My Life by Lionel Graves. (Page 16)
Tuesday 11th Dec. Had kit check this morning also a lecture from the squadron leader with warnings about the wogs in Cairo, riot squads, etc, also pickpockets. Went to NAAFI tonight, two eggs, chips, tomatoes. Had haircut.
(You may be wondering what NAAFI means – Navy, Army and Airforce Institute, it opened clubs in camps where you could get additional meals, tea, drinks, cigarettes and chocolates, etc at reasonable prices that the poor soldier could afford).
Wednesday 12th Dec. Took a shirt to the tailors to have a collar sewn on, he made a very good job of it. Took my camera to be registered, have to call tomorrow for it. Queued up for a pair of roller skates and went skating on a rink. Had a medical inspection this morning and a shower in the afternoon. Went to pictures in evening and saw “Half Way House”. Camp cinema open air with a reed screen round outside and wicker work arm chairs. Wrote two letters.
Thursday 13th Dec. Was paid today and given tin of 50 free cigs, also a suit of denims (bit like a boiler suit) We were inspected by the C.O. This morning and were also given pay book wallets to hang round necks inside shirts to prevent theft of pay books. Went to Scots Corner to have supper and get Christmas cards, sent them off in evening.
Friday 14th Dec. Had a lecture this morning and PT on the square. Bought a handbag for Jean and made up my Christmas parcel, for home. Went and handed in paybook to get a duty free label. Got parcel sewn up in a bag at the tailors. Went to canteen and wrote letters.
Saturday 15th Dec. Went and collected duty free label this morning for the parcel and posted it. Also got camera permit. Had a parade and inspection this morning and volunteered with a crowd of other Recces to drive Humber armoured cars to Persia, but will have to take driving test first. Went down to Cairo in afternoon, went to canteen and had a grand tea, walked toward town centre. Went back on a tram. Several chaps had blacking splashed on their boots and slacks, but I was lucky, nothing happened.
Sunday 16th Dec. Went to church in morning. Sent some Turkish Delight home. Watched a football match.
Monday 17th Dec. Had a personnel selection form to fill in, similar to that in Bovington. Went down town at night to NAAFI. Had lecture on SAS.
Tuesday 18th Dec. New draft came in today, Jim Collcutt, Macdonald and Smith were on it. (Ex Bovington, Farnborough or Catterick friends). Heard that Jim Cheetham had come overseas with them. Saw the personnel selection officer and he put me down for a clerk as driver/operators were not needed.
Non-diary:- The Recce Corps (pronounced 'wrecky') was being disbanded so our draft was being split up, a few to go to cavalry regiments, some to Infantry and others to be transferred to GHQ O2E the Headquarters of the Middle East Land Forces as clerks, they would no longer be troopers but privates in the RASC the same rank and pay but a demotion for us nevertheless).
Went to a gramophone recital in the evening. Earlier had watched Egyptian Lancers have a ride or march past, with a mounted band, all on white horses.
Wednesday 19th Dec – Had usual morning period this morning P.T. And lecture. Two kitbags were stolen from our room by Egyptian soldiers (?) from the barracks next to ours. Police came later or in the day and inspected footmarks in the sand left by thieves, brought Alsatians. (We never heard any more about it) Pickets have been formed for patrolling at night. Went to Scots Corner to write letters. Took photos of the gang, Johnny Drew, Jack Miller, Steve and Jim Collcutt sitting on an American Grant tank. Took film to be developed.
Thursday 20th Decemeber. Had usual mornings programme. Was on prowler picket at night, lasts 24 hours. It is the new guard to combat the kitbag thieves. Wrote to Glasgow.
Figure 1. Barracks at Abbassia. Egytian Army Cavalry Camp in background. Figure 2. Barracks at Abbassia.
Figure 3.Trooper Graves December 1945
Email: Lionel Graves (lionel@graf-tek.com).
Copyright ©2000-2008 L. Graves. All Rights Reserved.
