Description
Object description
British aircraftman served as storekeeper with No 4 Flying Training School at Abu Sueir, Egypt, 1933-1934; served as storekeeper at Royal Air Force Middle East Depot, RAF Aboukir in Egypt, 1934-1938
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of enlistment, training and service with Royal Air Force in GB, 1931-1933: background to enlistment, 1930; start of recruit training at No 1 Depot, RAF at RAF Uxbridge; treatment by NCOs; reaction to posting to Egypt; issue of tropical kit; problems of wearing puttees; ceremonial duties in GB. Aspects of voyage aboard troopship from GB to Egypt, 1933: kitbags taken aboard; pre-embarkation lecture; need for discipline; living conditions on board; atmosphere below decks; entertainments; lack of contact with crew; conditions on board; disembarkation at Port Said, Egypt. Recollections of period as storekeeper with No 4 Flying Training School, RAF at RAF Abu Sueir, Egypt, 1933-1934: train journey to Abu Suier; arrival in RAF Abu Suier; hearing stories of thieving in Egypt; reception at RAF Abu Suier.
REEL 2 Continues: layout of camp; climate of health hazards; contracting malaria and hospitalisation; compassionate leave in GB, 1935; attitude towards Egyptians; his contact with Egyptian civilians; use of 'camp Arabic'; reasons why he liked Egyptians; duties of servants and hut orderlies; servants observance of Ramadhan; divisions in Egyptian society; Egyptian irrigation methods.
REEL 3 Continues: visit to Pyramids; visits to ruins of Canopus and museums; duties at Abu Sueir; flight as passenger in aircraft; daily routine; receipts and despatch work; recreational activities; preparations of cricket and football pitches; problem of boredom amongst fellow airmen; use of brothels; sand yachting; camel racing; Christmas festivities at Aboukir; visit to Bedouin camp; attending Greek wedding.
REEL 4 Continues: character of rations; joining 'The Buffaloes'; church parades; incident in which 'loosewallahs' stole a photograph of his girlfriend at Abukir; ordering a cheese sandwich at Rosetta Restaurant; hazards of swimming in Bitter Lakes; bathing in Suez Canal; visits to Ismailia; prank played on Egyptian hosing down streets. Recollections of period as storekeeper at Royal Air Force Middle East Depot, RAF Aboukir in Egypt, 1934-1938: duties; incident when he nearly drowned in Western Bay; manufacture of beach huts from wooden aircraft packing cases; how Egyptian labourers lifted cases of aircraft parts; compassionate leave, 1935.
REEL 5 Continues: escort duties during movement of aircraft parts on trains during Abyssinian crisis, 1935; death of King Fuad; attitude of Egyptians to British presence; reasons for affrays between British servicemen and Egyptians; length of tour of duty; repatriation to GB, 1938; problems of transfer of duties; attitude to leaving Egypt; Royal Air Force discouragement of marriages with Egyptian girls.