My first tent, C3 in the first line nearest the camp road that runs between the 2 guardrooms close to the inscription ` RAF Regiment `

We moved onto the tent lines in August 1953 and our first tent was pretty close to the rear entrance to the YMCA and the dhobi wash house. My first bed was a rolled up canvas type with strong wire cross struts and legs which gave six inches of clearance off the ground. !! If you rolled around too much, it tipped you out. Later we were isuued with fold up beds which were just a bit higher.

Our tent was pitched just about where the R is in REGT. on the map so perhaps the RAF REGT were in residence some time prior to our arrival. Our second tent with brick walls and concrete base was just about where the Cooks & Catering shows on the map.

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Our first tent - they were manky old tents  !!!!!

The view from our tent , positioned in the first row of tents near the YMCA. This was Christmas morning1953.
The Kasfareet village guardroom in the distance is hidden by the tent.

The tent lines,again on Christmas morning 1953

Hanging around the tent

Ready for another guard duty spell

Still hanging around the tent.

John Mayo from Blackpool ready for guard duty. Note the low lying beds.

Our gang. Johnny Mayo, myself, Roy Whistance and Don Lovatt, the last two being from Brummieland.

I am enjoying the evening sun.

Just practising my cheesecake pose  !

Three shots of me enjoying a late smoke before sunset. Small plaque in my shadow says "The Shambles"

Tony Maskill. The tree behind is on the camp road leading left to the Sweetwater Guard Room.

Don Lovatt,me and Whistance just mucking about

Roy Whistance front then Tony Maskill with me at the back.The building is next to the central cross camp road.

All dressed up but I wonder where I was going  ?

We moved into our our second and much upgraded tent in1954 
four or five rows up. See next pic but one,

John Mayo and myself ready for a dayguard

Fetching my pit from the old tent near the building behind, up to our new tent

Roy Whistance left with John Mayo and Michael (Ginge) Norris seated. Mini water chatti hanging up.

Yes, I did fall off  !!

Future best man Paul Munton visits from Abyad

Roy Whistance flying down the tent line. Was this a bad case of Gyppo Tummy  ?

Ginge Norris messing about on my bike

Left, me leaning on our tent and good old Bill Curtis from Leeds doing likewise

Time for a little sunbathing session at shai time. Our tent in the background

A favourite pastime

Relaxing on your pit with the tent wall propped open to let the breeze through

    Whistance and Mayo, 
                    but that is my pit  !!

Michael Norris joins in the shai break outside our tent 

Reposing on my pit listening to the local forces network on my crystal set valve radio. The valve came from stores, the earphones inherited from someone and kept under my pillow when not in use as with a crystal set there is no switch, it is on all the time. Prior to the earphones I had a telephone handset as a receiver  !!! 

Alwyn York

One of the Brylcreem Boys.

Catching up on the news

Two shadows  !!  Good tent lighting

A picture of me perched on the top of our first tent C3  !!

Not the normal practise but Colin Harrington`s Page shows tents storm damaged and I am afraid ours suffered likewise. The top waterproof sheet split from top to bottom  so I  `searched around` for one not in use and replaced it. Simple.

Outside our new tent with Ginge. The old wooden armchair had been discarded by someone else so I grabbed it for our tent.

p.s.  WW2 pics of the nearby YMCA show chairs similar to this

Note the mosquito net on show

Manny Cachia, Roy Whistance , myself and Smudger Smith

Me all toffed up for sunday evening church service. Well, it helped to pass the time.

Help wanted...I have no recall whatsoever of the famous chariot race but am I sitting on the remains of one next to our new brick sided tent ?