大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Andrew Milner of Suffolk Libraries on behalf of Charles Craggs and has been added to the site with his/her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

These four stories come from just after the war when large areas of the world were still under military control.

I was in Military Hospital in Tel El Kebir suffering from malaria. Matron, a full colonel, accompanied by the senior doctor, a brigadier (who seemed terrified of her) were inspecting the junior officer's ward. The senior officer among the patients called the ward to attention in the prone position. Matron had such a presence that we felt we had to lie completely at attention, even with our thumbs to the front in case she pulled the covers back. A contrast to current situation.

In 1948 I was invited to sail from Port Said to Kyrenia in Cyprus by Captain Kent, who I did not know well. The boat was homemade and the sails were made of khaki drill, not sail cloth. After a storm these were almost useless and we were drifting with the current. Three days after the storm we were spotted by a dhow with about 40 heavily armed arabs on board. We were convinced that the end was near, but decided to bluff we were official. We put on our caps and Sam Browne belts. We also flew a Red Ensign. Our only other defence was a luger pistol and about 70 rounds of ammunition which we put ready. The dhow sailed round us three times and obviously concluded we were official and somewhere close by an MTB was lurking. As they sailed away we decided one of our lives had gone. It took another three days to reach land.

I was later with Basuto guard troops, who were used to guard German POWs. On the night after some trouble caused by giving the troops extra duties, I was Orderly Officer. Approaching a sentry on a pitch black night I was correctly challenged, but when I said Orderly Officer he brought the rifle up to his shoulder and I heard the bolt go click, clunk as the rifle was loaded. I then walked forward with my cane and moved the rifle over from pointing at my head and ordered the sentry to stand down. The troops were very wound up and if I had hesitated he would have shot me. I thought afterwards that another on my nine lifes had gone.

I was demobbed in 1949 and volunteered to go back to Basutoland with 1000 native troops on the Empire Pride troopship. We arrived in Durban and went on by train. The only other officer was a Major in the RA. When we eventually reached our destination we were surprised as there were no buildings of any sort, not even a platform. One District Officer, aged about 25, wearing a brown hat and an Old Etonian tie met us and carrying a clipboard. The 1000 troops de-trained and melted into the bush without any ceremony. All were completely calm in contrast to British troops who would have been exited and eager to get drunk. The presence of the District Officer in his extradinary dress expressed the authority of the British Empire and the scene has remained a strong memory. Then the District Officer dismissed us and I went back to Durban for 10 days leave.

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