Band of the Coldstream Guards practising for the Coronation Parade to be held at RAF Kasfareet 1953
The Coronation Parade was held on the Airfield. Kasfareet wes elected to be the parade for all service stations in Canal Zone South with Moascar being the site for Canal Zone North. A special podium and stands area was built on the main runway to accomodate the bigwigs and married families etc. I have vivid memories of early morning rehearsals - forming up outside PSCO to march down to the airfield with the Wing Adjutant screaming orders and having what looked like heart attacks at our poor discipline. I have before and after photographs in my DVD slideshows. Ask Fritz about his part in the `Special Rifle Section` that trained over at El Hamra. He got the `job` by having about four `stickman` picks on guard duties. We used to call him `Stickman` when he used to stroll ack to the billet after guard duty saying " they have picked me again" !!
The Coronation Parade was held on the Airfield. Kasfareet wes elected to be the parade for all service stations in Canal Zone South with Moascar being the site for Canal Zone North. A special podium and stands area was built on the main runway to accomodate the bigwigs and married families etc. I have vivid memories of early morning rehearsals - forming up outside PSCO to march down to the airfield with the Wing Adjutant screaming orders and having what looked like heart attacks at our poor discipline. I have before and after photographs in my DVD slideshows. Ask Fritz about his part in the `Special Rifle Section` that trained over at El Hamra. He got the `job` by having about four `stickman` picks on guard duties. We used to call him `Stickman` when he used to stroll ack to the billet after guard duty saying " they have picked me again" !!
The Band of the Coldstream Guards practising near the aircraft hangers
Mike Favell has now pointed out on the Forum Page that the guards marching through to the airfield were rehearsing for the Coronation Parade in London not at Kasfareet...thanks Mike
Mike Favell has now pointed out on the Forum Page that the guards marching through to the airfield were rehearsing for the Coronation Parade in London not at Kasfareet...thanks Mike
Coronation Flypast by Meteor jets over the Canal Zone
The Salute Podium
Army Ferret Type vehicles pass by the salute podium
Excavation of the Suez Canal in the 1850`s
Trawled from the internet
St Christopher`s Church At Luqa Air Force Station in Malta was started on in 1954 and was ready for March 6th 1955 when the first service was held there. The church was dedicated on July 1st 1955.
The interior furnishings came from a variety of sources. The Holy Communion Table from the Royal Naval Dockyard Chapel, whilst the pews and choir stalls had been previously used in the Station Church at the Royal Air Force Base, Kasfareet, Egypt. The marble font plus the mahogany and wrought iron Communion Rail from the Garrison Church at Upper Barracca Gardens, Valletta.
After being closed for many years, the church was re-opened in the 90`s as an RC Church and re-named St Mary`s.
St Christopher`s Church At Luqa Air Force Station in Malta was started on in 1954 and was ready for March 6th 1955 when the first service was held there. The church was dedicated on July 1st 1955.
The interior furnishings came from a variety of sources. The Holy Communion Table from the Royal Naval Dockyard Chapel, whilst the pews and choir stalls had been previously used in the Station Church at the Royal Air Force Base, Kasfareet, Egypt. The marble font plus the mahogany and wrought iron Communion Rail from the Garrison Church at Upper Barracca Gardens, Valletta.
After being closed for many years, the church was re-opened in the 90`s as an RC Church and re-named St Mary`s.
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Peter Verney
June 4th 2010
I was on embarkation leave when the old King died and I took part in a Coronation flypast which went to a few camps in the zone. We were based in Kabrit but I think we went up to Kasfareet and Fayid. Perhaps some lucky ? people were on the parade square to watch us fly past. I took a photo which you may be able to see via this link.
CLICK HERE
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Peter Verney
June 4th 2010
I was on embarkation leave when the old King died and I took part in a Coronation flypast which went to a few camps in the zone. We were based in Kabrit but I think we went up to Kasfareet and Fayid. Perhaps some lucky ? people were on the parade square to watch us fly past. I took a photo which you may be able to see via this link.
CLICK HERE
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Peter Hawkes said :-
There was a BSDM ( British Stores Dispersal Mission) I believe on the east side of the camp within the perimeter wire. In 1952 this dump contained a number of Spitfire fusilages and wing parts from bombers and other aircraft. It was a large area and contained all type of redundant material.
Alan Winspur said :-
I confirm there was a lot of stuff buried, but no recollection of Stirlings.
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There was a BSDM ( British Stores Dispersal Mission) I believe on the east side of the camp within the perimeter wire. In 1952 this dump contained a number of Spitfire fusilages and wing parts from bombers and other aircraft. It was a large area and contained all type of redundant material.
Alan Winspur said :-
I confirm there was a lot of stuff buried, but no recollection of Stirlings.
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Sport Medals etc
Hockey Medal
Service Medals etc
Steve told me that his grandfather, while still in the RAF, assisted in the recovery of an Ilyushin-14 transport plane that was involved in the Yemen conflict of the early sixties. The plane was made airworthy within Yemen then flown to RAF Khormaksar where it eventually was left to rot.
The following picture is the plane left at Khormaksar complete with RAF graffiti viz:-
48 (F) SQDN and " Tough shit 51, we`re in Blighty "
The following picture is the plane left at Khormaksar complete with RAF graffiti viz:-
48 (F) SQDN and " Tough shit 51, we`re in Blighty "