SERVICE in the SUEZ CANAL ZONE of EGYPT until 1956
Cover Page || Home || CZ Roll of Honour || CZ Memorial || CZ Map || Photo Album || Humour || Camps From AboveOdd Bits
from, and about, the Suez Canal and the Canal Zone.
( A bit about the Canal to start off
with, then the other odd bits in no particular sequence. )
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The Suez Canal
was opened in 1869 and is approx 120 miles (192km) long. Present day
figures:
Width at water level - 328 yards (300 metres) Width between buoys - 197 yards (180 metres) Depth - approx 66 feet (20 metres) Maximum permissible draught of ships - 53 feet (16 metres) The speed limit varies between 7 mph (11km/h) and 10 mph (16km/h) depending on the category and tonnage of the vessel and the velocity and direction of the tidal current. The average transit time is 14 hours. During 2004 an average of 1,378 ships per month passed through the Canal. |
 Leave Pass sent in by D Moore. |
 I bet you remember this beer label !! |
 "Among my souvenirs." |
 Mick Pestell bought this at 'The Hole in the Wall'. |
 Two more photo albums brought home from the Canal Zone. |
 How many of these did you bring back through customs? |
  Cpl Neave's driving licence.
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 AKC Cinema programme. August 1953. Supplied by Al Webb. |
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 Tony Tolan supplied this. |
A Serviceman’s Farewell to Egypt.
Anonymous.
Anonymous.
| 1/ Land of sweat and a
shirt that stinks, Land of Pyramids and Sphinx, Sweat Rash, Foot Rot, Prickly Heat, Aching hearts and blistered feet, Swarms of flies that buzz and bite, Mosquitoes zinging thought the night. 2/ Land of Scorpions, Camel, Bugs, Spanish Fly, Hashish and other drugs, Streets of sorrow, streets of shame, Streets that you could never name. Clouds of dust and sand that send The sanest ‘bod’ clean round the bend. Donkeys, Goats and Pyard dogs, Cut-throats, thieves and pestering w**s 3/ Land where children in their teens Sell souvenirs outside canteens, “Bucksheesh - Bucksheesh” is their cry, For this alone they live and die. Where Typhoid thrives and ‘Gypo’ gripes, And men smoke ‘Hubbly Bubbly’ pipes. Obnoxious smells, eternal strife, Oh for Britain and the wife |
4/ Where men with ‘prep chits’ sit and gloat While others dream about the boat. Their only aim to dodge and skive Until their clearance chits arrive. Their chief delight to laugh and shout At some poor ‘erk’ who’s just come out. 5/ Land of Tarbosh, Galabiah, “Qwoise tamahm” and “qwoise khetir”, Land of shia and mungaria, Moya, chapaties and Stella beer. Where one can always hear men say “Thank God we have the YMCA”. 6/ Oh for Britain’s happy life Where people never see such strife. My final chit, I’m going home ! Away from there I’ll never roam. I’m going there, and oh, how grand To see green fields instead of sand. |
7/ Land of sorrow, filth and shame, I’ve seen you once but never again. I leave you now with no regret, But sights I’ve seen I’ll not forget. Natives Heaven, white mans hell, This hot dusty Egypt, “I FARE THEE WELL”. In this version, some of the words have been changed from the original poem that was going the rounds fifty or so years ago. I cannot guarantee the spelling of some of the Arabic words used but Suez Vets will recognise them. Charlie D. |
Another
rhyme going the rounds during the early 1950s was this one
| 1/. To relate this tale
of woe, Off to Egypt we must go. To desert sands ‘neath burning sun, Where Heaven ends and Hell begun. Where in a place so grim and bleak, Lie our new homes for many a week. No laughing faces do we see, But faces lined with misery. Most every night we stand and stare, Across the desert crude and bare. Sometimes we sit beneath the moon, And dream of Blighty in mid June. Of times we had when we were there, With this place you can’t compare. |
2/. “Sand in my shoes” was just a song, Now it’s a curse we’ve suffered long. Across the desert we must tramp, Guarding our beloved camp. We guard by night, we guard by day, To keep those thieving ***** away. The dogs do bark but the night is still, Of guarding camps I’ve had my fill. Its hot by day and cold at night, There’s not a blasted thing that’s right. I’m lost for words, can say no more, My mind is dumb, my heart is sore. This camp is desolate without a doubt, Roll on Demob, and lets get out!! |
Christmas at the Airmans Mess, RAF Abyad.
BREAKFAST MENU Grapefruit Cereals or Porridge Grilled Bacon & Egg Bread, Butter & Marmalade Tea or Coffee |
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EVENING COLD BUFFET Assorted Cold Meats Russian Salad Pickles, Sauces Fruit Salad Blancmange & Jellies Christmas Cake Tea or Coffee |
Sounds good, but I can't
remember if it was or not !
And Christmas dinner at Abu Sultan.
9 Base Ammunition Depot. R.A.O.C. - 128 Maintenance Unit. R.A.F. - No.1 Dog Company, R.M.P.
9 Base Ammunition Depot. R.A.O.C. - 128 Maintenance Unit. R.A.F. - No.1 Dog Company, R.M.P.
This menu supplied by Nobby
Clarke. R.M.P.
 A request notification from the FBS sent to Nobby Clarke. Question. Guess what song the request was for. (Answer at bottom of the page.) |
 Did you collect your photos in one of these envelopes ? |
I know that some Airmen, and maybe some Airwomen, (but not sure about members of the Army,) sent home a copy of the following letter a few days before they were
to return home from the Canal Zone. In exchange for a bottle of beer or a pack of cigarettes there was always a friendly clerk who was willing to type the letter, and if on
official headed paper, so much the better. What the recipients thought of it is something I can only guess at.
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NOTICE OF RETURN TO THE FOLD.
Issued on: (Date)…....................... To all relatives, friends and neighbours of: (Rank and Name)……...................... Very soon the person and
character of the above named serviceman will once again be made
available to
all. He will shortly be leaving the Suez Canal Zone with the
intention of returning to the human fold of civilised living.
There may be some changes in him since last seen and the reason of this
notification is to prepare all
at home for the arrival of the said serviceman. He will be coming
home dehydrated and demoralised and it is the task of loving family
members, friends and neighbours to see that this person becomes
de-dehydrated and de-demoralised at the soonest possible opportunity.
In making your joyous preparations to welcome him back into the organised society of home you must make allowances for the crude environment which has been his lot for many months. In a few words, he may be slightly Eastern in his habits, - suffering from Egyptitis or a little too much sun. Therefore show no alarm if he prefers to squat on his haunches instead of sitting on a chair, insists on removing his shoes before entering the house, or has a tendency to bow to the east five times a day. Keep cool when he pours gravy on the salted skin of ham and mixes it with a little kipper juice and ice-cream, be tolerant. Do not be shocked if, when answering the telephone, he says, “Saida” instead of Hello and “Ma’sallam” for Goodbye. In a relatively short time he can be taught to speak fluent English once more. Keep in mind that beneath his tanned and rugged exterior there beats a heart of gold, - with a covering of sand. Treasure this as it will be the only thing of value he has left, except your friendship. Treat him with kindness, tolerance and an occasional quart of good liquor and you will be able to rehabilitate that which is but a hollow shell of the happy man you once knew. Never ask him why the lad down the street had a bigger or better aeroplane or tank than he had, nor why the same lad had a higher rank. Please do not make any flattering remarks about the Navy, Army or Air Force in his presence. Above all, NEVER ask him when he is going to start work again. On receipt of this notification, please do not post any more letters to his Egyptian address. Remember, keep cool and calm and this lad will eventually return to normal. Signed:……………...... On behalf of the Officer Commanding……………………………. |
