RAF Kasfareet 1953-56
  • HOME
  • ABOUT ME
    • IT`S MY LIFE
    • WEST KIRBY
    • FLYING DOWN TO EGYPT
    • MY PHOTO`S A >
      • LIFE IN THE TENT LINES
      • LIFE IN THE BILLETS
      • GUARD DUTIES >
        • CAMP GUARD
        • ESCORT DUTY
      • CAMP PICTURES
      • SPORTING LIFE
    • MY PHOTO`S B >
      • LOCAL PICTURES >
        • BILLET CYCLING CLUB
        • MOUNT SHUBRA
        • ISMAILIA
        • AROUND FAYID
        • MORE
        • AND MORE
      • CAIRO VISITS >
        • THE PYRAMIDS
        • NILE CRUISE
        • FOOTBALL
      • PORT SAID SURPRISE
      • P.S.C.O. OFFICES
      • PSCO XMAS PARTY 1955 THEN HOME
  • ALBUMS A
    • JACK GARRY PAGE (INCLUDES DATA) >
      • THE KAS TIME TEAM >
        • CAMP PLAN
        • THE ARTS DEN
        • CPL`s MESS
        • PSCO LAYOUT
        • GUARD SECTIONS
        • AIRMEN`S MESS
        • CIVILIAN CANTONMENT
        • KASFAREET IN 2003
      • BILLET LADS
      • BILLET CRICKET
      • ALL THAT JAZZ
      • OTHER SPORT
      • GENERAL
      • THE STRETFORD CANAL ZONERS
    • COLIN HARRINGTON PAGE (INCL DATA) >
      • COLIN`S # 1 ALBUM >
        • TENTS,BILLETS,BODS
        • CAMP PICS >
          • CAMP VIEWS
          • NAAFI
          • YMCA
          • WEDDINGS
          • KAS VILLAGE
          • FIRE PRACTISE
          • AOC PARADE
        • LOCAL PICS >
          • UP IN THE HILLS
          • FAYID
        • CANAL VIEWS
        • VALETTA TEST FLIGHT
        • XMAS AT KAS
      • COLIN`S # 2 ALBUM >
        • SHOWTIME >
          • THE CAIRO SHOW
          • THE CSE SHOW
          • OTHER SHOWS
        • SAILING CLUB & LIDO
        • AIRCRAFT
        • GUARDS
        • ASTRA CINEMA
      • COLIN`S # 3 ALBUM >
        • PORT SAID
        • SPORT
        • PSCO XMAS 1955
        • GOING HOME
    • WALTER HILSDEN PAGE
    • PETE EVA PAGE
    • JOHN BASELL PAGE
    • ROGER MACE PAGE
    • DOROTHY BIGGS (NEE REES) PAGE
    • JOHN PHILPOTT PAGE
    • CHARLIE WRIGHT PAGE
    • JOHN BIRK`S PAGE
  • B
    • EXILES C.C. >
      • EXILES HOME PAGE
      • GRAND PRIX DE KASFAREET
      • " KERMESSE " 1954
      • CANAL CIRCUIT SOUTH
      • PETE EVA`S PICS
      • EXILES VARIOUS
      • EXILES NOW PAGE 1 >
        • EXILES NOW PAGE 2
        • EXILES NOW PAGE 3
      • ROD MOFFATT-EL HAMRA
    • GERRY BIMSON PAGE >
      • LOCAL VIEWS >
        • CAMP PHOTO`S
        • JAZZ SCENE
        • THE LIDO
        • OFF CAMP
        • P.S.C.O.
      • BILLET LIFE >
        • BILLET 7
        • GUARDS
        • SPORT
      • ARTS CLUB DEN
      • CYPRUS LEAVE
    • DOUG TOWNSEND PAGE
    • ALAN ROSE PAGE
    • JOHN WILSON PAGE
    • ROBIN DONNELLY PAGE
    • ROY SCATTERGOOD PAGE
    • RAY MADDOX PAGE
    • KEN BROWN PAGE
  • C
    • WREGLESWORTH PAGE >
      • 5355 SQN
      • CAMP LIFE
      • R.C.CHURCH
      • AIRCRAFT
      • ODDS & ENDS
    • LES ARCHER PAGE >
      • LES AND THE EXILES
      • CAMP
      • SIGHTSEEING
      • OTHER PICS
    • LES NETHERWOOD PAGE
    • ERIC TODD PAGE
    • MIKE FAVELL PAGE
    • ERIC COULTER PAGE
    • JOHN FORDHAM
    • JACK GUARD PAGE
    • FRANK PETTER PAGE
  • D
    • REUNIONS >
      • RE-UNION 2009
      • REUNION READING 2010
      • REUNION AT YORK
      • ALWYN MEETS JACK
      • REUNION READING 2011
      • ALWERAS OCT 22nd 2011
      • SOUTH COAST JUN 2012
      • REUNION READING 2012
    • TEX`S PAGE >
      • RAY WILLIAMS PAGE
      • THE MEDAL MAGAZINE
      • KASFAREET KARTOONS
    • HARRY PARISH PAGE
    • MIKE "GINGE" NORRIS
    • JOE JACKSON PAGE
    • RAY PENNEY PAGE
    • MARTIN FARLEY PAGE
    • BRYAN BARBY & ALAN KENNEDY PAGE
    • GORDON MABB`S PAGE
  • E
    • BERT HUGHES PAGE
    • BERT HUGHES BLOG
    • MIKE SCARROTT PAGE
    • PETER CARTER`S PAGE
    • KEN SMITH`S PAGE
    • NEW PAGE
    • PETER GIBBS PAGE
    • CLEMENTS
  • F
    • LAURIE CARR`S PAGE
    • BILL ( PEPE ) REID PAGE
    • WILFRID GOOCH PAGE >
      • JOINING UP - 1937
      • OTMOOR 1937-1939
      • CANADA 1940 - 1946
      • KASFAREET 1947--1950 >
        • ROUND THE ZONE
        • THE OFFICE
        • LIDO & SAILING CLUB
      • JOYCE (BUNNY) FRIER
      • AN RAF WEDDING
    • NATTHEW WIGHAM INTRO >
      • TENT LIFE
      • BILLET LIFE
      • AIRFIELD & AIRPLANES
      • CAMP SHOTS
      • CYCLISTS & THE EXILES
      • LIFE OUTSIDE THE CAMP
  • G
    • LATTERDAY KASFAREET
    • SGT NORMAN JARVIS PAGE
    • CARLO DI GIOVANNI PAGE
    • KEN BROWN (COLCHESTER) PAGE
  • THE KAS FILES
    • NEWS & UPDATES
    • SITE STATISTICS
    • CAN ANYBODY HELP ?
    • THE KAS FILES A >
      • 107MU ASSOCIATION
      • 112 SQUADRON IN WW2
      • PARACHUTE UNIT
      • GOLF CLUB
      • MANNY CACHIA
      • CANBERRA DOWN
    • THE KAS FILES B >
      • LAST POST
      • WARTIME PICS
      • KASFAREET PLAYERS
      • POLICE DAY !
      • KASFAREET COLLECTABLES
    • THE KAS FILES C >
      • ODDS & ENDS
      • RARE WARTIME TRAVEL TICKETS
      • CHRISTMAS 1951
      • HELP NEEDED
    • MY LINKS PAGE
    • MIRAGE NEWS WINTER 1951
    • TAREK ESSAWI PAGE
  • FORUM
Picture
Picture
Picture

                                  
                       Return to Kas in 2009

Picture
At the railway level crossing at the camp main gate with the barrier just lifting. We then proceeded on to the narrow road which bisected the camp, over the Sweetwater Canal, through the village to the Canal Road. Then we turned left past the old 107 MU Lido and followed the old Canal Road running along the shore of the Great Biter Lake to the El Morgen Hotel. The hotel was only a ten minute walk from the Fayid Military Cemetary.
Picture
Again the railway crossing at the Kasfareet main gate entrance with an up train bound for Ismailia up north
Picture
The railway line stretches out to the north with the old camp water tower prominent in the background right. The tower positioned approx halfway between  SHQ and the airmens mess.
Picture
Looking into the camp at the main gate down the road that traverses the camp to Kasfareet village. I believe I can make out a white six foot wall that has been constructed to run along the left hand side of the road and bends round toward the site of the old SHQ. Jack Garry picked up this wall on Google Earth a couple of years ago.
Picture
Standing on the Kasfareet village bridge that crosses the Sweetwater Canal and looking south. Note the mosque tower and multistory buildings now prevalent in the village. In the 1950`s al were single story mud huts. I am with ` Tiger ` who organises taxis etc for excursions subject to approval by security. We are only a short distance from the old E gate guardroom and camp perimeter.
Picture
Kasfareet village looking south down the Sweetwater Canal
Picture
Kasfareet village looking north up the Sweetwater Canal from the village bridge


                    And return again in 2012

Picture
In Port Said, the famous plinth on the outer harbour causeway,minus the statue of  Ferdinand de Lessops, creator of the Suez Canal. The statue was pulled down by locals during " Operation Muskateer " in November/December 1956. The statue is actually still intact and kept in a compound in Port Said and it is thought that France are trying to get it replaced. The day I  took this picture, I also visited the military museum not too far away. I have been doing some research on the building of the Suez Canal. I also have a photo of de Lessops` wife from a portrait hanging in the Mercure Hotel. Thank god for digital camera`s ! Last time I was in Port Said, the plinth was covered in graffiti but most has since been cleaned off.
Picture




A plinth at Moascar Cemetary, a poignant reminder of the past. For the sake of interest, it is believed that Air Vice-Marshall D.F.W.Atcherley went down in the Mediterranean Sea en route to Cyprus. Also here are the graves of thre soldiers who murdered a taxi driver in Cairo and were hung by  hangman Albert Pierrepoint who was brought out from the UK to perform the task around 1950.
Picture
  1. The Sweetwater Canal looking  northwards, and this spot is about a 15 minute walk from the El Morgan Hotel.
Picture
A view from the Mercure Hotel on the banks of Lake Timsah close  by Ismailia. A short distance away is the control centre that handles all of the Suez Canal shipping traffic. It has resemblance to an Airport Control Tower. This hotel, I believe, is the one the Suez Veterans Association have used in the past. I have been here a few times in the past for some refreshments en route back to the El Morgen on the Great Bitter Lake. Usually we called after visiting the cemetary in Moascar just north of Ismailia and also the military cemetary in Ismailia. Moscar is the Headquarters of the 2nd Egyptian Field Army and in the past and in the past have been invited in for refreshments. Just do not ask foe a Stella Beer though  !.  This is our first time in the Mercure Hotel after staying in the El Morgen for many years. This picture was taken from my room.
Picture
Picture
Picture
After visiting the National Museum, a pause for an official photograph in front of The Great Pyramid. This is not the official photograph but taken with my digital by one of the party. Perhaps due to the troubled times in Egypt over the past months, there were only twelve of us on this trip. Elsie, the lady on the left is ex-WRAF and also ex Kasfareet. Checking dates, she was there as the same time as me !
Picture
This is one of a block of flats adjacent to the Cairo National Museum and which was torched by  the opponents of the Mubarek regime and which resulted in the downfall of the then Egyptian Government. 
Picture
The grounds of the National Museum in Cairo. I do not think that opponents of the Government were responsible for the damage to the statue.