YMCA at RAF Abu Sueir 1950
Situated on the main camp road after passing through the Main Gate,there was the Astra and swimming pool on the right. Then a families Naafi store before reaching an assembly area and the boarding point for the buses into Ismailia and surrounding towns. Before reaching the YMCA there were a couple of Arab owned shops selling fruit,drinks,chocolate, etc. The YMCA was a long building (see photo) parallel to the main road, further on was the MT section and Naafi before reaching a block of Airmen's billets, cookhouse and Sgts. Mess.
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Christmas greetings from Egypt
To be able to contact family and friends back home was an important part of life abroad. And to hear the shout ''mail call'' was something we all looked forward to, with the hope that somebody,somewhere had written a letter to you. |
Two Wise Men
This was a typical seasonal card issued by the RAF with as peaceful a scene as you could wish for. |
Liberty Bus
This was the transport used by off duty personell when travelling to and from camp. To enjoy a meal and a bottle of Stella in the French Quarter of Ismailia was something to look forward to. The bus was also used to take personell who lived off the camp to and from Abu Sueir. |
Geoff with the proprietor of the leather goods/shoe repair shop
Behind Geoff and Egyptian proprietor is the barbers shop next door to leather goods/shoe repairs. These were two of the many small shops on the camp which provided amenities as well as selling local produce. |
Troopship Empire Pride
This was the ship Geoff sailed out on before arriving in Egypt in 1949.This ship was one of the many Empire boats used for trooping. I myself sailed on the Empire Clyde from Liverpool in October 1955 before disembarking at Port Said. Unlike today, the troopship was the most used form of transport in moving military personell from one country to another. |
SSQ attachment MT Section
Geoff says this was his ''billet'' along with 2 other mates attached to SSQ. He was part of the MT section and no doubt was kept busy when it all kicked off. |
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