The Authors Experiences

My name is John (Jock) Marrs (S/22680732 Pte).  From 1952-1954 I was on Active Service, attached to 40 Coy RASC ( 1st Inf Div TPT) Suez Canal Zone. On retirement, I decided to concentrate in my hobby (surfing the net). I wanted to find out what had happened to 40 Coy and of course my mates after I returned to Blighty for demob in 1954. Quite by accident, I came across information, eye-opening to say the least and damn maddening to tell the truth, of a "Gigantic Cover-up" by the Government of the day  regarding active service in the Canal Zone during the years 1951 to 1954 of the service personnel who served in that theatre. The old expression ( Truth is always the first victim of war) is certainly appropriate here. It is to these members of the British Armed Forces that this web site is dedicate.

Pte. John Marrs 40 Company RASC 1st Infantry Division. Taken Saturday Morning at CO's parade  Fayid Garrison Suez Canal Zone December 1952.  Behind you can see the tent lines ready for CO's inspection

In 1952, after basic and trade training in Aldershot with the RASC I became S/22680732 Pte. John Marrs. After King Farouk of Egypt was overthrown, and the Egyptian military took over the reins of government, there was a bit of a flap and we were given two weeks embarkation leave, then flown out to Egypt to commence twenty months Active Service.

I was stationed in Fayid Garrison, (near Fanara) with the 1St Infantry Division Transport Column RASC, at Keren Camp. The Column consisted of three transport Companies, 7, 40, and 42. I was posted to 40 Company as the CSM's clerk.

As in all Active Service postings where terrorism is involved, vehicles travelling between garrisons were escorted, the drivers armed with Sten guns, and most time accompanied with an armed companion for additional firepower should the convoy run into an ambush.

Pte. John Marrs outside 40 Coy Office Fayid Garrison  Suez Canal Zone  January 1953

The Camp was protected at all times. During the day by a large RP detail, with an armed mobile patrol and at night by a large guard detail with the help, if needed, of an inlying picket in each of the three company offices. Clerks had the extra detail (as well as guard duty and inlaying picket) called duty clerk, although it was served in the Company office we looked after the phone calls, in case of an emergency in the garrison and inside the camp itself.

There were a couple of incidents affecting the drivers while out on detail. In one a 7 Company driver had a hand grenade thrown into the cab of his vehicle, which he calmly picked up and threw out, while the other involved a driver on convoy duty outside the garrison. His vehicle broke down and some Egyptians attacked him. The Military Police found his truck burnt out, his weapon and ammunition missing, and the driver in the Sweet Water Canal with his throat cut and minus his manhood.

The RSM stated on our arrival to join the Column that if you deserted the MP's just searched the Sweet Water Canal where they will most likely find you with the dead camels, with your throat cut, minus your manhood. The local population, although they didn't hesitate to sell stuff to us, hated our inners and the continuous daily propaganda from Radio Cairo certainly didn't help matters any.

From 1952 to 1953 there was endless propaganda. We were called anything from trigger-happy murderers to rapists. Leaflets were dropped by night from a small plane on the camps at the outer perimeter of the garrison that depicted a British soldier on guard and the shadow of a large Arab with a knife about to stab him in the back. Made you think when on guard duty.
 

Most Servicemen had Dysentery, at one time or other, and some like me, most of the time. They gave you tablets but it didn’t cure you, it only dried you up. Most lived through at least two sandstorm seasons (Kampsin), and you found out just how miserable it can be to be "sandblasted" around the clock, twenty four hours day for the entire five or so weeks each Kampsin season lasted.

Entertainment was a trip to the local cinema, (the Cameronian), and you sat on wooden benches in the open air. This cinema was about a half mile up the road, but they wouldn't let you out through the guardroom unless you went in a group of more than three. Two Landrovers, with a number of MP's were usually posted outside the cinema to prevent an attack by a passing Egyptian vehicle.

Keren Camp was very near to the stinking Sweet Water Canal and there were plenty of flies and mosquitoes, so we all slept under a mosquito net.

I remember as the talks were proceeding sometime towards the end of 1953, an order came down from GHQ, addressed to all ranks of all services in the Zone. When challenging as a sentry on guard duty you were supposed to shout out,"Halt, who goes there?” and then the Arabic "Stanna". If there was no answer, shoot to kill. The new order that came out was as I remember it "Halt, who goes there?" a pause, then

"Stanna", a pause then "Stanna", a pause and again "Stanna". Most of us thought, not bloody likely. Shoot the bastard if no reply after the first challenge. Any soldier nearby would if questioned, in event of a fatal shooting, swear that there were three challenges and no reply.

The best sight of all that I remember was the sight of Egypt fading in the distance from the window of the plane that was flying me back to Britain in 1954.
 

This web site is maintained by