why would he have gone???

[jethorp]

Hi My late father was in the territorials prior to WW2. He was called up on the 1st Sept 1939.His trade on enlistment was Labourer, however he took tests and courses and was a AFV D/Mech sometime during the war. His last british posting was as a Ration Storeman at P O W camp 176 Glen Mill Oldham. However at some point he was sent to Egypt, this was after the war had ended in about late 1945/6. My question is Why would he have had to go there? He rarely mentioned his time in egypt other than it made him afraid of flying!! which he never did again. I have many photos of his time there, but none hold a clue to what he was doing He left the army in 1947.

[kyt]

It was in 1946 that Egypt and Britain started negotiating Egypts independence. The first six months of the year there were numerous demonstrations by Egyptians, especially students, and on a number of occassions they were fired upon by the police, killing demonstrators. Tensions were high.

The second half the year, the British started evacuating some people out of the country, and the road to independence was set.

Alongside protecting the British civilians, the armed forces were there to protect the Suez Canal.

So he could have been rotated out there whilst he awaited demob - especially as many of the troops that already been out in the Middle East were directed to Palestine due to the increased Jewish terrorism, who were also fighting for a homeland.

The Royal Navy was also having a busy time in the Med, turning back shiploads of Jews from Europe who were trying to get to Palestine.

[jethorp]

Thank you so much kyt. I know very little about the armed forces and I shall certainly read up more about this. Once again thank you for your time.