday 2^nd Sept 1942. On the move again. Posted to 104 MU at Khartoum – told we are to leave at 8.30pm on 8^th.

19 Sept 42 Posted then to 130^th Maintenance Unit at Helwan near Cairo.

11 Nov 42 Station Aboukir – still with 130^th MU, a mile inland and 7 miles northeast of Alexandria.

January 1943. Learning Engines, French. Playing Rugby. Week’s Leave to Jerusalem & Beirut

1 Jan Began to learn construction and layout of Rand(?) and electric starter in workshops. Went to French class in the evening. Wrote letter to Joan, received one back dated 16 Jun 42. 2 Jan Put in appn for leave together with appn for Endorsement of pass to enter Syria. Informed I need to apply to RTO Haifa. Pictures in the evening – saw “Love Crazy”. Sunday 3 Jan. A lazy day. Did nothing till after tiffin then went for walk along the beach. Took two snapshots. Wrote to Joan and Mum & Dad. Telegram to Joan. Swotted French. 4 Jan Had FFI in morning at 7.00. Nothing after work. In evening swotted French. Wrote Airgraph to Joan. 5 Jan To NAAFI in evening, afterwards swotted French 6 Jan Did Magazine Guard – did not go too bad. Completed w/case 190125. Began Packard w/case – lots of trouble. 7 Jan Began work at 08.00 after Magazine Guard. Troubles with w/case continue. Wrote airmail to Joan then to camp cinema to see ‘The Lady Eve’. 8 Jan Another troublesome w/case. After work washed, shaved, then went to French class. Wrote airgraphs to Joan, Mum and dad. 9 Jan Troubles continue with Merlin X w/case. Did not feel much like work this day. Went to camp cinema and enjoyed ‘Road to Zanzibar’. Sunday 10 Jan Trial rugby match for Station team. Good match though we lost 8-6. Airmail to Joan, lettercard to Aub. In evening walked into the village.11 Jan Wally begins his leave. Work went along as usual except that starters went ahead of us. Went to camp cinema in evening for ‘Dark Victory’. Feeling stiff after football. 12 Jan Still feeling a bit stiff but wearing off. W/case begun today a little better. Airmail to Joan. Prepared Gas Equipment for inspection. 16 Jan Airmail lettercard to Joan. Sunday 17 Jan. On Leave for a week. Note: Alexandria to Beirut is a drive of 1000 km. Left Alex 12.00 reached Banha 2.35pm. Reached Kantara (?) 19.45, and after a slap-up meal (free) continued on at 20.30 travelled through the night reaching Lydda (Lod) just after dawn. Had a bull sandwich and continued, reached Haifa at 09.45 18 Jan. Before washing & shaving took breakfast at the NAAFI then searched for Eddie. Found him with little difficulty and he fixed us up at his billet. Took dinner at St Andrew’s Club. Afterwards took walk to the top of Mount Carmel. Snaps impossible, rain. In the evening a few drinks then bed. 19 Jan. Eddie fixes a trip to Syria (Beirut and Tripoli). Started out at 9.30am in a PU in company of the Map Sapper, Captain and Sergeant ATS. Arrived Beirut 13.15. Had lunch, went to cinema and saw ‘Man about Town’. Few drinks, bed. 20 Jan. Breakfast with the boys. Time to return. Looked around Beirut. NAAFI for a cup of tea. Met Sapper 11.00 Empire. Still raining. No trip to Tripoli. Had tiffin in mess. Left Beirut 16.00 reached Azzib (Achziv) 18.20. Two snaps from back of PU just outside Beirut. Stayed at Camp. Few beers, bed. 21 Jan. Left Azzib 07.45 reached Haifa 09.00. Washed, shaved at Billet, took two snaps from Billet window. Had lunch, left for Jerusalem, arrived 18.45. Booked bed at Australians Club. Meal at YCMA, walk then bed. 22 Jan. Breakfast at 7.30, visit to the Old City. Returned at 12.00, had lunch. Boarded bus for Haifa 13.30. Had meal at the LHC. Met Eddie 19.30, returned to LHC then theatre for “Muddle Easters”. Billet then bed. 23 Jan Breakfast at St.AC. Visited LHC then billet. Met Eddie. Returned to LHC then Billet. Took snaps. Eddie goes into hospital. Met the boys at the LHC – said goodbye, bought sandwiches. Boarded train for return 14.00. Sent parcel to Joan. Sunday 24 Jan. Reached Alex 13.30. Got train for AbuQir 14.10. Had dinner in camp, few beers in the evening in village, back to bed. 25Jan Back to work. Cold in the head a bit thick.Work goes ok. Picked up ’Blue’ at the stores. Wrote Airmail to Joan in evening. 26 Jan Airgraph to Joan. 27 Jan Wrote airmail letter to Joan. Did area patrol. 28 Jan Sent parcel to Dominica, airgraph to Joan. Prepared locker for inspection. 29 Jan Billet Inspection. Received two airgraphs from Joan dated 24^th, 27^th Dec. Wrote airgraph back. 30 Jan Played rugby for the station against 210 Battery RA. Beaten hopelessly. Went to pictures in evening, saw ‘Ready to be Good’. Sunday 31 Jan C Routine – extra hour & half in bed. Received letter from Joan, wrote back. Went into Alex. Sent parcel of foodstuffs to Joan. Put two rolls of film in the Army & Navy Bazaar for developing and printing. Went to pictures in Alex – saw ‘This Above All’. 

Train late – did not arrive back in camp until 00.45  

February 1943. Learning Engines & Stopping French. Playing Rugby. Some Sick Leave.

1 Feb Airmail lettercard to Joan. 2 Feb Airgraphs from Joan & Vyrna. Wrote back. Began work on Merlin46 w/case. 3 Feb Went to French class. Finding it a little too advanced. 4 Feb Letter from Joan addressed to 104MU dated Nov. Wrote back. Went to pictures. 5 Feb Finished Merlin w/case, started another. Cards from Joan dated 16 Dec and 1 Jan. Wrote back. Sunday 7 Feb Extra hour in bed. Played rugby for the station against 219 Group. Beat them 7-0. Wrote to Joan. 8 Feb wrote to Joan. 9 Feb Finished starters s/charge gears fuel pump, coolant on Merlin45. Went to Carb Bay. 3 Airmails from Joan dated 14,19,22 Jan. Wrote card back. Went to pictures. 10 Feb Physical training with the rugby team. 11 Feb Wrote airgraph to Joan. 12 Feb Did Area Patrol. Wrote to Joan, Eddie, Mum&Dad. Bought Rugby boots 127pts. 15 Feb Recd 5 cards from Joan, one from Mam. Wrote to Joan. 16 Feb Letter from Eddie. 4 snaps. Wrote to Joan. 17 Feb Physical training with rugby team. Bed early. 18 Feb Went sick. Sent to 64 Hospital Alexandria. Corns taken out. Athletes foot – treatment Whitmores Ointment. Wrote to Joan. Pictures. 19 Feb Felt much better. Wrote to Joan. 20 Feb Feet much better. Wrote to Joan. Pictures – Hudson Bay. Sunday 21 Feb Haircut. No tickets for rugby match. Went to Alex, Pictures – Invisible Agent. 22 Feb Johnny begins leave 23 Feb Wrote to keens, Talywain, Joan, Aub. 24 Feb still no mail. PT in the evening 25 Feb wrote to Joan 26 Feb Wrote to Joan 27 Feb Airmail from Joan to 104MU. Finished airmail to Joan Sunday 28 Feb Went to Alex. Saw How Green Was My Valley. Played 106MU Lost 0-3.

March 1943. Learning Engines. Rugby Tour to Cairo. Trip to Nile Delta.

1 Mar Three letters from Joan, Aub and Eddie. Wrote back. 2 Mar Wrote to Joan 3 Mar Airgraph from Joan 4 Mar Letter from Aub addressed to Port Sudan. Wrote to Joan. Rugby practice. 5 Mar Airgraph to Joan 6 Mar Airmail to Joan Sunday 7 Mar Left Camp 07.30 boarded train to Alex 9.00am. Arrived Cairo 13.00 found Billet. Dropped small kit travelled to 106MU for game. Won 4-3. Went to pictures saw Captains of the Air – James Cagney. Back to Billet 22.00 8 Mar Wandered round from breakfast to dinner at Empire Services Club. Met fellow from New Inn, he remained with us for the rest of the day. Went to Drama Festival in the night. Booked seats for Anglo Russian Festival Symphony Concert 9 Mar Overslept Breakfast at YMCA 11.30. Booked seats for Talk of the Town at opera Cinema. Booked trip to Nile Delta Barrage. Travelled to Gezira for match with 206 Group – won 9-3. Musical Festival on the evening Heliopolis 10 Mar Trip to Nile Barrage. Beautiful gardens. Took 8 snaps. Tea at Empire Club. Handed in films for developing. Went to YMCA for tea and cakes. Went to Opera Cinema. 11 Mar Breakfast at TocH. Visited Museum of Hygiene. Lunch at YMCA. Match at 14.45 – did not play, lost 6-4. Back to Billet. Watched One of our Aircraft is Missing at Metro. 12 Mar Lay in till v. late. Early lunch at YMCA. Booked tickets for Pardon My Sarong. Spent afternoon in Music for All rest room. Pictures at night. 13 Mar Breakfast at TocH. Collected snapshots. Lost match 9-0. Big celebration in the night until 1.30am – a bit worse for wear Sunday 14Mar 12.30 boarded train for return. Arrived Alex 4.15pm. Meal at Jewish Club. Caught bus for Camp. 5 Cards from Joan, letter from Aub. 15 Mar Back to work – did not go too badly. Airmail letter card from Joan dated 7 March. Wrote back included two snapshots. 16 Mar Work rather slow and boring. Food has deteriorated. Wrote to Joan.  17 Mar Did No2 Area Patrol. Card from Joan. Wrote back. 18 Mar Wrote to Joan. Went to Station Cinema saw Ghost of Frankenstein. 19 Mar Airmail from Joan dated 11 March. Wrote back 20 Mar Card from Joan. Wrote back Played No9 Field Unit Lost 6-3 Sunday 21 Mar Lay in. Wrote to Joan. Went to Alex, bought handbag, silk and stockings. Saw Mrs Minerva at cinema. 22 Mar Letter from Aub dated 18 Jan. Wrote to Joan 23 Mar 2 letter cards from Joan dated 3&4 March and one from Mam. Packed parcel. Wrote to Joan. Pictures in Camp – James Cagney in Torrid Zone. 24 Mar Sent parcel (value £4) and letter to Joan. Wrote to Eddie, Aub with snaps of team. 25 Mar Letter card from Joan. Wrote back. 26 Mar Surface letter from Aub dated 22 Feb. Quiz in Canteen Airmen v Officers. Airmen won 51-40. 27 Mar Worked late, finished at 7. Went tomStation Cinema – George Sanders in A Date with the Falcon. Sunday 28 Mar Lay-in. wrote airmail to Joan. Went to Alex. Strolled down to front. Tea at YMCA. Saw Mr Bulham at the Mohamed Ali Cinema.29 Mar No mail. Wrote to Joan. 30 Mar No mail although quite a lot arrived. Wrote airgraphs to Joan, Mam&Dad and to The Market Tavern, Blaenavon. 31 Mar No mail. Half day off from work. Wrote letter to Aub, airgraph to Percy St Garndiffaith.

April 1943. Letters, working, swimming, going to the cinema.

1 Apr No mail. Made stock in Workshops. RAF Jubilee celebrations in Dining Hall. Good feast plus concert. Engine output record broken during March. Previous record was January. 2 Apr No mail. Put shoes in for repair. 3 Apr. Two airmail letter cards from Joan dated 19^th, 21^st March. Went to Station Cinema at night. Wrote letter cards. Sunday 4 Apr Wrote airmail letter to Joan included 2 snapshots of Alex. After tiffin saw Rookies on Parade and Street of Missing Men in the evening. 5 Apr Began work on boost units. Wrote airgraph to Joan. No mail. Went to Station cinema. 6 Apr No mail. Wrote airgraph to Joan. 7 Apr No mail 8 Apr No mail. NAAFI entertainments puts on film Next of Kin at Station Cinema. Everyone to attend by command of A Area. Unable to get in. Wrote airgraph  to Joan. 9 Apr Airmail lettercard from Joan dated 31 March. Sent parcel containing native bustle to Joan. Began airmail letter. 10 Apr Airmail letter from Joan dated 26 March and airmail card dated 24^th. Did Area Patrol. Finished airmail letter to Joan included two snaps of Alex. Sunday 11 Apr Went to Alex after tiffin. Walked along the front. Pictures in evening saw Rise & Shine. 12 Apr Posted airmail letter to Joan. Received airmail letter card from Joan dated 3 April and letter from Aub dated 8 March. Wrote airmail letter card to Joan. 13 Apr Wrote airgraph to Joan. Received airmail letter card from Dad. Sent Mam&Dad airgraph. Went to Station Cinema 14 Apr Received letter from Eddie, wrote to Aub. 15 Apr Received airmail letter card from Joan dated 29 March. Wrote airmail letter card to Joan and letter to Eddie. Went to Station Cinema in evening. Received newspapers from Eddie. 16 Apr No mail. 17 Apr No mail. Went to Station Cinema saw Hot Spot – Victor Mature and Betty Grable. Sunday 18 Apr Wrote airmail letter card to Joan. Had a dip in the sea. After tiffin went to AlexVisited Stanley Bay. Tea at YMCA. Saw Moontide at the Rio. 19 Apr Letter cards from Joan and Uncle Charles. Album of photos arrives. Wrote airmail letter, 2 snaps to Joan and airgraph to Uncle Charles & family. 20 Apr No mail. Went to Station Cinema, saw Dressed to Kill Lloyd Nolan 21 Apr No mail. Wrote airgraph to Joan. Crew going quite well so far. 22 Apr Turkish Military Mission visits bay. Gave them instructions on carburetor. Half day. Went for swim. 23 Apr No mail. Still very busy in workshops. Wrote airmail letter card to Joan. 24 Apr No mail Sunday 25 Apr Went for a dip in the briny, very nice. After tiffin went to Alexandria saw Desert Victory. 26 Apr Day off after Duties Crew. Two airmail letter cards from Joan dated  April 5^th and 6^th. Spent almost all day on the beach. Station Cinema in evening. 27 Apr No mail. After work went for a swim. Wrote airmail letter to Joan. 28 Apr No mail. Went for a swim after finishing work. Instructing U/T F/Mechanics on carburetors. Wrote airgraph to Joan. 29 Apr Went for a swim after work. No mail. Half day. In evening went to Station Cinema saw Ziegfeld Girl. 30 Apr Went for swim after work. Reported dental sick for teeth filling. Appointment next Friday 10am. Wrote airgraph to Joan. 

May 1943 Letters, working, swimming, going to the cinema.

1 May No mail. Went to Station Cinema in the evening. Sunday 2 May Had to work today. Travelled to Edku to attend carburetor trouble on Hurricane. Went for swim on return. Wrote AML card to Joan. 3 May Back to Edku to continue work on Hurricane. Unable to complete job. On return to camp found 3 AML cards from Joan dated 21 Jan!! 11, 25 April. Also one from Mam. Began AML card to Joan. Watch night 10.00. 4 May No mail. Went out to job at Edku again. Unable to rectify trouble. Engine change necessary. 5 May No mail. Day off. Most of the day on the beach. Went into Alex. Bought shoes for Dominica. 6 May No mail. Wrote AML to Joan. 7 May No mail. Wrote airgraph to Joan. Went for a swim. 8 May Telegram from Joan. Went for swim. Afterwards went to Station Cinema. Sunday 9 May Wrote airgraph to Joan. Went for swim in the morning, Alex in the afternoon, Cinema in evening – Sullivan’s Travels. Bought wallet for Dad. 10 May No mail. Letter from Eddie. Went for swim – sea very rough. Saw The Men in Her Life at Station Cinema. 11 May No mail. Went for swim. Two airmen for instruction on carburetors. Wrote airgraph to Joan 12 May Two AMLs from Joan dated 29 April, 1 May. Telegram from Mam. Wrote AML to Joan. 13 May No mail. Had two teeth filled. Went for swim, began airmail letter to Joan. 14 May Finished letter. Went for swim. 15 May Posted parcel of shoes, wallet to home. Went to concert at Station Cinema. Letter from Aub. Sunday 16 May Day off. Spent whole morning on beach. After tiffin went out in the bay on the motor boat. Had a swim. Wrote AML to Joan. Went to Station Cinema. 17 May Went for swim after work. Evening writing letter to Aub and airgraph to Joan. No mail. 18 May No mail. Airgraph to Joan and letter to Bert Meredith. Went to Station Cinema – saw Son of Monte Cristo. 19 May. No Mail. Went to Station Cinema. 20 May Wrote AML to Joan. Received letter card from Joan dated 1 May. Had a swim. 21 May No mail. Wrote airgraph to Joan 22 May Letters from Aub and from Hendon  Sunday 23 May Spent day on the beach. Wrote airmail letter to Joan. Went to NAAFI in the evening. 24 May AML from Mam. Wrote airgraphs to Joan, Hendon and Mam&Dad. Began Duty Crew this week. 25 May Lecture to Greek officers. No mail. Cox stands-by as Duty Crew for me. Photos of Joan, Dominca arrive. Went to Globe Theatre, Alex. Very enjoyable evening. 26 May Another lecture to Greek officers. Letter card from Joan dated 10 May Wrote letter card to Joan, letter to Aub. 27 May Two more photographs arrive, one of baby, one of Mam&Dad & baby. Letter and papers from Eddie. Airgraph to Joan. 28 May No mail. Wrote airgraph to Joan, letter to Eddie. 29 May AML from Joan dated 14 May. Went to Station cinema in the evening. Sunday 30 May Went for swim in the morning. After tiffin began AML to Joan and then another swim. Wally & Johnny took me to celebrate birthday – no beer. 31 May No mail. Went for swim after breakfast, stayed on beach until tiffin. Collected pass & went to Alex. Wally & Johnny begin leave. Bought a roll of film in Alex and three of us had photographs taken. Sent parcel of foodstuffs home. Had meal in Marish Bar then went to pictures, afterwards a few drinks. Posted AML to Joan.

June 1943 Letters, working, swimming, going to the cinema, some water-polo.

1 Jun No mail. Back to work., afterwards went for a swim. Wrote airgraph to Joan. Wally & Johnny in Alex before bed to read a little. 2 Jun No mail. Went for swim after work. 3 Jun No mail. Went for swim after work. Wrote airgraph to Joan. 4 Jun Airgraph to Joan. No mail, began AML to Joan included photo. Went for swim. 5 Jun No mail. Went for swim after work, then to Station Cinema. Sunday 6 Jun All day on the beach. Finished AML to Joan. 7 Jun Posted AML. No mail. Swim after work. Wrote letter to O’Hagan. 8 Jun AML from Joan dated 24 May. Swim after work then to pictures. 9 Jun Christmas card from Uncle Edmund & Betty, letter from Bill Jenkins. Wrote AML to Joan. Swim after work. 10 Jun No mail. Swim after work. Wrote airgraph to Joan. 11 Jun Letter from Aub dated 6 May. Swim after work. 12 Jun No mail. Swim after work, afterwards to the pictures Lloyd Nolan in Blue White & Perfect. Sunday 13 Jun Day off. After breakfast went down to beach. Stayed until dinner. Wrote AML to Joan. 2 snaps. 14 Jun AML from Joan. Began Duty Crew. Wrote AML to Joan then went to Station Cinema. 15 Jun No mail. Wrote airgraph to Joan, letter to Aub.16 Jun No mail. Sewed numbered tapes on battle dress, darned stockings. 17 Jun No mail. Wrote airgraph to Joan.18 Jun AML from Joan dated 1 June. Core stands by on Duty Crew. Went for quick swim. Wrote AML to Joan. 19 Jun Letter from Brian O’Hagan. Went to Station Cinema. Began Cals working round in the shops. Sunday 20 Jun Told at tiffin of a job at Edku. Returned 13.45 & went for swim. Duty Crew finishes tonight. AML to Joan. 21 Jun AML from Joan dated 27 May. Went down to beach. After tiffin went to Alex Bought shoes for Joan. In evening saw Andy Hardy’s Courtship. Late work continues. 22 Jun No mail. AML to Joan. 23 Jun No mail. Had parcel censored and weighed. Wrote airgraph to Joan. 24 Jun Parcel £2 sent to Joan. No mail. Went to Station Cinema in the evening. 25 Jun No mail. Prepared Locker for inspection. 26 Jun Went for swim after work, then to Station Cinema. AML from Joan dated 26 May. Sunday 27 Jun Day off. Went down to beach straight after breakfast. Stayed until dinner, then went down again. Played practice match at Polo. Began AML to Joan. 28 Jun AMLs from Joan dated 22May 11 Jun. Surface letter from the Jones family containing 5/- Postal Order. Finished AML to Joan 29 Jun AML from Joan dated 17 June. Second day of Backers-Up course. Sent letter containing snaps of inside of billet, on beach and sat at table. Played Water Polo, won 7-1 Wrote AML card to Joan. 30 Jun Received AML from Joan dated 7 May. Wrote to Joan, Stomach a little unsettled.

July 1943 Backer’s Up Course. Working, Letter Writing, Swimming and Cinema

1 Jul No mail. Fired sten gun on the course and threw hand grenade. Swim afterwards. Wrote airgraphs to Joan and to Joan’s family. 2 Jul No mail. Fired Lewes Machine Gun and di assault-course in the morning. After tiffin fired rifle – good grouping. Airgraph to Joan. 3 Jul Backers-Up course completed. Day off Gas lecture cancelled went down the beach early. Back for tiffin. Letter card from Joan dated 20 June. Went to Station Cinema. Sunday 4 Jul Day off. Took photograph of Johnny in the billet. Went down to the beach early, stayed until tiffin, went back until 5ish? Wrote letter to Joan containing snaps – with kittens. Inside billet & beach. 5 Jul No mail. Went for swim after work. Afterwards to Station Cinema – Dr Erlick’s Magic Bullets. 6 Jul No Mail. Went for swim after work. Wrote airgraph to Joan. 7 Jul Letter from Eddie. Went for swim after work. Wrote airgraph to Joan. 8 Jul Two letter cards form Joan 24th, 25^th June & one from Mam 28^th. Went for swim after work. Wrote letter card to Joan. Began tube of toothpaste. 9 Jul Two AMLs from Joan 28^th, 30^th June. Went for swim after work. 10 Jul AML from Joan 2 July. Went for swim after work. Station Cinema in the evening. Sunday 11 Jul Day off. Went down to beach after breakfast, again after dinner. Wally borrows camera to go to Alex. Wrote AML to Joan. 12 Jul Airgraph from Hendon. Swim after work. Wrote airgraphs to Joan, Mam and the Bedfords at Hendon. 13 Jul No Mail. Did not go swimming after work. Wrote airgraph to Joan. Went to Station Cinema – Mexican Spitfire Baby. 14 Jul No mail. Went for swim after work. Wrote airgraph to Joan, letter to Eddie. 15 Jul AML from Joan dated 6 July. Went for swim after work. Wrote AML to Joan. 16 Jul No mail. Went for swim after work. 17 Jul No mail. Day off in lieu of overtime worked. Spent time on beach. Johnny & I went down village in the evening for supper. Sunday 18 Jul Day off. Down the beach until 5pm except for tiffin. Wrote AML to Joan. Went for walk down village, supper & bed. 19 Jul Began Duty Crew. AML for Joan 8^th July. Cohen stands by for Duty Crew. Went to Station Cinema. Wrote AML to Joan. 20 Jul No mail. Not called out for Duty Crew. Wrote airgraph to Joan. 21 Jul No mail. Wrote airgraph to Joan. 22 Jul No mail. 23 Jul AML from Joan dated 7^th June. Went for swim after work. Job on Test Bench finished 8.30. Wrote AML to Joan. 24 Jul 6am job on Test Bench. No mail. Went for swim after work, then to Station Cinema – Kiss the Boy Goodbye. Sunday 25 Jul Last day of Duty Crew. Changed carb and boost unit on Test Bench. Went for swim. Polo match cancelled until Tuesday. Wrote letter to Joan including snap taken outside room with kittens. 26 Jul AML from Joan dated 16 July. Day off. Went for swim in the morning, to Alex in the afternoon. Bought shirt. Wrote AML to Joan, then Station Cinema. 27 Jul No mail. Went for swim after work. Wrote airgraph to Joan. Polo match cancelled for second time. 28 Jul No mail. Swim after work. 29 Jul. No mail. Went for swim after work. 30 Jul No mail. Went for swim after work. Rugby meeting. 31 Jul No mail. Letter from Eddie.

August 1943 Working, Letter Writing, Swimming and Cinema

Sunday 1 Aug Day off down the beach. Wrote AML to Joan – two snaps, one of the match in Cairo, the other of Johnny, Wally and me outside the billet 2 Aug No mail. Went for swim after work. Rugby training first night. 3 Aug No mail. Went for swim after work, Station Cinema afterwards. Wrote letter card to Joan. 4 Aug No mail. Airgraph to Joan, letter to Eddie. 5 Aug Letter card from Mam24 July, one from Joan 27 July. AML from Joan 19 June. Swim after work. 6 Aug Rugby practice. Wally & Johnny have a try out at PT. 7 Aug No mail. Went for swim after work. In evening went to Station Cinema. Sunday 8 Aug Day off – day on beach. Wrote AML to Joan. 9 Aug AML from Joan dated 29 July. Went for swim after work, then a spot of rugby training. Wrote letter card to Joan. 10 Aug No mail. Wrote airgraphs to Joan and Mam&Dad. Swim after work. 11 Aug Letter card from Joan dated 3 Aug. Letter from Aub dated 28 June. 12 Aug No mail. Wrote airgraph to Joan. No swimming. Station Cinema saw Beau Geste. 13 Aug Wrote airgraph to Joan. Went for swim. 14 Aug Went for swim, afterwards to the pictures. Sunday 15 Aug Went down beach early after breakfast. Wrote airmail letter to Joan. 16 Aug Two letter cards from Joan. Down the beach for a swim. Take over charge of Carb Bay in absence of Corporal Grant. Went to cinema. Girls enter Carb Bay. 17 Aug No mail. Went down to beach for a swim after work. Wrote airmail letter card to Joan.  18 Aug No mail. Wrote airgraph to Joan. Two more girls for employment in Carb Bay. 19 Aug No mail. Airgraph to Joan, swim after work. 20 Aug Letter card from Joan dated 12 Aug. Swim after work, airgraph to Joan. 21 Aug No mail. Worked late, went to Cinema – Dark Eyes of London – wonderful. Sunday 22 Aug Airmail to Joan. Had to work today, finished 1pm. Went to station Cinema – Blossoms in the Dust – Wonderful film. 23 Aug No mail. First day of Duty Crew. Not called out to the Test Bench. Wrote airgraph to Joan 24 Aug Three airmail letter cards from Joan, 10^th, 12^th and 15^th August. Wrote letter card back.25 Aug Letter fro Aub19th July and one from Bert Meredith 9^th. Airgraph to Joan. 26 Aug No mail. Letter to Aub enclosed two snaps, one on bed in the billet, one on chair on the beach. 27 Aug Letter from Eddie dated 24 august. Wrote airgraph to Joan 28 Aug Went for swim after work then to Station Cinema – Charley’s Aunt with Jack Benny. Sunday 29 Aug Day off. Went down beach. Had supper in the village. Wrote Airmail letter to Joan. 30 Aug Day off for Duty Crew. Down to beach. Water rather dirty. Rugby practice went off well. Wrote letter card to Joan – she starts work at Wade & Sons today. 31 Aug AML from Joan dated 23 August. No swimming today. Wrote airgraph to Joan. Work going along well.

September 1943 Work then a Week’s Leave to Haifa, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jericho, Dead Sea

1 Sep AML from Joan. Went down the ground for Rugby practice. Wrote airgraph to Joan. 2 Sep No mail. Went to Station Cinema – Belong to Me. 3 Sep No mail. Played rugby. Wrote airgraph to Joan. 4 Sep Letter card from Joan. Sunday 5 Sep Played in the Rugby trial match, won 6-0. Swimming most of the day.. Wrote AML to Joan 6 Sep AML from Joan date 30 August. Rugby practice – collected a crack on the nose. 7 Sep Letter card from Joan dated 30 Aug. Wrote one back. 8 Sep 9 Sep 10 Sep Prepared for Leave 11 Sep Left camp 06.45 arrived Alex 7.45. Dep 15.30 Arr Benha 19.30 Dep 20.30 Arr Kantara (Palestine border) 04.30. Sunday 12 Sep Tea and sandwiches free at Kantara. Dep 05.15 Arr Gaza 11.30 Dep 12.15 Arr Lydda (Lod) 15.30 Dep 15.45 Arr Netanya 17.45 where buses wait to convoy us to Camp. Arr 18.15 13 Sep Booked tour. Left Camp for Haifa. Arr 12.15. Had lunch at St Andrews. Went to beach for swim. Pictures at night. 14 Sep Toured the shopping centre. After went to top of Mount Carmel. Lunch in Ladies of Haifa Club. Night at the Savoy John Collins. 15 Sep Left Billet. Went to the office – saw Eddie. Booked seats for return journey. Lunch at St Andrews. Raifat Beach for swim. Tea at ladies of Haifa Club. Returned Netanya. 16 Sep Breakfast, left Camp 09.00 for Jerusalem Arr 12.00. Lunch 12.30. Left 14.00 for tour of Bethlehem, Church of the Nativity. Aftertea went for a few beers. 17 Sep Breakfast. 08.00 left for Jericho and Dead Sea. Returned to Hostel at 12.30. 15.30 left for tour of David’s Tower and Holy Sepulchre. 18 Sep. Breakfast. Visited Wailing Wall, Mosque of Omar Via Dolorosa. Back to Hostel by 17.30. On tour took snap of White Father’s church. Sunday 19 Sep. Breakfast. Down to beach for swim. After tiffin went to Tel Aviv. Returned to Netanya for tea and early bed. 20 Sep. Breakfast. Wrote AML to Joan. Left for Haifa Arr 14.00. Meal at ladies Club. Booze up at night in St Andrews Club. Good night, slept well. 21 Sep Breakfast. Saw Eddie. Left for Jewish Settlement at 10.45, arr 11.45. Lunch. Shown around by Marco. Took snaps. Food unusual but good. Wandered around then bed. 22 Sep Breakfast. Went for walk in the Balfour forest. Lunch. Left for Haifa 12.45 arr 13.00. Went for swim. Met Eddie. Few drinks in the evening then pictures – Yankee Doodle Dandy. 23 Sep Breakfast. Met Eddie. Went to Ladies of Haifa Club for break. Left Haifa 12.00 Arr Netanya 15.00. Wrote airgraph to Joan. Dinner party in open air, cinema then bed. 24 Sep Prepared to leave for Egypt. Left Camp 11.00. Arr Gaza 18.00. Arr Kantara 04.00. 25 Sep Left Kantara 05.00 Arr Benha 09.40, Alexandria (sidi gaber) 13.00. Bus to Camp Arr 13.40. Seven Letter Cards from Joan, three AMLs with photos. Failed to get into Station Cinema. Sunday 26 Sep Down the field to see the match. Station team won 18-nil. Wrote AML and Letter Card to Joan. Played rugby against the Army Pay Corps. Lost 11-0. Showered, read, bed. 27 Sep. No mail. Began work on Duty Crew – ok for first day. Wrote airgraph to Joan, rugby practice, bed. 28 Sep No mail. An hour’s rugby practice. Second day of Duty Crew – not called out yet. 29 Sep AML from Dad dated 22 Sept. Airgraph to Joan. Played rugby Possibles v Probables. Probables won 3-0. 30 Sep No mail. Again not called out for Duty Crew. Went for swim, Station Cinema in evening.

October 43 Working, Writing letters, Rugby, Going to Pictures

1 Oct AML from Joan dated23 September. Wrote Letter card back. Called out for Duty Crew. Trouble with depression-check on Merlin B3. 2 Oct No mail. Went to Station Cinema. %am for Duty Crew. Change of carb on MERxx. Sunday 3 Oct Wrote AML to Joan included three snaps, 2 of Arab quarter, one in shopping centre of Haifa. Beat the Navy at rugby 9-0. 4 Oct Letter card from Dad. Wrote airgraph to Joan. Watched football match. Went to Station Cinema. 5 Oct No mail. Wrote airgraph to Mam&Dad 6 Oct No mail. Wrote airgraph to Joan. Saw football practice match AvB. B Team whitewashed. 7 Oct No mail. Went to Station Cinema – saw Shadow of a Thin Man. 8 Oct No mail. Rugby practice. Wrote AML to Joan. 9 Oct No mail. Paper from Eddie. Went to Station Cinema – saw Smiling Through. Sunday 10 Oct Wrote AML to Joan, 3 snaps – one outside Church of the Nativity one of Johnny and the others outside the Church of the Ascension. George Formby at the Station Cinema. 11 Oct No mail. Went down to see soccer match after work. Went to Station Cinema – Mexican Spitfire Goes West. 12 Oct No mail. Saw rugby match between Station first team v SAAF. Poor match. Station won 14-0. Wrote AML to Joan. 13 Oct Two AMLs from Joan 28 Sept and 3 Oct. Went to Rugby meeting. Wrote AML to Joan. 14 Oct Letter from Aub 4^th Sept. Should have played 55RSU but their kit did not turn up. Played 7-a-side. Went to Station Cinema. Wrote airgraph to Joan. 15 Oct No mail. Wrote AML to Joan. 16 Oct No mail. Went to Station Cinema. Sunday 17 Oct Played Rugby against Combined Operations. Lost 12-6, scored a try. Wrote letter to Joan, 2 snaps of Jericho. 18 Oct AML from Joan and from mam. Wrote letter card to Joan. Went to Station Cinema. 19 Oct No mail. Wrote letter to Aub, airgraph to Mam&Dad, Greetings airgraph to Dominica 20 Oct No mail. Rugby training. Went to Station Cinema. 21 Oct No mail. Airgraph to Joan. 22 Oct No mail. Airgraph to Joan. 23 Oct No mail. Went to Station Cinema. Sunday 24 Oct Wrote letter card to Joan. Played rugby against SA team lost 21-0. Saw boxing 1^st Team beat 201 Group 9-0. Bev, Johnny, Wally & I went down to the village. 25 Oct No mail. Began Duty Crew. Wrote airgraph to Joan. Called out to change 2-speed blower control on bench. 26 Oct No mail. Wrote AML to Joan incl 3 snaps, myself at entrance to Mosque of Omar, Johnny on the steps and Founder of White Fathers 27 Oct No mail. 28 Oct No mail. 29 Oct No Mail 30 Oct No mail Sunday 31 Oct Did not play rugby. Saw Station lose to UDF XV 16-3. Went to Alex. Saw football match, tea and pictures. Wrote AML to Joan.

November 1943 Work, Letters, Rugby, Cinema

1 Nov No mail. Played Tombola in ERS Centre. Lost. Day off. End of Duty Crew. 2 Nov No mail. Wrote AML to Joan. 3 Nov No Mail. airgraph to Joan 4  Nov No mail. 5 Nov No mail. Wrote letter card to Joan. 6 Nov Letter from Eddie. Sunday 7 Nov Wrote airgraph to Joan. Played REME, beaten 12-3. Went to Alex. 8 Nov Received letter card from Joan dated 26 Oct, Letter from Aub dated 11 Oct. 9 Nov No mail. Wrote letter card to Joan, letter to Aub. 10 Nov Letter card from Mam&Dad. Wrote airgraph back. 11 Nov No mail. 12 Nov Letter card from Joan dated 4 Nov. Wrote Letter Card back. 13 Nov No mail. Sunday 14 Nov Wrote airmail letter to Joan included snaps – me with kiddies at the settlement among the calves, and a group of kiddies. Won rugby 13-0 vs 272 Squadron. 15 Nov No mail. Telegram from Joan. Went to Station Cinema 16 Nov No mail. 17 Nov No mail, wrote letter card to Joan. 18 Nov No mail. Wrote letter to Eddie. 19 Nov Letter card from Joan wrote back with snap of Eddie, his pal and me in Haifa and one in Tel Aviv. 20 Nov No mail. Went to Station Cinema Sunday 21 Nov Match cancelled. Went to Alex. Saw rugby match at the stadium Springboks beat RAF 11-10. 22 Nov No mail. Wrote AML to Joan. 23, 24, 25 Nov 26 Nov Letter card from Joan date 13 Nov. Wrote back.27 Nov No mail. Sunday 28 Nov Called out by Test Bench on Duty Crew. Played rugby against Rhodesian Squadron Lost 16-3. Wrote letter to Joan. 29, 30 Nov

December 1943 Work, Letters

1, 2, 3, 4 Dec Letter card to Joan 5 Dec Letter card to Joan. 6 Dec No mail. Letter card to Joan 7, 8 Dec Letter card to Joan. No entries then for the remainder of December.

January 1944 Very low , new Corporal, Few Letters, those from Joan stop. Posted?

1, 2,3 Jan After being in charge of Carburettor Bay for 5 months, group of airmen arrive from 7ERS and one of these, a corporal is given charge. Interest in work disturbed by this. Hand off the reins completely. 4, 5, 6, 7 Jan No mail 8 Jan Letter card from Joan dated 1 January. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 Jan No mail. 14 Jan No mail. Posted from Aboukir to 130 MU after 16 months, 15 of these spent in Carburettor Bay. Began to get Clearance Certificate signed. 15 Jan Wedding Anniversary. Telegram from Joan. Sunday 16 Jan Invited to Michael’s house for dinner. Saw Rugby match NZ v Springboks. Went back to Michael’s with Wally and Johnny. 17 Jan No mail. Interest in work dropped considerably. Badly needing news from home. Wrote letter card to Joan and airgraph to Mam&Dad. Pleaded for more regular mail 18 Jan No mail. Corporal not running the Bay very efficiently despite his primary object being to revolutionise it. Stores and 1136 giving him some trouble. 19 Jan DROs inform us that we have been attached to Aboukir pending posting to 130MU. Work and duties return to normal. 20 Jan No mail. While in B Squadron trying to get rev counter for test rig. Bump into Brian O’Hagan. Find he is posted to 130 also. Friendship renewed. 21 Jan No mail 22 Jan Go to Station Cinema to see play by Dramatic Society. Brian comes with us. 23 May No mail. Went to see Brian at 24PTC. Arranged to go to Alex in the afternoon. Few beers. 24 Jan No mail. Week of Duty Crew begins. Not called out. 25 Jan No mail. Went to Station Cinema. Got ticket for Brian but he did not arrive. 26 Jan No mail. Had job to do in final inspection after Workshop hours. Removed 4 carburettors. Sheared studs on capsule plates 27 Jan No mail. Replaced two of the carburettors. 28 Jan No mail. Went to Station Cinema to see Ralph Reader’s Gang Show. Very good entertainment. Vaccinations. 29 Jan No mail. Went to see South of Suez at Station Cinema. Sunday 30 Jan No mail. Wrote letter card to Joan. Went to Station Cinema. Last night of Duty Crew. 31 Jan No mail. Day off after Duty Crew. Went to Station Cinema. Put watch right by pips. Wrote airgraphs to Joan and to Mam&Dad. Corporal posted.

February 1944 Still Low, Letters but nothing from Joan, Rugby and Cinema. Posted?

1 Feb Letter from Eddie dated 26 January. Letter Card from Mam&Dad dated 24 January. Went to Station Cinema to see The lady is Willing. F/Sgt Yakes takes over Carb Bay. 2 Feb No mail. Finished Test Rig. Wrote surface letter to Mam&Dad included snaps One with cactus on settlement, one with kiddies, one with Johnny & Leggat in rugby kit, one taken on bench at the edge of rugby pitch. 3 Feb No Mail. Half day off. Wrote AML to Joan. Very heavy letter. Many questions. What results??? Went to Station Cinema. 4 Feb No mail. Went on Special Day Parade at Pay Accounts. 5 Feb No mail. Reported to 24 PTC for Africa Star registration. Sent telegram to Joan. Went to Station Cinema. Sunday 6 Feb. No mail. Played rugby. Went to stadium, saw NZ beat Rest of Egypt 9-7. 7 Feb Letter cards from Mam and Vyona, one containing 5/- from Aunt Jenny. Wrote letter card to Mam&Dad, airgraph to Percy Street. 8 Feb No mail. Wrote letter to Eddie enclosed negative of he and I in Arab Quarter in Haifa. Went to Station Cinema. 9 Feb No mail. Played a few games of cards in Wally’s billet. 10 Feb No mail. Went to Station Cinema saw Dr Broadway. 11 Feb No mail. Brian comes to see me. 12 Feb No mail. Went to Station Cinema with Wally, Johnny and Brian. Sunday 13 Feb No mail. Wrote airgraph to Mam&Dad. Saw Station rugby game. Went to Alex in afternoon, to soccer match. Pictures in the evening. 14 Feb No mail. Went to Station Cinema in the evening.15 Feb No mail. Scrounged 2 Pesco pumps and one rev counter from C Squadron. Wrote letter card to mam&Dad, letter to Aub. 16 Feb Telegram from Joan. Letter card from Mam&Dad dated 8 February. Wrote AML to Joan. 17 Feb No mail. Second Pay Parade at 130MU (24 PTC). Went to Station Cinema saw With the Living. 18 Feb No mail. Wrote AML to Joan, airgraph to Mam&Dad. 19 Feb No mail. Went to Station Cinema. Saw Before the Divorce. Sunday 20 Feb No mail. Played rugby against Kings Hussars lost 4-6. Went to Cinema saw Louisiana Purchase. 21 Feb Letter from Aub dated 29 December. Went to Station Cinema saw They All Kissed the Bride. 22 Feb No mail. Wrote letter to Aub. 23 Feb No mail. Wrote airmail letter to Joan. Very Heavy. What results?? 24 Feb Letter card from Mam dated 14 February. Wrote airgraph back. Went to Station Cinema saw Laurel & Hardy A Haunting We Will Go. 25 Feb. No mail. Night of Sub-Assemblies Dinner. Pretty dead until 9.30. Livened up then. 26 Feb Letter from Eddie with 2 snaps – he and I in Arab Quarter in Haifa. Cigarettes from Joan. Went to Station Cinema. Sunday 27 Feb Working day. Played rugby for Station First XV against Alex Sporting Club. First Class game Lost 6-0 after losing one forward with two broken ribs. 28 Feb No mail. Went to Station Cinema. 29 Feb No mail. Half day in lieu of Sunday work. Played billiards. Went to Station Cinema.

March 1944 Work, Letters, Rugby, Cinema, Sick, Two weeks travelling to RAF Shaibah

1 Mar No mail. Played Brag, lost 19pt. 2 Mar No mail. Third Pay Parade at 24PTC. Went to Station Cinema – George Formby in South American George. Lost 15 PT at Brag. 3 Mar No mail. Seven weeks today since I was posted to 130MU, still not departed. Played Brag, lost 50PT. 4 Mar Letter card from Joan dated 24 February – the first for exactly two months. Went to Station Cinema. Sunday 5 Mar Played rugby against 20 Kings Hussars Lost 16-9. Should have won. Wrote letter card to Joan. Went to Station Cinema. 6 Mar Letter from Mam 18 February, one from Dad 22^nd, two from Joan dated 14^th and 21^st. Mams letter card tells of Joan’s “friend”. Wrote very frank letter card to Joan. Answer should be interesting. Eagerly awaiting it. 7 Mar Received AML from Mam dated 29 february. Went to Station Cinema. Second day of Duty Crew. 8 Mar No mail. Wrote Letter card to Joan. Seven a side rugby trials. Told on field that I had been selected to play for Alex Area Welsh the previous Saturday – no information had been conveyed. 9 Mar No mail. Wrote airgraph to Mam&Dad. Went to first lesson in Maths at Station School. Afterwards went to Cinema – Yopper’s Return. 10 Mar No mail. Wrote AML to Mam&Dad. 11 Mar No mail. Played 7-a-side rugby in Alex. Won both games. Due to play in semifinal against All Blacks. Injured. On return to billet found to be posted. Wally not posted. Sunday 12 Mar Reported sick, unfit to travel. To follow on when fit. Accommodated in 24PTC. Went to Station Cinema with Wally & Johnny. 13 Mar Alec, Don, Brian leave at 06.30. Went out of Camp 14.00. Went to Workshop and handed in Tool Kit. Wally posted and goes to 24PTC. Wally and I went back to see Johnny. Played cards. 14 Mar Visited Orderly Room 130MU 124PTC. Wally & Co informed me they are posted to Palestine. I am posted to Iraq to travel when fit. Tiffin and dinner at ERS. Station Cinema in evening. 15 Mar Telegram from Joan. MO pronounces me fit to travel. Informed I am to leave tomorrow. Wrote AML to Joan. Went to Station Cinema. 16 Mar Travel to Iraq. Left Aboukir 07.00, Alex 09.00 Left Benha 15.10, then Kantara left 20.45. Arr Gaza 03.40. 17 Mar Left Gaza 03.45Wally leaves the train at Rehovot. One of my kit-bags thrown out by mistake. Arr Lydda 06.00. Reported loss to RTO. Arr Haifa 09.00. 163 Transit Camp. Saw Eddie in the afternoon. Went to cinema together. Eddie arranges with RTO about kit-bag. 18 Mar. Left Camp 09.30 for 11.00 train to Damascus. Wonderful rugged scenery. Arrived Darra 18.00, Meal here. Left 18.45 Arr Damascus Station 12.20 Arrive 164 Transit Camp 01.00 Hot meal. Sunday 19 Mar Wait for Desert Bus. Good food here. Went into Damascus in the afternoon, looked around, went to Cinema. 20 Mar Still at 164 Transit Camp. Detailed for Guard Duty – uneventful. 21 Mar On parade 10.00, informed we are to be ready to catch the 1.00 Desert Bus for Habaniyah. Reached Syrian Iraq border 16.00. Continued after Customs inspection. 22 Mar Reached Habaniyah 11.00. Fixed up with billets at 26PTC. Met Alec. Tiffin. Afterwards a badly needed bath and shave. Don & Brian came to see me. Looked around Cheapside. Three of us go to pictures in Camp. 23 Mar Breakfast. Morning Posting Parade. Marched to Sick Quarters for FFI. Changed Egyptian currency. Detailed for Fatigues. No mail arrived. Slept for few hours in afternoon. Went to Station Cinema in the evening. 24 Mar Breakfast. Morning Posting Parade. Detailed for duty in the Guard Room 6-12. Wrote letters to Eddie & Johnny. Discovered book Garden of Allah in Library – took it on loan 25 Mar Breakfast. Excused Parade – permanent Guard Room duty – starts midnight. Sunday 26 Mar Off duty at 08.00. Breakfast. Slept until 12.30. Wrote letter card to Joan. Went to Station Cinema in the evening. 27 Mar Sixth day at this Transit Camp. Mail not yet caught up with me. Walked up to 134MU for pay. In afternoon walked through Cheapside. TocH in the evening – talk on the Education Bill by the Education Officer – interesting. 28 Mar. Temperature yesterday was 96 degrees, today a heavy fall of hailstones. What a country! Read a little. Guard Duty at 18.00. 29 Mar Breakfast. Letter card from Joan and one each from Mam&Dad. Wrote Joan AML. Informed I am posted to 119MU Shaibah. Went to Station Cinema. 30 Mar 09.00 leave for Shaibah. Arr Bagdhad 11.00. Walked round town, meal at NAAFI. Boarded train for Shaibah 13.30. 31 Mar Woke in train at 06.00 – still 110 miles to go. Arrived Shaibah 14.30. Found  a billet. Saw Alec. Went to Canteen. Bed early.

April 1944 Work, Letters, Cinema, Started Swimming Again, Dysentry

1 Apr Reported Orderly Room. Detailed for ARS. Reported sick. Then to Post Office and Pay Accounts. To begin work on Monda. Sent telegram to Joan. Received 4^th Typhus inoculation. Cinema. Sunday 2 Apr Day off. Wrote letter card to Joan. Letter to Eddie & Johnny, airgraph to Mam&Dad. Went to Station Cinema 3 Apr No mail. Begin work in Air Publications Office – no fitting to be done yet. Station Cinema in the evening. 4 Apr No mail. Still in Publications Office. Airgraph to Joan. Went to Station Cinema. 5 Apr No mail. Went to talk at the TocH given by Tubley Clayton founder of TocH – subject The Merchant Navy. Very interesting. 6 Apr No mail. Wrote airgraph to Joan. Went for swim in the afternoon – the first since last September. 7 Apr No mail. Went for swim. In evening to Station Cinema. 8 Apr Tow letter cards from joan dated 18&22 March. Letter from Dad dated 22^nd. Celebration Dinner (good show), Station Cinema afterwards. Sunday 9 April Went for swim early. After Tiffin wrote uncensored lettercard to Joan. Sports in the afternoon. Went to Station Cinema in the evening. 10 Apr Clothing Parade. Changed gym shoes. Wrote AML to Joan, letter to Eddie. Received Letter cards from Joan and Mam dated 23^rd. Went to Station Cinema. 11 Apr No mail. Cigarettes from Aunt Grace & Uncle Fred. 12 Apr No mail. Wrote AML to Mam&Dad, short letter to Aub, airgraph to Fred&Grace. Began 3 days gas training. 13 Apr No mail. 14 Apr No mail. Finished Gas training. Wrote typewritten airgraph to Joan. Enrolled for Technical Course with BIET. Went to Station Cinema in the evening. 15 Apr Letter card from Mam dated 20 March. Station Cinema in the evening. Sunday 16 Apr Wrote airgraph to Mam&Dad and letter card to Joan.17 Apr Received letter from Johnny. 18 Apr Telegram from Joan. Wrote airgraph back. 19 Apr Reported sick – Dysentry. No food until tea-time, then a little bread & butter. Jelly & ice cream for supper 20 Apr Boiled egg and bread & butter breakfast. Bread butter & cheese for lunch. Soup bread and salmon, jelly & blancmange for supper. 5 visits to latrine. 21 Apr Porridge egg, bread & butter for breakfast. Chicken diet. 22 Apr Still at hospital. Fishcake & bread for breakfast. Chicken soup, rice. Wrote letter card to Joan, airgraph to Mam&Dad. Sunday 23 Apr First day out of bed. Chicken diet. Letter from Eddie & photograph of Dominica from Mam. Wrote airgraph to Joan.  24 Apr Feel better but constipated now. Off chicken diet. Last excreta showed bowel tissue. Wrote airgraph to Mam&Dad. Soup, cheese, duff custard & jelly for supper. 25 Apr Ordinary diet. Feel quite ok but still a little constipated. Doctor waiting for specimen. Wrote letter to Eddie, airgraph to Joan. 26 Apr Second dose of salts enables me to send specimen to laboratory. Alec visited me in hospital. Wrote airgraph to Joan. Feeling quite well. 27 Apr Report from Lab satisfactory. Feeling fine. Informed by MO I should be discharged on 29^th if there is no relapse. Now on normal diet. 28 Apr Normal diet, Feeling fine but a bit weak. Wrote AML to Joan, mobile Cinema at the Hospital. 29 Apr 11th Day at the hospital , discharged. Arrived back at unit 11.30 feeling quite well. Went to Station Cinema in the evening. Sunday 30 Apr Went for swim after breakfast, then reported sick but too late for report. Have to go tomorrow morning. Cinema in the evening. Wrote airgraph to Joan.

May 1943 Work, Guard Duty Application for Commission, Letters, Cinema

1 May Reported sick. Three days light duty. Feeling alright apart from slight pain in region of spine near kidneys. Went for swim. 2 May Second day back at work, same old job. Becoming much warmer now yesterday 104 fah in the shade. Did drawing on airgraph for Dominica. Wrote letter card to Joan. Went for swim in the afternoon, Station Cinema in evening. 3 May Letter card from Mam dated 18^th April and parcel of toothpaste etc Wrote AML back. Went to talk at TocH. Anglo Russian evening – rather disappointing. 4 May Letter cards from Joan dated 15^th, from Dad dated 20^th and airmail letter from Aub dated 10^th. Wrote letter cards to Joan (uncensored) and Aub. Airgraph to Mam&Dad. Went to Cinema with Cpl Scott. 5 May Completed application for Commission in the RAF. No mail. Wrote letter to Wally. Went to Station Cinema. 6 May No mail. Nothing unusual today. Went to Station Cinema saw Pacific Rendezvous. Sunday 7 May. Day off. Wrote letter card to Joan. 8 May No mail. First day of week’s duty on Flare Path. Informed I am to have an interview with CO the following morning. 9 May Interviewed by Unit CO regarding appointment to Commissioned rank. After interview he recommends me. Next to have interview with Station Commander. 10 May Interviewed  by Technical Adjutant. He decides to send a letter of recommendation with my application. No mail. Went to Station Cinema, saw ENSA Show. 11 May Letter from Aub dated 1 April. Letter card from Mam dated 2 May. Trouble between Joan and Parents better. Feelings improved. Made out duplicate and triplicate copies of my application. Wrote airgraphs to Mam&Dad and Joan, drew one for Dominica. 12 May No mail. Only been out for night-flaring once so far. Went to Station Cinema. 13 May No mail. Still on flare path duty. Went to Station Cinema in the evening. Sunday 14 May. Wrote letter card to Joan and letter to Aub. Told about my Commission. 15 May No mail. Wrote airgraph to Joan. Went before Medical Board in relation to my Commission. Passed physically fit, eyesight 6/6. Went to Maths Class in the evening. 16 May No mail. Went to sick quarters to have drops in left ear prior to syringing. Went to Station Cinema. 17 May No mail. Wrote uncensored letter card to Joan. Interviewed by Station CO and recommended. 18 May No mail. Handed in medical papers to SHQ. All that is to come is the final interview with the Selection Board. 19 May No mail. Went to Station Cinema saw Middle East Varieties (The Mad Earl). Very good. 20 May Letter card from Joan. Went swimming in the evening, back to billet. Sunday 21 May Wrote letter card to Joan, airgraph to Mam&Dad, letter to Eddie 22 May No mail. Maths Class in the evening. 23 May No mail. Began work at 3.30am. Wrote airgraph to Joan. Went to Station Cinema. Completed enrolment for correspondence course. 24 May No mail. Detailed for Guard at Jareefa. 25 May Letters from Eddie and Wally. Came off Guard. 26 May No mail. Began work on Spitfire Stromberg Carburettor. 27 May No mail. Continued on carburettor, little progress made yet. Sunday 28 May. Wrote AML to Joan, letter to Eddie, airgraph to Mam&Dad. 29 May Lettercard from Mam&Dad dated 18 May. Informed by the Orderly Room that my recommendation had been returned as there were no vacancies in the Technical Branch. Wrote airgraph to Mam&Dad. 30 May No mail 31 May AML from Joan dated 20 April. Wrote AML back. 

June 1944 Flare Path Duty, Letters, Spitfire Carburettors, Cinema, Off to Sharjah?

1 Jun Two letter cards dated 18^th, 21^st May. Also telegram. Wrote uncensored letter card to Joan. 2 Jun No mail. 3 Jun Airgraph from Dominica. Went to Station Cinema – saw Tom, Dick & Harry. Sunday 4 Jun Wrote letter card to Joan, letter to Wally. Did a little maths in the evening. 5 Jun No mail. Finished carb on spitfire. Started on second. 6 Jun No mail. Two cards removed from two Spitfires. Invasion of France takes place. 7 Jun No mail. Kit bag arrives. 8 Jun no mail. Finished second Spitfire. Sent parcel of syrup and grapefruit to Joan with letter card. 9 Jun No mail. 10 Jun No mail. Finished third Spitfire. Sunday 11 Jun Wrote letter card to Joan, drew one to Dominica. Did some maths in the billet. 12 Jun Two letter cards 31 May and 2 Jun from Joan. One from Mam 30 May. Wrote AML to Joan. 13 Jun No mail 14 Jun No mail. Ent second parcel to Joan – grapefruit and apricot jam. 15 Jun No mail. Finished carburettor on 4^th Spitfire. Sent Stan Spray’s parcel. 16 Jun No mail. Went to Station Cinema.17 Jun No mail. Finished 5^th Spitfire – boost trouble, awaiting run-up. Sunday 18 Jun Wrote letter card to Joan, airgraph to Mam& Dad, letter to Eddie. 19 Jun Letter card from Joan dated 10 Jun, one from Katie Beer same date. Wrote letter card to Joan, airgraph to Katie and Bill. First day of Flare Path Duty. 20 Jun No mail. Had kit weighed in preparation of flight to Sharjah. Stripped and replaced boost unit after failure to achieve boost. More that 8.5 cubic sq inches. Went to cinema. Still on Flare Path. 21 Jun No mail. 22 Jun Letter cards from Mam dated 13 June, from Joan dated 25^th April (lovely letter0. Wrote AML to Joan (nice one in reply). Went to pictures with Cpl Scott.23 Jun No mail. Wrote letter card to Joan, airgraph to Mam&Dad. 5^th day of Flare Path. Went cinema. Bad night on Flare Path. 24 Jun Letter card from Dad dated 14 June. Wrote letter card to Joan. Went to Cinema with Alec. Sunday 25 Jun Wrote airgraph to Mam&Dad. Letter to Johnny. Last night of Flare Path. Went to Cinema. 26 Jun Finished Flare Path. No mail. Correspondence Course arrives. Get down to serious study. 27 Jun No mail. Wrote airgraphs to Mam&Dad and to Joan. Another night of study. 28 Jun No mail. Completed first lesson of course. Ready for mailing. 29 Jun No mail. Sent off first lesson to BIET. Wrote airgraph to Joan. 30 Jun No mail. Informed that we are leaving for Sharjah the following morning. Did second Maths lesson, afterwards went to Cinema.

July 1944 Working on Wellington in Sharjah, Maths Lessons, Cinema, Letters

1 Jul Left Shaibah 09.15 Arr Basra 10.00. Billeted in Transit Camp. Went to Ashar in the evening with Liberty lorry.Left Transit Camp for Docks. Boarded passenger boat for Sharjah, pushed off 10.15. British Indian Steam Navigation Ship Wo Sang. Sunday 2 Jul Second day on board after good nights sleep. Getting rather sunburned. 3 Jul Owens much better this morning after night in ship’s hospital bunk. Decent night’s sleep on First Class Deck. 4 Jul Taffy Owens feeling much better. Dropped anchor at Bahrein 13.30 5 Jul Still in Bahrein, weighed anchor at 11.00. 6 Jul Reached Dubai 12.30. No boats for unloading. Cpl Hancock and the Yank go ashore. Agter waiting several hours Ginger returns with launch and we go ashore Lorry on pretty beach. Sharjah at 11.30, Supper. 7 Jul Arose at 08.30. Breakfast. Afterwards reported to Orderly Room to submit particulars. Made arrangements for conveyance to job. Went to Cinema in the evening. 8 Jul Arose at 04.30 to commence work on Wimpy. I take the port engine to strip. Received letter from Eddie and learned of the death of his father. Did maths in the evening. Sunday 9 Jul Letter card from Mam&Dad dated 27 June. Wrote back and one to Joan. 10 Jul Third day of work on Wellington. Job going quite well but Cpl Hancock is quite incapable of being in charge. Letter from Wally. Did maths in the evening. 11 Jul Work on Wellington still going quite well. Did maths in the afternoon, cinema in the evening. 12 Jul No mail. Port engine almost ready to be withdrawn from Airframe. Did maths in the afternoon, cinema in the evening. 13 Jul No mail. Finished third maths lesson. Complete mess over transport to job. Cpl Hancock sent to the CO. Arrange own transport, no work done on aircraft. 14 Jul No mail. Wrote AML to Joan. 7^th day on Wellington. Began 4^th lesson.15 Jul No mail. Detailed by 44SP to clean and label all spares. Did no further dismantling today. Sunday 16 Jul. No mail. Not feeling very well, bilious and trouble with bowels.17 Jul AML from Joan dated 4 Julu. Wrote back. Finished 4^th lesson in maths. 18 Jul Mailed 4^th lesson, started fifth. 19 Jul No mail. Continued maths lesson. 20 Jul No mail. Continued maths lesson 21 Jul No mail 22 Jul Letter cards from Mam and from Dad. Completed first part of 5^th maths lesson. Sunday 23 Jul No mail. Wrote letter cards to Mam & Dad. Did more maths studying. 24 Jul No mail. Completed 5^th  (15^th) maths lesson, began 6^th. 25 Jul No mail, continued with maths. 26 Jul No mail. 27 Jul No mail. 28 Jul 3 letter cards from Joan dated 10^th, 11^th and 13^th July. Wrote back. 29 Jul DC aircraft crashes near Wellington. May have to effect repairs. Sunday 30 Jul Day off – first since arrival here. Completed 6^th lesson. Lettercard from Joan dated 19^th July 31 Jul No mail. Wrote uncensored card to Joan. Succeeded in removing main plane from port side. Signal from Shaibah states we are needed back as quickly as possible.

August 1944 Still in Sharjah. Working on Dakota and Wellington, Letters, Cinema, Maths 

1 Aug No mail 2 Aug No mail. 3 Aug No mail. Wrote letter card to Joan 4 Aug Surface letter from Mam dated June containing snapshots. 5 Aug No mail. Sunday 6 Aug Letter card from Joan 26 July and letter from Katie containing photograph of their baby. Wrote letter card to Joan 7 Aug Worked in the evening getting in the Dakota. Succeeded after about three hours. 8 Aug No mail. Went up to hospital to see Simpson. Dakota engines… 9 Aug No mail. Very hot. Packed up work early, back to work in the evening to grease and carry out anti-corrosive treatment on Dakota. 10 Aug No mail. 11 Aug Letter card from mam dated 28^th July. Went back to work in the evening. 12 Aug No mail. Cinema in the evening to see Robert Donat in Adventures of Tartu. Sunday 13 Aug Day off. Wrote letters to Mam&Dad, one to Joan. Letter card from Joan dated 31 July. 14 Aug No mail. Wrote AML to Joan. Completed 18^th (8^th) lesson in Maths. Back to work in the evening – remove one of the two wheels from Wellington. 15 Aug No mail. Began 19^th Maths Lesson, Mailed answers to 18^th. 16 Aug No mail. Assessment from Instituteon lessons 11-14. Tutors awards 80%, 90%, 96% and 96%. Continued study of 18^th lesson. Lessons 21-23 arrive. Wellington aircraft completed, awaiting destruction of fuselage by burning. 17 Aug. No mail. Wrote letter card to Joan. More study on 18^th lesson. Went to Cinema in the evening. 18 Aug No mail further studies on 18^th lesson. Cinema in the evening saw Destroyer with Edward G Robinson. 19 Aug No mail. Painted both engines of Dakota with yellow chromate. Sunday 20 Aug Three letter cards from Joan dated 5,9 and 9 August. Last one rather hasty. Wrote back. 21 Aug No mail. Wrote letter card to Joan. Completed 18^th Maths letter. 22 Aug No mail. Posted 18^th lesson, began lesson 19. 23 Aug No mail. Paris falls to the French Forces of the Interior. 24 Aug No mail. Romania capitulates. Competed Lesson 19 in maths. Went to Cinema saw Watch on the Rhine. 25 Aug No mail. Posted 19^th Lesson to the Institute. Began lesson 20 – Graphs. 26 Aug No mail. Flt/Lt Monk arrives from Shaibah. Sunday 27 Aug Letter card from Mam dated 14 August. Photographs and two books. From Joan a lovely photograph of Dominica. 28 Aug No mail. Answers to Lesson 15 – 96%. Continued study of 20^th Lesson. Wrote letter card to Joan giving new address. 29 Aug No mail. Continued study of Lesson 20. 30 Aug. No mail. Completed lesson 20.  31 Aug Mailed Lesson 20, began study of 21. Wrote letter card to Mam&Dad and one to Joan.

September 1944 In Sharjah, Letters, Unhappy, Maths Lessons. Work on Beaufighter

1 Sep No mail 2 Sep No mail Sunday 3 Sep No mail. Completed Lesson 21 in maths. 4 Sep No mail. Posted answers to Lesson 21. 5 Sep No mail. Wrote AML to Joan 6 Sep No mail 7 Sep No mail. Studying lesson 22 8 Sep Received seamail letters from Joan dated 9 July also lettercard from Aub dated 24 August Completed Lesson 22 in maths. 9 Sep Mailed lesson 22. Wrote airmail letter to Joan. Kept copy of this in Writing-case. Went for a swim in the afternoon. Sunday 10 Sep Letter card from Mam dated 29 Aug and letter from Johnny containing note from Michael 11 Sep No mail. Wrote letter card to Joan, one to Mam&Dad and letter to Aub. Did a little study of Lesson 22. 12 Sep No mail. Continued Maths study. F/Lt Monk arrives but did not visit the job. 13 Sep No mail. Posted lesson 22, began 23. Went swimming in the afternoon. Good fun with the polo ball. 14 Sep No mail. Continued Lesson 23. F/Lt Monk returns from Muscat but still did not visit the job. 15 Sep Completed Lesson 23. Did Guard over prisoner. 16 Sep No mail. Posted Lesson 23. Wrote letters to Wally & Johnny. Began to study Lesson 24. Sunday 17 Sep No mail. Wrote letter to Eddie. Continued on 24, having a bit of trouble with quadratic equations. 18 Sep No mail. Continued Lesson 24. Still having trouble. 19 Sep Wrote uncensored letter card to Joan. Pleaded for news and a request for a decision on her part as to what she intends doing. Very unhappy. 20 Sep Telegram from Joan dated 9 September. Further studying Lesson 24. Went for swim in the afternoon. Talking in the billet in evening. 21 Sep No mail. Completed Lesson 24. Waiting for further lessons. 22 Sep Two letter cards from Joan dated 12^th  and 13^th September. Wrote uncensored letter card back. 23 Sep No mail. Sunday 24 Sep. Wrote airmail letter to Joan. Told her of plans about Canada, New Zealand and Australia. 25 Sep Letter card from Joan dated 13 September and one from Mam dated 12^th.  Wrote letter cards to mam & Dad and to Joan. First day of work with F/Sgt Wills. 26 Sep No mail. Began work on Beaufighter in the hangar. Engines in bad state of corrosion. Managed to get several items of stores from Equipment Section. 27 Sep Wrote letter to Education Officer at Shaibah relating to delay in Correspondence Course. Did Guard. 28 Sep No mail. Day off after Guard Duty. Still no further news from Institute regarding further lessons. 29 Sep Letter card from Joan dated 19^th September and one from Dad dated 20^th. Wrote letter card to Joan and one to Mam&Dad. 30 Sep No mail. Wrote sent £3 to Alec for months August, September, October.

October 1944  New Zealand? To Shaibah and back for Spares. Letters, Cinema. Lessons.

Sunday 1 Oct No mail. Wrote AML to Joan. Told her more detail of proposed job after the war. New Zealand suggested. 2 Oct Received marked papers 16-19 back from the Institute – 80%, 86%, 87%, Work on Beaufighter continues. 3 Oct No mail. Did revision on Maths in the afternoon and evening. Owens goes into hospital. 4 Oct No mail. Informed I am to be ready to leave for Shaibah tomorrow morning. Go back to work for hour and a half this evening. Visit Owens in hospital. Prepare things for the morning. Pictures in the evening. 5 Oct Letter card from Aub dated 23 September. On arrival at Air Traffic Office I am informed that BOAC cannot take me. Probably leave on Saturday. Go to pictures in the evening. 6 Oct No mail. Went to hospital to see Owens. Get things ready to leave, pictures in the evening. 7 Oct Seat on BOAC A/C confirmed. Boarded Ensign at 11.45. Landed Bahrein 14.03. Airborne 14.45, landed Basra 17.17Picked up 18.15 to RAF Basra Transit Camp. Went to Pictures in the evening. Sunday 8 Oct Breakfast. Called at Orderly Room. Left Basra for Shaibah 11.00 Arr 12.15. Went to Cinema in the evening. 9 Oct Went to Education Centre to clear up matters. Saw Sgt Parkin re Spares. Interview by Sq/Ldr Alexander and told to chase up on spares and see him before I left. Cinema in the evening. 10 Oct Went to Stores in an attempt to regain swaps. No luck – Storekeeper would not open Summons Box. Stores ready to be collected. Make ready tomorrow for return journey. Posted letter to BIET regarding payment of August instalment.  11 Oct Took kit into Stores to be dispatched to Sharjah by boat. Received receipts for both Owens and my kit. Informed Movements I am ready to leave. Collected spares from Stores. Interviewed by Sq/Ldr  Alexander. Told to inform Flt/Sgt Williamsof position regarding MTRs and Coles Crane. Visited Education and picked up Correspondence. Classical Gram Rental in Cinema. 12 Oct Left Shaibah at 07.30 by the mail ghary. Arr Basrah 08.15. Informed by Movements that I am to be back at 09.45 to have kit weighed at BOAC. Return to Transit Camp. Reported to Movements at 17.30 – no news of moving off. Bed early. 13 Oct Breakfast. Reported to Movements  and again at 17.30 without result. Went to Cinema in evening saw To Be or not to Be. 14 Oct Went to Pay Accounts after breakfast. After some difficulties succeeded in getting 14 days pay. Reported to Movements. Jack Holden. Get prepared to move in the morning at 05.00. Go to Cinema in the evening. Sunday 15 Oct No gen from Movements at 09.00. Reported again at 17.30. Two fellows from India returning on compassionate leave taken our seats. Cinema. 16 Oct Reported to Movements at 09.00 and again at 17.30. Told we are to leave Transit Billet at 05.00 for BOAC. Go to cinema in the evening. 17 Oct Rise at 04.00. At last after 5 days I am on the move. Left Transit 05.00 Arr BOAC 05.15. Coffee and toast. Airborne 06.00 Arr Bahrein 08.15. Breakfast. Airborne 08.45 Arr Sharjah 11.55. Two letter cards from Joan 29 Sept, 7 Oct, one from Dad 28 Sept and letter from Alec. 18 Oct. First day back at work, feeling quite happy. Saw Salvage Units. Beat SHQ 5-2 at football. Wrote letter cards to Joan, Mam&Dad. No mail for anyone today. Began letter to BIET. 19 Oct Finished letter to BIET asking them to hurry with the dispatch of Subject 2. Letters from Wally and Eddie. Went to cinema. 20 Oct No mail. Began AML to Joan told her of return to Shaibah and interview with NZ Padre. 21 Oct No mail for anyone. Finished letter to Joan. Worked until 16.00 on Beaufighters. Went to Cinema in the evening. Sunday 22 Oct. Wrote letter to Eddie, posted AML to Joan. 23 Oct AML from Mam dated 16 Oct. Wrote letter card to Joan. Letter from Johnny containing note from Michael. Wrote letter to Eddie. 24 Oct Letter card from Joan dated 14 Oct. Made me very happy. States her desire for a son. Wrote letter card to Joan. Went to Cinema. Received corrected Lessons and Applied Mechanics 87%, 90% and 96%. 25 Oct Letter card from Joan dated 17^th. Wrote letter card back. 26 Oct Received letter card from Dad dated 18^th Oct Began first lesson in Applied Mechanics.  27 Oct Received parcel containing books and toilet requisites. Wrote letter card to Mam&Dad. Did further study on Applied Mechanics. 28 Oct No mail. Work on Beaufighter proceeding. No study, went to Cinema. Sunday 29 Oct No mail. Continued study. 30 Oct Received AML from Joan 26^th Sept, letter card from Dad dated 10^th Oct. Wrote letter card to Joan. 31 Oct No mail. Finished lesson in Applied Mechanics. Paid into Accounts Section £1 (13rps, 5 annas) to cover educational fee to be sent by AHQ to BIET.     

November 1944 Working, Lessons in Maths & Mechanical Engineering, Letters, Cinema

1 Nov Mailed Lesson 1 in Applied Mechanics. Wrote letter cards to Mam&Dad, Joan. Letter to Wally. Began Lesson 2. 2 Nov Quite a good day of mail but nothing from Joan. Wrote letter to Johnny. Continued Lesson 2 Applied Mechanics. 3 Nov No mail. Wrote AML to Joan. Continued Lesson 2. 4 Nov Received corrected Practical Maths Lessons 23 78%, 24 58%. Lesson 24 to be corrected by me. Went to Cinema in evening Sunday 5 Nov No mail. Almost finished Lesson 2. Cinema in the evening. 6 Nov Received Letter card from Joan dated 26 Oct. 7 Nov No mail. Went to Cinema in the evening. 8 Nov Received letter and receipt from Institute. No mail. 9 Nov  Completed Lesson 2 in Applied Mechanics, did corrected Lesson 24 in Maths. Wrote 5 Christmas letter cards. 10 Nov Received letter card from Dad dated 3 Nov. Mailed Mechanics Lesson 2 and the corrected Maths Lesson 24. Wrote letter cards to Mam&Dad and to Joan 11 Nov No mail. Sunday 12 Nov No mail. Wrote letter to Area Education Officer regarding Ground Engineering. Started Lesson 3 Applied Mechanics. 13 Nov No mail. Continued Lesson 3. Played football for the Unit against AMWD won   5-1. 14 Nov Received Letter card from Dominica. Continued and completed Lesson 3. 15 Nov Mailed Lesson 3, began Lesson 4. 16 Nov Letter card from Dad dated 9^th Nov. Wrote Letter card to Mam&Dad.17 Nov Received tiny lettercard from Dominica. No date visible.  18 Nov No mail. Completed Lesson 4. American Concert Party visits the Station. Sunday 19 Nov Wrote letter to Alec and one to Education Officer Shaibah. No mail. Began study of Lesson 5 Applied Mechanics. ENSA party visits Station. 20 Nov No mail. Worked until 5.30. Went to Cinema in the evening. 21 Nov No mail. Worked until 5.30. Went to Cinema in the evening. 22 Nov No mail. No writing, did not go to cinema. Studied Lesson 5. Discovered that Cubraisor Cone from Beaufighter is missing. Have to fly to Bahrein to collect one and other spares. 23 Nov Left Sharjah for Bahrein in Dakota, left 11.00 arr 13.00. Collected spares. Ready to return. 24 Nov Reportedto RTS no aircraft available for return. Reported again several times during day, still no luck Spent evening in the Billet and NAAFI.25 Nov. Reported again at RTS. Still no aircraft. No news by tiffin time. Went to Cinema in the evening. Sunday 26 Nov Reported to RTS. May be a kite at 14.00. Machine arrives but has night stop. To leave in morning. 27 Nov Boarded Dakota 06.50, airborne 07.00 Arr Sharjah 09.10. Spitfire ready leaves Sharjah 14.30. Work on Beaufighter. Letter card from Joan dated 15 Nov, wrote back. 28 Nov No mail. Wrote lettercard to Joan. Continued Lesson 5. 29 Nov No mail. Work on Beaufighter, Later on Lesson 5. 30 Nov Lettercard from Joan dated 23 Nov, one from Mam and another from Rene dated 20^th. Moved to new billet. Today big downpour of rain and howling wind. Almost everything wet through.

December 1944 Letters, Storms, Retn to Shaibah, Desert ride to Damascus, Christmas and New Year in Cairo

1 Dec No mail. Drome U/S. Lots of damage done by storm. Both hangars blown down. One hangar collapses on Beaufighter. Send £1 through Accounts Section for Education Fee to BIET. 2 Dec No mail. Succeeded in extricating Beaufighter from wreckage. Wrote lettercard to Joan. Sunday 3 Dec  No mail. Drome still U/S. Studied Lesson 5. 4 Dec No mail. Drome still U?S No mail likely until Drome is serviceable again. 5 Dec Drome still U/S. Finished Lesson 5 in Applied Mechanics. Wrote lettercard to Joan. Authorisation letter from Shaibah arrives for payment of War Increase. 6 Dec Lettercard from Joan dated 24^th Nov. Wrote back and one to Mam&Dad. 7 Dec Lettercard from Joan dated 29^th and letter from Rene Hudson including photograph of their baby. Wrote lettercard to Joan. 8 Dec Received lettercard from Dad dated 25^th Nov. 9 Dec Received Christmas card from Joan. Sq/Ldr Alexander arrives. Informed that I am posted along with 7 others to leave 07.00 in the morning. Sunday 10 Dec Rise at 05.00. Breakfast at 06.00 Airbone by 7.10. Landed Bahrein 9.10. Off again 11.40 landed Shaibah 13.00. 11 Dec Begin to get cleared of the Station. Arrange for pay the following day. Went to the cinema in the evening. See Education Officer about correspondence course. 12 Dec Wrote lettercard to Joan. Informed by Movements that we are not moving off until Friday evening. 13 Dec Fourth day at Shaibah. 14 Dec Heavy storm. Possibility that line may have been damaged. 15 Dec Went to Movements. Informed that we are leaving at 17.00. At 17.00 board lorry Arr Shaibah Junction 17.45, left 19.00. 16 Dec Arrived Baghdad West 10.15. Placed kit in safe custody and looked around Baghdad. Left for Habbiniyah 15.40 Arr 17.45. Hot bath, shave, early bed. Sunday 17 Dec Posting Parade 09.00. No information. Played billiards. Went to Cinema in the evening. 18 Dec Posting Parade 07.45 No information. Breakfast. Second Parade 09.15. Twenty including a number of our fellows leave today. Went to see Education Officer about Correspondence course and Ground Engineers examination. 19 Dec Went to see Sq/Ldr Wright regarding rugby. Told there might be a game on Thursday. No information in first two posting parades. Went to see American Concert Party at at Station Cinema. Very poor show. 20 Dec No information at first Posting Parade. Told at second Parade that we are leaving at 16.00 on Nairns for Damascus. Bus leaves 17.30 Arr Ramadi 18.30. 21 Dec Rutba Wells 01.30. Cup of tea here at the NAAFI. Reached Damascus 16.00. Had dinner. Looked around town in the evening. 22 Dec Rose at 05.30 Breakfast 06.00. Left Transit Camp 07.00. Train leaves Damascus 07.55. Arr Haifa 20.45. Travel to 163 Transit Camp Arr 21.00. 23 Dec Informed on the 09.00 Parade that that we are to leave at 03.00 for station. Depart Haifa 15.20 reach Lydda 18.30. Depart 19.00 Reach Gaza 21.00 departed 21.30. Sunday 24 Dec Arr Kantara 04.20. Depart 05.00. Arr Benha 09.10depart 09.15. Arr Cairo Station 10.00. 22PTC at 13.00. Showered, shaved, went into Cairo Quite a good time – Len Allan Jock. 25 Dec Paraded at 08.50 after first class breakfast. Detailed for Guard Relief – first Guard on Christmas day since being in the Service. 26 Dec No information on first Posting Parade. Went into Cairo, celebrated Christmas. Spot of beer. Quite merry. 27 Dec No information at Posting Parade. Guard Duty on main Camp. 28 Dec No information at Posting Parade. Came off Main Guard at 06.00 Fatigues in the afternoon. Went into Cairo in the evening. Bought underset for Joan. 29 Dec No information regarding posting. Went on Almora Cape Duty 12 hours. Wrote lettercards to Joan, Mam&Dad. 30 Dec Still no information on posting. Went on Backers-Up training. 31 Dec Detailed for 12 hours Main Guard. No details on posting. Saw in the New Year while on Guard. 

January 1945 Cairo

1 Jan Came off Guard at 06.00. No information on posting. Allan & I go to the Alemain Club to see the Wanderers – match cancelled. Went to Egyptian Museum afterwards. Saw Madame Curie at Metro Cinema – excellent film. 2 Jan Did Backers-Up. No information on posting. Ginger, Allan & Len go to Cairo. Write lettercard to Joan, intended to write to Rene & Billy but couldn’t find their address. Bed early.      

Note to self:  Bryn, Joan and Dominica did not emigrate to New Zealand.