Return to Kas in 2009
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.
Again the railway crossing at the Kasfareet main gate entrance with an up train bound for Ismailia up north
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Kasfareet village looking south down the Sweetwater Canal
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Kasfareet village looking north up the Sweetwater Canal from the village bridge
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And return again in 2012
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.
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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. |
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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.
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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 !
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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.
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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.