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East Coast Floods in 1953
written by John
 Was it really 55 years ago? Those of a certain age will remember the awful floods which hit the East Coast in February, 1953. Damage was widespread and devastating. Stationed at RAF Martlesham Heath, we were in the thick of it. Our first involvement was as part of the workforce sent down to Purfleet, where we filled sandbags from barges and carried them up ladders to be added to the sea wall. It was back-breaking work and was certainly the hardest day's work I have ever done. It was the only occasion in our time in the Service that we used our billy cans. We were also issued with strong coffee laced with rum. When we got back to camp late in the evening we were given a good meal (the mess was open all night) and allowed to get up late in the morning.Our next contribution was to form a party and help the local villagers fill sandbags and build up the banks of the River Deben; that was an all-night operation. Prince Philip flew in to inspect the damage, Martlesham being the nearest aerodrome to the coast, and I found myself on his guard of honour. It was the only time during my service I wore white webbing. We stood in rain coming down in stair rods while the blanco was washed out of our webbing on to our greatcoats; the Prince got out of his aircraft, climbed in to a Land Rover with not a glance in our direction, and was driven off. The air was blue! He must have said something because, after his tour of inspection, the guard of honour was dispensed with when he departed. Do you remember the old saying about something baffling brains? |
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