大象传媒

Annette Le Page was a nurse who had trained in London. She came from Guernsey, which had been occupied by the Germans, so she was out of contact with her home and family. The following is a an extract from the diary which is in the form of the letters which she could not send to her family.

January 1st 1941 We left the ship at 9am 鈥� we waited for two hours on the sand sitting on benches 鈥� the natives came up and entertained us with conjuring tricks 鈥� Quite clever 鈥� apparently made two chickens out of one 鈥� brought chickens out of peoples coats etc. Eventually we took our seats in the train 鈥� after a good deal of waiting we left at 1.45p.m. 鈥� whilst we were waiting we were given each a huge sandwich with bully beef.!!
We arrived at our station at 7.30p,m. We were met by a Q.M. and were taken to our hospital by the garrison bus & were given an excellent meal by the N.A.A.F.I We were then taken to the Married Quarters where Hammond, Jack, Hubbard & I share a self-contained flat. We unpacked our camp kit & settled down for the night, very tired, with very mixed feelings.
It was rather sad to say goodbye to all our friends from the ship, and to see the troops marching off 鈥� altho鈥� we do hope to see some of them again.
This place is quite a garrison town on its own 鈥� a few miles from Cairo.

Jan 3rd
We are very comfortable 鈥� the food is good- we have made three trips to Cairo.
It is a filthy city 鈥� but is quite fascinating in its way 鈥� part of it is very fine 鈥� other parts are very poverty stricken.
The shops are also very mixed 鈥� some very small dark quaint holes, and others quite modern.

January 4th
We had a marvellous day yesterday 鈥� During the morning we five walked into Heliopolis which is a superior suburb of Cairo, where we met Miss Biggs one of the Sisters from Barts. She took us to the roof of the Palace Hotel to see Cairo 鈥� but unfortunately visibility was poor. Afterwards we went to the Service Club and had coffee by the swimming pool.
Poinsettias & Cannas seem to be very profuse out here 鈥� we also saw some Antirrhinums 鈥� Asters & African marigolds, besides most gloriously coloured creepers.
In the afternoon Matron and our party of six went by taxi to the Pyramids 鈥� it was marvellous. 鈥淎be鈥� our guide was excellent 鈥� he took us to see the new discoveries 鈥� hidden tombs, with statues & pottery vases & water pots which will be taken to the Egyptian Museum when the war is over, & we handled a fossil stone. & as we came out a fortune teller read our fortunes in the sand.
We went up the interior of the pyramid to see the Queens chamber and also the Kings 鈥� it really is amazing.
We saw the 鈥渃up of tea house鈥� where King Farouk & Queen Farida motor without an escort 鈥� but the Queen drives the car as the King is a 鈥渄angerous driver鈥�
The Sphinx has been hollowed out of the sand and is now entirely exposed to view.
We were quite glad of a cup of tea which we had brought with us 鈥� the Sun began to set, it was all perfect.

Jan 22nd
I know that there has been a long gap, but we have been on duty, which leaves very little time from writing.
We have seen the citadel and several of the mosques and now that we are going we are quite fond of Cairo.
We have also enjoyed being on duty 鈥� I was posted in an acute medical ward 鈥� which I have loved 鈥� the patients were marvellous.
And now we are at the eve of departure for our ultimate destination 鈥� 20 of us are going as an advance party & we leave at 4.30am to-morrow

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