John Nisbet (Gus)
Gus (on the left) at an Eden Camp annual reunion.
It all started when I received a letter from HM government inviting me to become a member of HM Armed forces. I was called up in June 1947 into what was then the General service Corps. The Cap badge was same as an R.S.M's rank badge, the Royal Coat of Arms.
So on the 7th June 1947 1 took up his challenge by reporting to Stirling Castle for National Service. My personal details were taken on arrival and we were marched to the Back O' Hill Camp below Castle Walls. Here we were billeted in wooden huts, 30 men to a billet as a platoon under three NCOs from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. A Sgt, Cpl and a LCpl who were to be our instructors in the art of being soldiers.
We were issued the usual kit, 2 sets of battle dress, a pair of denims, webbing including large the pack, small pack, water bottle, house wife, (sorry wrong kind). After a visit to the Medical Officer for jabs, we were then ready to go.
It was the start of 6 weeks basic training when the fun began. We were marched and counter marched on the castle square every day. Left right, left turn, right turn, about turn, saluting on the march to left, to right, to front. Slowly and bit by bit we learned to become soldiers, rifle drill and shoot.
During this we were going through a period of assessment, we were told day in day out of how the Army needed store men resulting that a lot of us landed in the RAOC. There was no choice in the matter - unless you signed on. We were not allowed out of camp - we were considered unfit to wear the King's uniform.
The day eventually dawned when basic training was over and we were deployed to regiments or corps resulting in myself and about two dozen others reporting to Hilsea Barracks, Portsmouth.
We were again marched this time across the road to wooden huts with 30 men to each billet. Each morning we marched into the barracks for muster parade and then back across for class room where we were taught the basics of store keeping, bills of lading and so forth.
It was here I met a very good friend and we served next six months or so together. David Haggerty a name I will never forget, David belonged to Stirling and I to Denny about eight miles away. In December we were spilt up, David going to East Africa on draft.
After four weeks at Portsmouth we both received seven days leave and ordered to report back to Piddlehinton camp, cider country, for MT training. We were there for about six weeks learning to receive vehicles, store and ship out all kinds of spares, batteries, starters and springs various.
We both arrived at 6 Battalion RAOC Chillwell in August 1947 after a strenuous training time. Then the hell all started, we were treated as labourers working under civilians. This was when David and I were spilt up in December 1947, and then I received 74 days embarkation leave. The draft formed up at Feltham Barracks, where we were issued with our tropical gear consisting of Khaki Dress, shorts, trousers, jacket and hose tops.
We sailed from Southampton on the Arundle Castle, destination unknown. Then Gibraltar came into sight, stopped to disembark some bods then ever onwards to Malta - same -disembarked some more bods - next stop Pireaus Greece, then Salonika, Greece.
Then we arrived at Port Said, Eygpt, where we disembarked and entrained for a long journey down the side of the Suez Canal for the Port Suez transit camp. On arrival we were handed a large sack like thing which I later found out was called a pilaster and marched to a large tent filed with straw. This was our bedding; that and three boards about seven feet long and fifteen inches wide which sat on trestles about a foot off the ground - this was home for the next ten to fifteen days.
I was always watching for orders being posted but then the great day came, I was posted to 614 AOD RAOC. The big question was where 614 AOD was? We found out later.
We were trucked from that camp to a place named El-Kantara on Great Bitter Lakes where again we boarded a train for the great unknown. Travelling overnight across what we later discovered was the Sinai Desert. The journey went on.
One morning we were awakened by an explosion. The railway track had been mined and three devices had been laid on tracks; two of them had gone off - the third one failed. So you might say there but for grace of God go I.
Stranded on a railway embankment, we were gathered up by a Colonel T.G. Gore RAOC who later was an example to us young 18 year olds.
We arrived at camp after a delay that night where yours truly was locked up the first night in the guard room awaiting a Field General Court Martial.
On the train journey we were issued with a rifle and 5 rounds of .303 ball ammunition.
During the time the train was blown up I happened to lose my rifle magazine containing four of these rounds. I hadn't clipped home the magazine properly on the rifle and in the turmoil it had gone adrift. I was placed under close arrest on the train until arriving at 614 AOD. Then I was locked up in the guardroom overnight for OC's orders the following morning. I was released on open arrest and returned to duty but have never heard any more concerning the incident. I was worried for a long time after about this, always waiting for that knock on door!
As a point of interest Colonel Gore and Major Newman were court martialed themselves in the early 50's for stealing and selling weapons and ammunition to both Jewish and Arab villages Colonel Gore was the main staff Ordnance officer, Major Newman was the officer commanding 614 AOD RAOC.
614 AOD in WW2 days was named 2 BOD RAOC. It was at first under canvas but Camp 153 was built in 1942. The depot at Nuehardof was situated between main road from Haifa to Tel Aviv and the Haifa to Cairo railway. The depot covered thousands of square yards consisting of hard standing areas, sheds, and armoury and road ways. It would take you the best part of 5 to 6 hours to walk around the boundaries, with its three road and two railway gates. It was while at main depot I did 7 days detention, failing to do my duty as a gate sentry.
Personnel at 614 AOD were doing three to four guard duties a week, between camp, main depot and sub-depot. Working 7 days a week and other duties was wearing men out. Then it was decided to start a police force for depots, leaving camp guard duties to the workers. So about 60 to 70 men were picked to form this force, 24 hrs on 24 hrs off. We were issued with a Lee-Enfield Mk 4 and 50 rounds of .303 ammunition. Shortly after that the rifles were withdrawn and we were issued with Sten Machine Carbines Mk 5's with two magazines of 30 rounds each. Those Stens never left our sides, we went to bed with them and we went for meals with them.
A dozen of us were detailed for armoury escort duties for the RASC company, taking weapons to the docks at Haifa. A driver and his escort with three of us in the back as escorts, to the docks unloading the vehicles on to ships. This lasted about seven to ten days non stop, Saturday and Sundays. It finished up with unit trucks running day and night to docks. We were later joined by 612 CVG RAOC, to supplement our transport. Both units ran mostly Dodge's.
We did gate duties during the days, 2 men on a gate. There were three gates to cover, also a roving patrol of 10 men in the depot grounds. It was a massive area to cover, between sheds and the standing areas. Gate men checked all vehicles entering or leaving depot and watching for stolen vehicles. The guard-rooms had a radio receiver on day and night. This gave us information of vehicles stolen from units, licence number, work-ticket, number, unit name, etc, all gate men had these details written on a clip-board at gate.
We had between 20 to 30 REME trucks every morning lining up to enter the base workshops. It was common practice to book one in, let two go, book one, let two go etc. On their way out stop and say they had never booked in so we let them out unchecked. When had as many vehicles like that lined up, the quicker they were in the better. Otherwise they made prime targets all lined up like that. On this particular day it happens that a vehicle pulled away that had not been checked in or out. Who is behind it? The OC in his jeep!
Of course the questions started to be asked. Why I had not checked and searched the vehicle? "I didn't book it in sir". "Why was the vehicle not booked in"? "Don't know sir"!
I was placed under arrest and subsequently received 7 days in the Glass House.
We were just unlucky we got caught. We did this because bodies were short on ground, and couldn't afford men going of base. My comrade on duty with me did 14 days for insolence to a Police NCO. Me? I never said a word; we were caught fair and square.
When of duty, any one could be called for escort duties for Colonel Gore, who wore a 45 revolver on his hip. We would report to the MT park, with a Sten gun and be driven to his quarters.
Colonel Gore would come out, Thompson Sub Machine Gun, 2 grenades, 2 x 45's and off we would drive to the HQ in Haifa.
Don't ask me for dates but it would be about April 1948, and I was part of a detachment policing Sub-Depot Khayat Beach at the time. Shots were fired from somewhere. Nearby, our Bren gunner grabbed his weapon and ran to a post. Of course two or three of us followed close behind. The first shots from the Bren flash lit up the whole place. I told him you and your No 2 are on your own with all that flash! We had phoned the main depot to report this, sending more bodies up to help. At about 2:00 in the morning we heard a truck coming, as every thing was in darkness we trained our search light on the place of sound. We stepped back and threw the light switch and it landed spot on the truck. We opened the gates and turned off the spot light. It turned out to be the police Sgt and six men from the main depot six miles down road.
As the firing had stopped by this time they stayed with us until daylight. On the gable end of one shed and around the area there where bullet marks. We had had a few nights like that in past but that was heaviest. When I was with the police force, some of us had dogs. When you were on gate duties at night for example a dog was a God send on guard, at nights in particular.
I had a medium sized black mongrel, Bess was her name, she belonged to a Lance Jack in the Police but spent more time with me. At the slightest sound you got a low growl which got your attention. Not much happened that they did not hear. Yes they were good.
A patrol coming up from depot you never heard but the dog did. A soft growl got your attention. We called out "John "and expected the reply "Bull" or "Queen" with the reply "Victoria", (no "halt who goes there?" with us). We worked out a series of pass-words - no reply - you fired, thus alerting rest. The camp guards worked the same - pass-words, for camp guards were favourite targets for ruses.
A truck would turn up in the darkness asking for the duty officer and wanting beds for the night. Once in, that was different story. Many a guard was caught this way, weapons stolen and the guard left dead.
So life went on day in day out, police off duty were called out regular for escort duty. (This is up to you to believe if you want) the police off duty were given three Sherman tanks with main arms removed and fitted with a Bren Light Machine Gun. This was IF a fire fight broke out between Arab and Jews, we were to break it up.
Never a dull moment in our days, about six of us would go down back of depot to swim in Med. One would stay on guard while we swam, then change over and so on. Six Sten carbines with 18 magazines. This was our 24 hours off, if you were lucky enough not to get caught for escort duties.
A few names come to mind of those days: Dennis Brooks, "Yorkie" Fields, Jim Hardcastle, Alan Brown, Tommy Corcoran, Jim Rose, Matt Graham, and Dennis Warren. Happy days all around, we had our ups and downs, good days and bad days.
Nearly forgot this part of it, unit ran out of rations. No tea, bread, it was dried potatoes, egg, bread made in cook house. Coffee morning noon and night, Had bright spots, free cigs 50 a week, tot of navy rum on cold nights on guard.
 MV Georgic, Courtesy BSW Troopships section |
With both depots closed the police was disbanded, this was end of May 1948.
Then we were given orders to parade, Full Service Marching Order. We were going out. Each man was issued with rifle and a bandoleer of 50 rounds. The remaining RASC Company took to us Haifa Docks leaving a rear guard in camp with unit transport. Troopship Georgic was picking us up. We learned later it had been diverted from Malta to Haifa. As Georgic could not enter the docks we had to go out to her, (who has experienced a Z craft) leaving the harbour wall it was rough. A platform, what 4 feet square, rising and falling about three to four feet with swell, FSMO, Kit bag, weapons, it was tricky timing your jump. On board even after the bunks had been allocated, there was no peace. Everything off, up on deck, "you and you - where's your weapons?", "get them"!
The ship was full of young boys coming out to units, plus 2 of our own who had been wounded and returning to units. Again our destination was unknown; turned out to be Port Said then to 5 BOD at Tel-El- Kiber. This is where the weary warriors received 7 days R&R, chance to go NAAFI camps at Lake Timsah or Port Found. On return from leave our unit was disbanded, some staying in Eygpt other Libya, Turkey, Cyprus.
 Empire Test, later renamed Empire Clyde, Courtesy BSW Troopships section |
I sailed on the Empire Test from Port Said to Famagusta Cyprus, from there to a tented camp outside Nicosia. Artherlassa was my new home. At first the unit was mobile, and then it became static. Rows upon rows of 4x4's, fencing wire ran from pole to pole, back to labouring. Most of the wires were taken for sheets to hang and dry. We had four trailers, and an assortment of vehicles to collect and return washing. On site they built a hut and installed a stream press you could put the clothes in and pull down handle to iron and press; a large generator supplied the power. In the winter time it was murder trying to start it. A rope handle with three men aside pulling and one pushing the button in; half compression, once buttons in - full compression.
About four months later I was detailed to the cook house working with the cooks I made the night shifts supper a few times to let the cook away earlier. I would keep the cook's stoves going with diesel from a fuel tank on roof which had to be kept full. We also had three Soya stoves for hot water fuelled by diesel and water. I did no duties on that job, as we were up with the cooks to start breakfast.
Then the great day. De-mob, left end of May on Empire Windrush for Southampton and home for 8th June 1949.
The old Windrush sank off Gibralter in early the 50's. She was the first ship to bring the West Indians to this country in the late to help rebuild this country after the war.
I thank you all.
19182287 Pte John Nisbet
Gus (on the right) at an Eden Camp annual reunion.
As dictated to Geoff Malthouse 21st February 2010
BSW would like to thank Geoff for allowing us to host a copy of this story.
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