大象传媒

This story is submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Tom Ashmore, a member of Market Harborough Branch, Royal British Legion on behalf of Reg Tarry and has been added to the site with his permission. Mr Tarry fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

Reg Tarry, now a lively 94 year-old, kept a detailed account of his life overseas in the RAF Police from September 1941 until December 1944, This episode is from the time he was stationed at a Middle East HQ unit near Cairo.

TO THE OPERA WEDNESDAY APRIL 18th 1942

This date is worthy of note because it was the first time I had been in such a company to such a party since I had been in the Service. Mrs Forrnan, an English lady friend of mine, had for some time expressed the wish to arrange a party and go to a show in Cairo and this was the event she chose: the last performance of the Gondoliers by the B. A..D. M. S. (Base Accounts Department Musical Society?)
Eight of us were to make up the party: Mrs Forman, Rene and Yvonne Cassalls, two French girls from Heliopolis, Francis Fernandez a Portuguese girl of Helwan, Harry Malpass, Kerin Redman, Garth Excells and myself. Harry and I went on ahead to meet Yvonne and Renee and we caught the 7 o鈥檆lock train from Helwan. We arrived at Cairo with very little time to spare so we took a taxi to Helio. Harry had already made the acquaintance of the Cassels so we were warmly welcomed by Mme Cassels when we arrived.

Rene was the first to appear, - a very nice looking girl with brown hair and eyes and a dark skin. About 5鈥�-7鈥� tall and well-built. She wore a lemon net evening gown relieved by pastel yellow and green flowers. Then came Yvonne, - a vision in white. She is not quite as tall as Rene but slimmer and prettier, also she is more of the Latin type with black wavy hair worn in a long bob.

Her dress was in white satin relieved by brilliants and sequins an off-the-shoulder model with long puff sleeves below the shoulder and narrow brilliant encrusted shoulder straps The bodice of the dress fitted as though she had been poured into it and the skirt flowed from her waist to the ground was full and swung as she walked.

We were soon in the taxi on our way to the Opera House, Yvonne singing all the way, mostly songs of Dianna Durbin鈥檚 style. Upon arrival at the Opera House I paid the taxi driver and followed the others inside. There was quite a crowd, of course, in the restaurant and bar, all the ladies were in evening dress with the exception of one or two in uniform, most of the men, however, were in uniform the greater majority were officers.

We found the other four in a corner of the bar just finishing their drinks but it didn鈥檛 take us long to get going with a whisky and soda. Of those who were already there, Frances presented the most striking appearance. She also was dressed in white, a lovely dress too which suited her as no other style or colour could. She wore two large pink chrysanthemums at her waist. I really think she was even more lovely than Yvonne! Rose (Mrs Forman) wore a pink net dress over a silk slip and with her dark hair and English complexion looked lovely and very much younger than her years.

After we had finished our drinks we made a move towards our boxes just in time, as the overture bell rang just as we began to ascend the stairs. We sorted ourselves out into foursomes, Yvonne and Kevin, Frances and I in one box and Rose and Garth and Rene and Harry in the other. Of the show itself I will say little except that it was well presented and beautifully dressed. In parts it was evident that the artists were amateurs. The part of the General Inquisitor, played by a flight sergeant from Helwan Camp, was played with confidence and obvious enjoyment, and was outstanding among the individual characters. The chorus warmed up to the occasions after a very lethargic opening chorus. Quite good amusing entertainment.

When the show was over Garth and Harry went to look for a taxi to take us back to Helwan and there was some discussion as to whether we should all crowd into one or take two, but we persuaded Rose that we could all get into one if we got a large one as it was too much to ask her to pay for two when one would do. Frances was a great help here with her Arabic: she did the usual arguing as to price and got a large taxi to take us for 拢E 1 and off we set singing and laughing and having a really good time.

We arrived at Helwan at about 2.15am and trooped into the Homestead flat where we all sat around chatting and eating trifle etc, the promised sandwiches having failed to materialise.

Frances said she must go home and Kevin asked if she would like him to go with her but she declined gracefully saying she would be OK. However, when I offered my escort a few moments later she accepted saying that maybe it was rather late to go home alone - so off we went.

After I had seen her safely home I returned to the party as it was decided that I should spend the night at the flat with the two girls, the three other fellows and Mrs Forman and Valerie.

We eventually went to bed at about 4.15am and woke at about 8. Rene and Harry were playing the guitar in the lounge whilst Yvonne and I were cooking the breakfast and it really was good too, bacon, eggs, tomatoes, rolls, butter, jam and marmalade and tea. The meal was followed by a discussion on English men in general and it was interesting in the extreme to hear the views of the girls and the impression left by the English men they knew and the nation in general. I must confess that many of the criticisms levelled at us were warranted particularly that of coolness and excessive reserve.

We spent the morning in various pleasant ways which served to extend our acquaintance and, in my case, increase my liking for the frankness and 鈥渟portiness鈥�, for want of a better word, of the girls.
Lunch was served at the Homestead. Kevin joining us, and a fine luncheon it was too. Almost immediately after I went to Cairo to meet Frances to take her to the tea dance at Music for All which we both enjoyed. It was somewhat marred, however, by the fact that I had to return at once in order to go on night duty at 7pm.

Altogether it was a very pleasant and interesting two days.

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