I took snaps of many of the troopships in the Harbour at Aden when I served in the RAF there from March 1952 through to March 1954.
We flew in a Lancaster Air Services York from Blackbushe to Luqa then Fayid. Then after 10 days at El Hamra went down the Red Sea to Aden in the Mohammedi.
So Seaweed have you got a record of that one?
Several truckloads of airmen went down to Abadiyah just past Suez and we spent a whole day in desert surroundings waiting for the ship to arrive. After it anchored hordes of East African Rifles came ashore, then another long wait. Finally the word went around, the MO had condemned the troopdecks so a long drive back to El Hamra. Very late at night before we had got bedding and a tent again. Then I was woken around 1am, and my name being on a short list was told to be up and ready at 6am. This time only one truck and we went straight on board to be given StateRooms would you believe!!! We blew a boiler on the way down the Red Sea which no one complained about as it turned the voyage into a 4 day cruise.
Two years later when tour expired I was down to return on the Empire Windrush. But the days went by and she still didn't arrive. The Georgic passed her in the Indian Ocean and those of us well over our tour of duty in Aden were transferred to the Georgic.
Would you have those dates please, Seaweed?
This time it was a ten berth cabin, and since all duties had been allocated to bods who embarked in the Far East, we only got to get down on our knees on one day sloshing water and sea soap about to clean the corridor.
I shall never forget arriving in Liverpool within sight of the Liver Birds. Howls of derision went up from the troops lining the railings when we saw our fist Teddy Boys on the Quay side. They beat a hurried departure. But the worst was the news that morning that the Empire Windrush had gone down off Algiers. Had I not been transferred to Georgic I would have arrived home wearing French Foreign Legion uniform. 4 men from the Engine Room were lost.
Another memory of that morning was when queuing up for travel rations and as a burly docker came by the Tannoy Bell rang out. 'Was that fer Lah?" he said in some surprise in broad Scouse.
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