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This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Roger Marsh of the ‘Action Desk — Sheffield’ Team on behalf of Jack Burgin and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

Part 1 - Photo No. 001 to Photo No. 145
Part 2 - Photo No. 146 to Photo No. 263

Introduction
I joined the RAF in May 1940 and was posted overseas in April 1942. All the photographs were taken between then and my demob in June 1946.
I didn't have a camera of my own, there were about 5 cameras between us in the squadron and we shared them. If anyone was able to buy one or two films, perhaps when they were on leave, we shared those too. Sometimes they were developed when one of us went on leave and sometimes we managed to get them developed by our photography section.
Fortunately, after the war, I spent a fair amount of my demob leave putting the photographs in an album and labelling them. The album I used I bought in the bazaar in Cairo before I left.

All of these photographs have been collected together and placed in their own category at: C55342

Photo No. 146 — The Church of the Nativity Bethlehem. On leave in Palestine September 1943

Photo No. 147 — Looking towards the rear of the Church of All Nations. On leave in Palestine September 1943

Photo No. 148 — Looking down to the front of the Church of All Nations. On leave in Palestine September 1943

Photo No. 149 — The Church of all Nations. On leave in Palestine September 1943

Photo No. 150 — Ascension Rock The Church of all Nations. In front of the altar this is supposed to be the actual rock from which Christ ascended to heaven. On leave in Palestine September 1943

Photo No. 151 — The Mosque of Omar, On leave in Palestine September 1943

Photo No. 152 — First Station of the Cross.
Jesus is condemned to death.
“Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium” (John. 18:28).

The courtyard of Omariye College is crowded each Friday afternoon when Franciscans start the devotion of the Way of the Cross.
The minaret traditionally named “Antonia Tower”, recalls the site of the Roman fortress where Jesus was condemned. On leave in Palestine September 1943

The Via Dolorosa or “Way of Sorrow”, winding along the narrow streets of Jerusalem’s Old City, leads from the Ecce Homo Convent to the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre. This is the traditional route Jesus followed bearing His cross from Pilate’s Judgement Hall in Antonia, to Calvary Hill or Golgotha, the site of the crucifixion.

Along this route are the “Fourteen Stations of the Cross”.
Each station marks an event of sacred memory, with chapels for reflection, convents and monasteries of devotion, and the sacred basilica for commemoration — along Christendom’s most hallowed road.

Photo No. 153 — Second Station of the Cross.
Jesus takes up the Cross.
“Pilate took Jesus and Scourged Him” (John 19:1).
“Then he handed Him over to them to be crucified” (John19: 16)

The Chapels of the Condemnation and Flagellation. The two chapels of the Franciscans stand partially over the Lithostrotos where Jesus traditionally was condemned to death.

The Lithostrotos.

“and the soldier led Him away, into the hall called the ‘Praetorium’, and clothed Him in purple and plaited a crown of thorns and put it on His head (Mark 15:17)

Under the Ecce Homo Convent is a large stone pavement, probably the Roman Forum of Aelia Capitonina, built by Hadrian (2nd Century A.D.)
Hear the beginning of the Passion of Jesus:
- His condemnation (Lithostrotos)
- The crowing with thorns (the Game of the King)
- The beginning of the Way of the Cross (the Roman road with the striated stones)

The “Ecce Homo” Arch.
“and Pilate said to the crowed, ‘Behold the Man! (in Latin: Ecce Homo) (John 19:5)
Originally part of a triumphal gate in Hadrian’s Aelia Capitoline (2nd Century A.D.), the arch span continues into Ecce Homo Basilica, the traditional spot where Pilate produced the tortured Jesus to the crowd saying, “Behold the Man!”
On leave in Palestine September 1943

Photo No. 154 — Third Station of the Cross.
Jesus falls under the Cross for the first time.
“he who would console me and give me back my life is far from me.” (Lamentations 1:16)

At a corner in El-Wad Road stands the Polish chapel. A high relief above the entrance, by Thaddeus Zielinsky, shows Jesus falling under the cross.

On leave in Palestine September 1943

Photo No. 155 — Forth Station of the Cross.
Jesus meets His mother.
“All you who pass, look and see: is any sorrow like the sorrow that afflicts me?” (Lamentations 1:12)

Tradition says that Our Lady stood by the roadside in order to see Her Son. Here, in this little Armenian Catholic chapel, her grief and her sadness are remembered.
On leave in Palestine September 1943

Photo No. 156 — Fifth Station of the Cross.
Simon the Cyrenian is forced to carry the Cross.
“They enlisted a passer-by, Simon of Cyrene, father of Alexander and Rufus, who was coming in from the country, to carry His Cross.” (Mark 15:21)

The Fifth Station of the Cross is marked by a Franciscan oratory at the site where the Via Dolorsa ascends steeply to Golgotha.
On leave in Palestine September 1943

Photo No. 157 — Sixth Station of the Cross.
Veronica wipes the sweat from Jesus’ face.
“May the Lord’s Face shine upon you. (Numbers 6:25)

Altar with candelabrum within the chapel of the convent of the Little Sisters of Jesus. It was beautifully restored in 1953 at the traditional site of Veronica’s house. Below are ancient remains, possibly of the monastery of Sts. Cosmas and Damian, built in 546-563 A.D.
On leave in Palestine September 1943

Photo No. 158 — Seventh Station of the Cross.
Jesus falls for the second time.
“With their affection, He was afflicted. In His love and His pity He redeemed them.” (Is. 63:9)

A great Roman column, housed in a Franciscan chapel, marks Jesus’ second fall, which occurred just as He was leaving the city through a gate. Tradition tells us that His death notice was posted here. Hence the Christian name for the site: “Judgment Gate”. On leave in Palestine September 1943

Photo No. 159 — Eighth Station of the Cross.
Jesus consoles the women of Jerusalem.
“Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not over Me. Weep rather over yourselves and your children. For if green wood is treated thus, how will the dry wood be treated?” (Luke 23:28)

The eighth Station is marked by a Latin Cross on the wall of the Greek monastery. On leave in Palestine September 1943

Photo No. 160 — Ninth Station of the Cross.
Jesus falls for the third time.
“I have come to do your will, O God.” (Ps. 40:8)

A Roman column marks the Ninth Station. Close by are the apse and roof of the Holy Sepulchre Basilica, a reminder that Jesus collapsed within sight of the place of His Crucifixion. On leave in Palestine September 1943

Photo No. 161 — View of the Old City of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives
On leave in Palestine September 1943

Photo No. 162 — Wine press in the Garden of Gethsemane
On leave in Palestine September 1943

Photo No. 163 — The tomb of Christ in the Garden. Discovered by General Gordon believed by many to be the sight of Calvary and the burial place of Christ.
On leave in Palestine September 1943

India (Bengal and Assam) April — July 1944

Photo No. 164 — On our way from the Middle East. 554 and 610 on the way back.

Photo No. 165 — Municipal buildings Karachi, India (now Pakistan)

Photo No. 166 — Street scene Karachi, India (now Pakistan)

Photo No. 167 — Milestone sign post Karachi, India (now Pakistan)

Photo No. 168 — Policeman Karachi, India (now Pakistan)

Photo No. 169 — English Church Karachi, India (now Pakistan)

Photo No. 170 — Street beggar Karachi, India (now Pakistan)

Photo No. 171 — Pete in the market at Alahabad, India

Photo No. 172 — Group of lads who were after spares off a crashed kite. Taken when ‘char’ had been brewed.

Photo No. 173 — 963 under repair after being shot up by the Japs.

Photo No. 174 — Another queer looking building at Agartala, Assam

Photo No. 175 — The Maharajah’s palace at Agartara, Assam. It looks a fine building but actually it’s only whitewashed when you get up to it.

Photo No. 176 — Bluey and Jack Burgin all dressed up and nowhere to go.

Photo No. 177 — Group on top of one of the ramps left to right.
Back row
Taff, Brown (Algy), Jimmy Rev, Pete McNie, Ron Ballard, Jack Burgin, George.
Front row
Notty, Ginger Searson, Pop Pinner, and Pat McNemeny

Photo No. 178 — Repairs to 963 after being shot up by Japs. Ken, Jocks Hannah, McNie, Rev, Bunny

Photo No. 179 — Native women in a jungle pool washing and bathing.

Photo No. 180 — Gharry bogged in the mud after the tropical storms, which come before the monsoons

Photo No. 181 — Spares hunters again.

Photo No. 182 — Native climbing for coconuts.

Photo No. 183 — Two of the native bearers by the ‘Basha’. The instrument is a jam tin wedged between a split bamboo with a couple of wires stretched down.

Photo No. 184 — Brew up for the spares party.

Photo No. 185 — Native ‘Bebe’ with young brother, Taff Smith in the background.

Photo No. 186 — Taff in Singerbeel

Photo No. 187 — Native coolies on the strip being given a little encouragement by one or two of the chaps.

Photo No. 188 — Native boys in their sun hats and sun shade looking after the ‘cows’. Most of them are bulls and what cows there are, are not used for milk goats always supply the milk.

Photo No. 189 — Up in the morning early. Pete McNie, JimmyRev and Jack Burgin outside the ‘Basha’.

Photo No. 190 — Two of the Boys

Photo No. 191 Group in the village

Photo No. 192 — Native coolie carrying rice on his shoulder pole. A selected piece of springy bamboo.

Photo No. 193 — Native boats and a fisherman on one of the waterways.

Photo No. 194 — Some of the boys with natives outside the cookhouse.

Photo No. 195 — Sphinx and Pyramid

Photo No. 196 — The sphinx and ‘Flinty’

Photo No. 197 — Pyramids from the Air.

Photo No. 198 — View from the top of a pyramid

Photo No. 199 — Egyptian mounted policeman in summer dress

Photo No. 200 — The shadow of the Pyramid over Mena village.

Photo No. 201 — On top of the large pyramid at El Giza, (showing the scaffold) Willy, Gower and George.

Photo No. 202 — ‘Flinty’ with the pyramids as background

Photo No. 203 — The Persian Gardens Cairo, Egypt - 1

Photo No. 204 — The Persian Gardens Cairo, Egypt - 2

Photo No. 205 — The Persian Gardens Cairo, Egypt - 3

Photo No. 206 — The Persian Gardens Cairo, Egypt - 4

Photo No. 207 — View of the Nile

Photo No. 208 — Church of England Cathedral Cairo, Egypt.

Photo No. 209 — Abdin Palace the residence of the king of Egypt.

Photo No. 210 — Gharry (tank) in Cairo

Photo No. 211 — A typical back street in Cairo, Egypt.

Photo No. 212 — Cairo

Photo No. 213 — ‘Filukas’ on the River Nile, Egypt.

Photo No. 214 — Delta barrage on the River Nile, Egypt.

Photo No. 215 — Al Azhar University Cairo, Egypt

Photo No. 216 — Minarets in the rejoin of the Citadel, Cairo, Egypt.

Photo No. 217 — Services Club Heliopolis, formally the Royal Pavilion on Heliopolis Race Course Cairo, Egypt.

Photo No. 218 — Roman Catholic Church Heliopolis, Egypt.

Photo No. 219 — Date Palm Egypt

Photo No. 220 — Oasis Bar, Main Street opposite corner to Heliopolis House Hotel Heliopolis, Egypt.

Photo No. 221 — St. Michael’s Church Heliopolis, Egypt.

Photo No. 222 — Evening comes to an oasis, Egypt.

Photo No. 223 — ‘Filukas’ on the Silveet water banah

Photo No. 224 — Water buffalo pumping water

Photo No. 225 — Sugar cane going to market

Photo No. 226 — Selling of dates at a native market.

Photo No. 227 — Native market showing butcher’s stall.

Photo No. 228 — Camel train crossing LG (landing ground) 224

Photo No. 229 — Wallah with water buffalo

Photo No. 230 — Water Buffalo pumping water into paddy field

Photo No. 231 — Basha in Assam

Photo No. 232 — Bathing in Assam

Photo No. 233 — Note from Louis Mountbatten Dated 3/8/44
“I am glad to have an opportunity of saying “Thank you” to 216 Squadron for saving the situation at Imphal.” (The thank you was for delivering supplies to the front line so they could hold out)

Photo No. 234 — Another of the lads after spares

Photo No. 235 — Maharaja’s Palace at Agatala

Photo No. 236 — Outside the camp at Assam

Photo No. 237 — ?

Photo No. 238 — Performers at El Adam near Tobruk

Photo No. 239 — Some of the lads outside a hangar, which had been converted into a billet (50 people slept in it)

Photo No. 240 — Inside the billet in a hangar at El Adam

Photo No. 241 — Our dog called ‘Nigger’

Photo No. 242 — The hangar at El Adam without its roof before it was converted into a billet

Photo No. 243 — Debris at El Adam

Photo No. 244 — wrecked tank at El Adam

Photo No. 245 — Outside billet at Lydda

Photo No. 246 — Wrecked gun

Photo No. 247 — Group outside the billet at El Adam

Photo No. 248 — Jack Burgin on a bench at Alexandria

Photo No. 249 — Jack Burgin at Alexandria

Photo No. 250 — Vic at Alexandria

Photo No. 251 — Performers at El Adam

Photo No. 252 — Inside billet at Lydda (1946)

Photo No. 253 — Stirling Aircraft

Photo No. 254 — The airfield at Lydda, 1946

Photo No. 255 — Performers at El Adam

Photo No. 256 — Inside the billet at Lydda

Photo No. 257 — Stirling that had crashed on take off at Lydda

Photo No. 258 — The airfield at Lydda

Photo No. 259 — Crashed Sterling at Lydda. It had been shot down.

Photo No. 260 — Crashed Stirling at Lydda

Photo No. 261 — Stirling on the airfield at Lydda

Photo No. 263 — The party who went on the tour from Tel Aviv arranged by the American Red Cross. Taken on the Mount of Olives looking into the old city.

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