Royal
Artillery
3 RHA (Waterloo Brks Fayid, Lt.Col. Goshan
1953 - 55)
6 Field Regiment Royal Artillery
23rd Field Regt Royal Artillery
26 Regt Royal Artillery
26th Field Regiment 16th Battery Sandhams Coy
29th Field Regiment Royal Artillary (located
at Geniefa from January 1953 - May 1954. Troop commander Captain Dennis.)
33
Para Light Regiment Royal Artillery
40 Field Regiment
Royal Artillery. Posted as a unit from BAOR in Dortmund where they had been since
the end of the war, to Geneifa in about March/April 1954. I think we must
have replaced 29 Field Regiment RA. I went with them as a National Service
subaltern but was demobbed in Sept 1954. Shortly after that they were posted
to Cyprus, the occupation of the Canal Zone having been concluded. I was
in 129 (the Dragon) Battery. Our C.O. by the way was Lt. Col. George
Cole (later General Sir George) who could down a pint of beer as fast as
anyone I ever saw. I can still smell the Sweet Water Canal.
Nick Bowyer.
41st
Field Regt Royal Artillery. Light Aid Detatchment
REME. Officer Commanding was Captain Wright.
49 Battery, 23 Field Regiment Royal Artillery. The battery was stationed at El Ballah. The Battery Captain
was R.R. Wiggins. I think the CO of the Regt at that time was Lt Col Hartley.
Our camp was the most southerly of those at El Ballah and was situated where
the canal split for a passing place. Latterly we were fortunate enough to
be able to go across the sand to the Canal to swim. Arthur Bramham FOB Parties
from 49th Field Regt. RA. FOB Parties were supplied by 49th Fd. Regt. RA
to be used if Operation Rodeo Flail was activated. They were deployed
on three occasions from Famagusta, Cyprus in 1952/1953. The first
two attachements were with the 1st Bn. Beds. & Herts. Regt, at El Ballah,
and the third was with 1st Bn. Scots Guards at Port Said. The mission
would have been to neutralise the shore batteries at Alexandria, and then
be available to direct the fire of naval guns on to shore targets. In the
event, Rodeo Flail was not executed.
50Bty 23rd Field Regiment Royal Artillery
71 Heavy Anti Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery
73 Heavy Anti Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery
71 HAA Regt Royal Artillery
73 HAA Regt Royal Artillery
80 Light AntiAircraft Regt Royal Artillery Two Batteries stationed at Ismailia. Other with O Force
Aquaba
82 Locating Battery Royal Artillery. An independent battery with survey and sound ranging troops.
Stationed at Deversoir (?) and certainly at Geneifa in 1952.
181 Light Battery Royal Artillery. Newly
formed unit to perform RA disciplined accuracy, to newly aquired 4.2inch
mortars. Post familiarisation/instruction, performed usual round of guard
duties, and standbys etc., December 1951-March 1952 Deversoir. (January 1952
Filtration plant at Abu Sultan) March - May 1952. Geneifa June1952. Kabrit
June-July 1952. El Ballah July -October 1952. Geneifa Nov 1952-May 1953
Kabrit. Charles Henry Winn
155 Maiwan bty 29 Field Regiment Royal Artillery
188 FC Battery Royal Artillery. Stationed
at Ferry Point in 1954
226 Battery 80th Regiment Royal Artillery (Moascar Garrison Ismailia)
Royal
Engineers
3 Field Squadren Royal Engineers I served
at the start of the Suez conflict during 1956.3 field squadron consisting
of 200 men was in on the start of the action along with the Marines and the
Paras having come from our station in Nicosia Cyprus to where we returned
after the cease fire.We were a detached unit from our main regiment who were
based at Jailer Barracks Tripoli.As i remember we had several Z reservists
with us and we lost a Major Pipe Wolverson in the action.Our company sergeant
major ( known as granny ) lost his nerve and was sent home.I was O Cs driver
and spent several days at the front ( EL Cantara ) with him and our radio
op Sapper Delahunty.Our mission out there following the cease fire was to
move the location of all the known bridges incase there was a push back
by Nasser. Arthur Noll 23281744
3 base workshops commanding officer Cpt
Howard.
16 Field sqdn,35 Field Engineer Regt, Royal Engineers.Camp was Minden Camp, Fayid.My A.F.B.108 shows I was there from
23/11/51 to 29/5/52.I believe 42 Sqdn.R.E.was also in 35 Engr.Regt.We worked
building temporary camps,water supply etc. and a gibbet for a service murderer!
Richard Chambers.
25 Field Engineers Lt Conl Ogivey
Cammang Officer Moascar Plant Sqadron Capt Griffiths Work shop Commanding
Officer Mak Bennett 51/55 Returned on Troop Ship Georgic to Maidstone Kent
Base Camp
50 Field Squadron Royal Engineers
35 Field Engineer Regiment RE
42 Survey Engineer Regiment moved from
the Tura Cave area to Fayid, Sobraon Camp after WW2. After the ammalgamnation
of varius Survey units, 42 Survey Engineer Regt came in being in 1947 with
Lt Col Belfield as CO and WO1 Cusswall as RSM. In 1955 56 the move to Cyprus
was made with Lt Col Cobb as CO and WO1 Chilvers as RSM.
2 Army Field Survey Depot moved from
the Tura Caves at about the some time and as an independent unit was also
located in Sobraon Camp. I have no details of earlier OC,s but the move
to Cyprus was made with Capt J Allen as OC and WO1 Ironside as RSM. The
fact that these two units were in Egypt from 1940 - 1955 must make them
one of the longest serving units in the Canal Zone. I might add that "42"
is still in existence at Hermitage , just north of Newbury.Nick Carter. (ex both units)
1207 Operating Squadron. Inland Water
Transport : We were located at Lake Timsa,on Z craft supplying Military
Hardware,ect the lenght of the Canal Zone.Captain of Z52 was Cpl Les.Monk,I
was one of the engineers from 1952-1955
10 Railway Sqn. Royal Engineers 1951
at Adabiya south of Suez. From Nov 51 running trains of fuel/food up and
down the Canal Zone. Occupation of Signal Boxes to stop movements
of ESR trains and to run our own. 1952/55 at Pekin Camp Fanara running trains
that were mined,derailed and shot at. Every other night 24 hour guards at
Filtration Plants and our own camp. Robin Thorne
HQ Squadron 18 Railway Group, Royal Engineers
6 Field Park Squadron 22 Field Engineer Regement3
Royal
Signals
3 GHQ Signal Regt, 9 Wireless Troup
J Troop Royal Signals Attached to 1st
Guards Brigade HQ. Geneifa, Fanara and on detachment to 3rd Battalion Grenadier
Guards at Deversoir. Duration April 1952 to October 1952. 1951 OC was Major
Brandle 2nd in command was Captain Unwin and troop sargeant was Sgt Bell.Troop
moved out to Malta in 1952 and was then sent to Egypt
L Troop, Royal Signals
16 Indep Sig Squadron
3rd Division Signal Regiment
3 L of C Signal Regimentt fayid 1952-53
Lt Burroughs, Major Brader, Captain K Sergeant Christie M.M.
3 L of C Signal Regiment Moascar camp
Ismailia line troop telephone exchange 1952-1953
Egypt Command Signal Regiment Fayid CO
Major Brader
1 Inf. Div Signals M.E.L.F 27. div sigs.
camp was adjoining G.H Q opposite the NAFFI club and between the railway
and the sweetwater. co was Lt.Col Stead and the RSM was J. leonard
1 L of C 8 Medium Wireless Troop.Royal corps of Signals. Stationed at Ell Ballah canal zone, 52-55
Royal Signals 2A.S.S.U. R.A.F. Fayid
duration July 51 - Oct 52 O.C. Major Dunkley
RASC
4 Company RASC
7 Company RASC
30 Company RASC
33 Company srd RASC
34 Company RASC
38 Company RASC
39 Company RASC (Heavy Transport)
Fanara
40 Company RASC
42 Company RASC
44 Company RASC (44 coy were a tank transporter
unit att to 4 rtr based at shandur. The O.C was colonel Tucker, w/shops
O.C was Capt Maule. I served there from Dec '52' until April '55')
47 Company Air Dispatch Attached to Grenadier
Gaurds.
48 Company RASC Flotilla Water Transport Adabiya Docks
58 Company RASC
63 Company RASC
63 Company RASC 16 Ind Parachute Bde
74 Company RASC. (Part of 3rd Infantry
Divn.) 74 Coy flew into the Canal Zone from RAF Lyneham, in early Nov.1951,
as part of the 3rd Inf Div. The Coy was initially based for several weeks
at 156 Transit Camp, Port Said,awaiting the arrival of our vehicles and
stores, by sea. Our duties there comprised guard duties and dock clearance.
The Coy then moved to Geneifa and then El Ballah (where, I believe, we shared
a camp with 34 Coy RASC). In early 1952 the Coy moved to North Camp, Moascar,
where I know the Coy remained until I was demobbed in July 1952. Our C.O.
was Major Hatherley. Our Adj. was Capt. Jones. Our MTO was Capt. Routledge.
Our CSM was WO.II Dodds. Our O.C 74 LAD REME was Capt. Freeman. The
majority of our Officers and NCO's were regular soldiers, who had seen service
in WWII, Malaya etc. We had one National Service Officer - 2nd Lt. Cockman.
I later learnt that a number of men from 74 Coy who were demobbed after me,
and were still liable to recall as reservists,were recalled and served in
Germany at the time of the 1956 Suez invasion. John Bennett
80 H.A.A. Regt., Royal Artillery
84 Company RASC
86 Company RASC (Moascar)
73 Coy Air Dispatch (Fayid
591 Company RASC
126 Field Bakery RASC
129 Company RASC Fanara
The OC was a Major Shead, the Company Sergeant Major - Latham, The Company
Sergeant Cook (The Best In The Army) SGT Wharton.There were approx 100
British Army Personel on Camp. and a daily arrival of local labour. Roy
Hopes
148 Field Bakery R.A.S.C.
Fayid The unit was in Fayid next to the hippodrome
cinema, there was a CofE church there as well. I was there from feb 54
to july 55, our O.C.was capt Darvill
482 Supply Platoon,
Moascar Garrison. My late father, then Sgt George
Fairbridge, RASC, was at 482 Supply Platoon at Moascar. They were housed
in a compound on the left of the main street as you entered from the main
gate, between the main street and the railway line. I lived at Moascar and
later Fayid as a child from '48 until '53. Tony Fairbridge
156 Transit Camp Port
Fouad Egypt. My name is Kenneth Harris and I was
a L/Cpl in the RASC and was on the Permanent Staff of 156 Transit Camp
from January 1951 until August 1952. The Commanding Officer was a
Major Moir of the Kings Regiment.
RAOC
Base Ammunition Depot RAOC Abu Sultan
Ammunition Sub Depot RAOC Lake Timsah
Base Vehicle Depot Tel El Kebir (BVD(E) BVD(E) at Tel El Kebir supplied every types of vehicle
used by the British army to the whole Middle East, thus ensuring that all
units in the middle east were kept on the move. Norman Brody
REME
REME Light Aid Detatchment
REME Base Workshops
3 Infantry Workshops REME3 Infantry Wksps
REME were technical support for 3 Brigade 1 Division, arrived in the Canal
Zone sometime before 1953. Based initially at Shandur on the Little Bitter
Lake, in 1954 moved up to Fanahra. Left the zone in 1955 for the Cyprus
conflict.
16 Airborne Workshops
16 Station Workshops, Suez, REME CO was
Capt Layden Oct 51 to Nov 52
B.V.D. (E) R.E.M.E.W/SHOPS T.E.K Captain
Willis, Lieut. Bell A.S.M. Taylor A.Q.M.S.Verschoren
R.E.M.E. Station Workshops Tel-el-Kebir
M.E.L.F. 11
73rd HAA Wshops REME Attached and in
the same compound as the 73 HAA Regt O.C. Capt Hardwick I was with them
from May 51-July 52 but the workshops was transferred from Malta Earlier
than this and I remember seeing Vehicles with their Div Markings in 56
,57 in Nottingham .U,K. Tom Gee
9th. Infantry Workshops.REME El-Ballah. M.E.L.F.
26. Egypt
REME Station Workshops,
Fayid.(Telecommunications Section) CO 1951/52 was
Capt.Latimer
1st Infantry Division
Column Workshop REME. The column workshop comprised
the combined LADs of 7,40 & 42 coys RASC. when we functioned as a
single unit. Our 7 coy element went to Tripoli 40 and 42 elements went
to Cyprus in late 54. J E Reakes
RAMC
5th Field Ambulance: RAMC 5th Field Amb was part of the 32nd Guards Brigade, of the 3rd
Inf Div. we sailed from Portsmouth on board HMS Illustrious. to Cyprus in
approx Oct 1951, was based at BMH Nicosia for a few months, then moved to
Suez via one of the LST's that served the area, the unit was then stationed
at El-Ballah, occupying part of the British Station Hospital camp there, still
in support of the Guards Brigade, but also providing medical support to other
regiments such as Beds & Hearts, Scots Guards, etc and also assisting
with the staffing of the BSH when required. I, with a number
of other NS-men returned to UK in November 1952 back to Queen Elizabeth Barracks,
Crookham, Hants, for demob! noot sure haw long the unit remained in the Canal
Zone area, but assume it remained with the 3rd Div., until the end of hostilities.
Norm Gee
23 Para Field Ambulance
2 Field Ambulance : 2 year duration from
1950 to 1952. C.O Lt Col Windsor,
801Army Dental Centre Fayid with detachment
at Fanara
Medical Directorate,
GHQ, RAMC The Medical Directorate, GHQ MELF was
located in Fayid. The Commanding Officer was Major-General Harris, Director
of Medical Services, MELF
Army Medical Equipment
Depot. Ataka. As an RAMC unit we were offered a
Mauritian guard coy, but our OC refused the offer and we did our own guards.
Perhaps unique for an RAMC unit. D.W.Stewart
RMP
Military Provost Staff Corps (MPSC)
512 SMPS. Royal Military Police
203 Provost Company Royal Military Police
No1 Dog Company, RMP H.Q: El Kirsh.
Detachments: Suez; Port Said; Fayid; Geneifa; Tel el Kebir;
and Abu Sultan
50 MCE (Military Corrective
Establishment) was located outside the rear entrance
gates to Moascar Garrison.On the start of hostilities the Staff and SUS
(soldiers under sentence) were formed into Platoons and moved out to areas
around Moascar/Ishmalia to guard Fuel Depots, Water Pipelines and the Railway
Signal Box on the Cairo/Suez Line. We were involved in several fire fights
with groups who were intent in destroying these sites.Later, all SUS were
given RTU postings and we (the Staff) were moved into an area opposite Le
Challand Camp, near the British War Cemetry.To form a Terrorist Detention
Camp the RE's built a high Perimeter Fence, we then moved in and completed
the Camp with compounds shaped in the spider fashion with an armed elevated
Control Post as the hub. During the time that we manned this Unit hundreds
of Arab Terrorists passed through the system. Our Intelligence Unit discovered
that a latge percentage of them were criminals who had been released from
Egyption Prisons in Cairo and Alexander, issued with a rifle, an army issue
type khaki pullover and one hundred Egyption Pounds, they were then transported
down to our area to re-enforce the terrorists who were already active there.
Eventually all the detainees were moved elsewhere and the Camp became
a secure waiting establishment for British Families being processed for
evacuation to the UK.On the handover to the Egyption Authorities, our
Staff were posted to other Military Corrective Establishment within the
Middle East and the UK. My Corps (MPSC) were present in the Moascar/Ishmalia
and Fayid areas from the onset through to the end of hostilities, and in
my opinion played an important part throughout. I am proud to have served
with them during this period, and I salute them all who are still with us
and those who have passed on. Jim Casey, ex WOII MPSC.PS,During my service
in the Terrorist Detention Camp we were fortunate to receieve the murdering
B's who had killed the Nun Sister Anthony in Ishmalia !!!!!!. nuf said.
RAOC
SCSOC (Suez Canal Operations Centre)
Lake Timsah Ammunition Sub-Depot : permanently
situated half-way down the western bank of Lake Timsah
9 Base Ammunition Depot,
Abu Sultan Permanently situated approx. 1.5 miles
N.W.of Abu Sultan Village
Royal Army Pay Corps Base camp at Fayid,command,regimental pay offices. O.C.unknown.Tour of duty OCT 1951-NOV1953.Large camp on the roundabout facing RMP station, army cinema, BMH approx 1 mile south, sweetwater canal approx 3/4 mile east Also Maida Camp The Commanding Officer during 1952/53 was Col.Haggard
Royal Pioneer Corps My father was Lieutenant, later captain, A.L Landon. RPC staioned at Moascar and Tel-el-Kebir. He had served in the Signals during the war, and was serving out his time in MELF 11. The corpos was manned largely by Mauritian ORs with some from the Seychellles I believe. Andrew Landon
Royal
Naval vessels
Cruiser HMS Glasgow
Warship HMS Checkers
HMS Cheviot
HMS Magpie
HMS Undine
HMS Gambia
HMS Liverpool
HMS Chevron
HMS Retrieve
HMS Barbastel
HMS Ursa
HMS Kenya Captain David Trentham R.N.
Suez canal and zone December 1952 - January 1953
HMS Osiris was the RN Ground station responsible
for RN Communications. Billeted with 3 GHQ Sigal Regiment. Shared communications
facilities of 3 GHQ Sigs but had seperate operational areas.
HMSM Trenchant
Royal
Marine Commando Group
45 Commando, Royal Marines
42 Commando Royal Marines
Amphibious Warfare Squadron Royal Marines
40 Commando RM, 3Commando Brigade
Other
Royal Australian Army ,Liason Group,
Suez contingent 1 & 2 (Australians attached to various positions
with UK forces) Lt Col J Peers, Mjr A Garland, Lt col Anderson, Cpt C Whitmore,
Cpt J Belmonte
128 MU Abu Sultan Main Explosive Base
10 Base Ordnance Depot
This was based at Geneifa and when I arrived in January
1952 it was a Command Ordnance Depot. Early in 1952 it was renamed 10 BOD.
For most of my time the Commandant was Col. D J Russell. He was later replaced
by a Col. Prentice. I left there in August 1953. M Woods
1 Ordnance Field Park
My father was the Sgt major of 1 OFP deployed from
Tripoli in 1951. The only piece of evidence I have is a photograph of him
standing in front of the unit flag pole. He was detached from 595 Ordnance
Depot. He died in 1960 Gary Hawthorne
2224 Company, East African
Pioneer Corps. Camped at Fannara close to 39 Coy
RASC. They supplies trucks and drivers for the school buses that
collected children from Rainbow and Kensington Village. John Kenny
Army AIr Movements, RAF Fayid MEAF 15
Army Air Movements Fayid was a small detachment of HQ(Movements) Moascar
RE.
OC was Capt PG Butler RE. Never more than six Staff responsible
for all Air Trooping to and from UK plus Army Freight by air.During the
abrogation of the treaty with Egypt the unit was responsible for the evacuation
of the large number of families from Fayid. Long hours, little sleep, living
conditions primitive food awful but a necessary and worthwhile job. Duration
of duty was from January 1951 to June 1952. Rank Cpl RE. Other Army
units on the Airfield were: 4th Air Formation Signals R.Sigs 2 Air Support
Signal Unit R.Sigs plus two ORs of RE Postal. Capt(Retd) GTA Godfrey.
Central Band of M.E. Stationed at RAF
Kabrit under the baton of F/Sgt 'Chiefy' Thompson. The band played at major
parades in the Zone, also concerts and dances. Band within the band -
The 'Original Suezside Jazz Band' also at the Kabrit Jazz Club. Christopher
Canham
Armoured Replacement Group. I was posted
to the Armoured Replacement Group as a vehicle mechanic after training
with the 8th tanks. I arrived in The cnal zone about September 1948.
The ARG was camped on an old airfield at Shandura on the southern end of
the small Bitter Lake. South of RAF Kabrit, between the Suez road
and the canal, with the 4th Tanks and a REME Base Workshop close by.
I was demobed from there in October 1949. The ARG was a small unit
made up from Armoured Corps Signals and other units. We up or downgraded
armoured fighting Vehicles of all types. Francis A L Critchley
2055 Mauritian Guard Regiment, Fanara. Stationed at Fanara. Worked in nearby lumber yard and railway
sidings; also guarded facilities like Lido on the Bitter Lake.
RAF
Stations and Units
RAF Base Abyad 109MU (Situated by the
Treaty Road just south of RAF Fayid)
RAF Base Fayid
RAF Base El Shallufa
RAF Base Abu Seweir
RAF Base El Firdan
RAF Base Deversoir
RAF Base Kasfareet
RAF Base Kabrit When I first arrived
at RAF Kabrit in mid - 1951, they had three squadrons of Mosquito aircraft,
one being No.13, a photo reconnaissance squadron. I can't remember the
No's of the other two squadrons, but they were equiped with night fighters.
During the period 1952 to 1953, the Mosquitos were replaced with Meteors
PR's and NF11's. I was posted from RAF Kabrit to 651 AOP Squadron at RAF
Ismailia in mid - 1953. I also had the misfortune to be on the last voyage
of the troopship Empire Windrush (returning home) in March 1954, when it
caught fire and sank in the Mediterranean. John E. Fletcher.
Further to information already supplied, the other two squadrons
were 39 and 219 both equipped with Meteor NF13's. At the end of 1954, 32
Squadron arrived from Deversoir to re-equip with Venom FB1's prior to
posting to RAF Shaibah in Iraq. As far as I know nos. 13,39 & 219 Sqdns
were either disbanded or returned to UK at this time and Kabrit was handed
over to the Egyptian Air Force. Don Bramwell
208 Squadron RAF - Abu Sueir Air
reconnaissance. Equiped with Gloster Meteor Mk9's. Moved from Kabrit to
Abu Sueir early in 1951 when Spitfire Mk18's replaced.
RAF 128 MU
Abu Sultan MEAF10 This camp was a Ammunition
Depot and the living quarters were shared with the Army, RAOC 9 BAD Abu
Sultan.The work sites were two different identities. We had two Commanding
officers whilst I was there,one was Wing Comm Tollerton. My tour lasted
from Sept 1950 until April. 1952. Frank Watson
RAF 20 MU(E) Port Fouad
Airfield Construction - Air Ministry Work Dept
RAF Police
RAF Regiment
2 Field Squadren RAF Regiment Location
-Persian Gulf 1953-1954, RAF Base El Shallufa, RAF Base Deversoir, RAF
Base Kasfareet
34 LAA Squadron RAF Regiment
62 Field Sqdn RAF Regiment Based at Ismalia.Tasked
with School bus escort's and Canal road Patrols
HQ 205 Group RAF (Situated between RAF
Fayid and RAF Abyad. C/O 1953 - 1956 was Flt/Lt Hamilton)
RAF Police dogs Abu Sultan
651Air Observation Post Squadron Commanding
Officer Major Baine-Jardin 1953-1956 The Squadron was based at RAF Ismailia.
The ground crews and Artillery supporting troops lived in tented accommodation
outside the perimeter of RAF Ismailia. The squadron provided low level
air observation of the canal zone and the desert locality. It carried
out anti-terrorist flights intended to deter or destroy terrorist assaults
on the infra structure of military and the canal support. The Squadron
had two additional flights, 1910 and 1908 both based in the canal zone
and used in simular roles. Recconnaissance and counter terrorist duties
being the main functions John Etheridge
Middle East Air Force Band MEAF Band
was stationed at RAF El Hamra Jan1952-August1954. Fl Lt J Cash Director
of Music Music for ceremonial, special events ( Queens Coronation) and
miltary occasions,Parades,Funerals and concerts
Telecommunications Middle East. located
RAF Ismailia commanding officer S/ldr Stephenson
This web site is maintained by
