| Members Memories |
M.E.L.F 11 Egypt, El-Ballah in 1954
written by AlexanderDavid McInnes
 March 24th 1954 was a day I was never to forget.
My job at BMH El-Ballah at the time was driver to the C/O LT COL Isles (RAMC), AND MY FIRST DUTY OF THE DAY WAS TO PICK HIM UP AT 130CAMP WHICH IS WHERE THE MARRIED FAMILIES WERE BASED, I USED TO LEAVE THE BMH AT ABOUT 7-30AM AND GET TO 130CAMP AT ABOUT 8AM. AS I LEFT THE MAIN GATE OF THE BMH I NOTICED A ROW OF LOCALS SITTING ALONG THE WALL OPPOSITE BUT TOOK NO NOTICE AND CONTINUED AS AT THIS TIME RESTRICTIONS WERE BEING EASED OF SO I WAS TRAVELLING ON MY OWN WITH ONLY A 38 IN THE GLOVE BOX.
WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE COLS HOME
HE CAME OUT GOT IN THE CAR JUST AS
A CAPTAIN WILSON CAME OVER AND SAID THAT MAJOR BURNHILL WAS A LITTLE LATE SO WOULD WE LIKE TO GO ON AHEAD, THEY BOTH EACH MORNING TRAVELLED IN FRONT OF US IN A MORRIS MINOR, THE COL SAID WE SHOULD GO AHEAD WHICH WE DID.
WHEN WE WERE ABOUT 1/2 MILE FROM THE BMH I COULD SEE THE MORRIS MINOR COMING ALONG THE ROAD BEHIND US, THEN AN AMOUNT OF SHOOTING WAS TAKING PLACE AND IT SEEMED THAT THE PEOPLE SHOOTING WERE THE ONES WHO HAD BEEN WAITING AT THE WALL, THEY SHOT MAINLY AT THE MAJORS CAR AND I SAID TO THE COL SHOULD WE STOP AND HE SAID NO GET INTO THE CAMP. ON ARRIVING AT THE COMPANY OFFICE THE COL GOT OUT AS THE MAJORS CAR PAST US AND CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE OPERATING THEATRE WAS AND THE MAJOR FELL OUT OF HIS CAR AND CAPTAIN WILSON WAS SLUMPED ON THE DASH BOARD, SOME MEDIC LADS CARRIED THE MAJOR INTO THE OPERATING THEATRE BUT WAS FOUND TO BE DEAD, CAPTAIN WILSON WAS FOUND TO HAVE A BULLET LODGED BEHIND HIS EAR AND LATER RECOVERED HE WAS THEN POSTED TO CYPRUS.
MAJOR BURNHILL WAS BURIED AT MOASCAR CEMETARY i DROVE SHE AND COL ISLES MRS BURNHILL AT THE TIME WAS HEAVILY PREGNANT.
A REPORT ON THIS INCIDENT WAS IN THE DAILY MAIL OF THE TIME.
A DAY IN MY LIFE NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN.
Alec McInnes EX RASC 1952-55 T/2281453 |
click here to email AlexanderDavid McInnes about this Campaign/Arena
Members Memories List | Members Memories homepage
|
|
| Latest Military Discounts |
25% Off Breakdown Cover
There is nothing worse than breaking down. But if you do, the RAC have more than 1,500 patrols ready to rescue you, whether you are at the shops or on the motorway. They will always try to fix your vehicle at the roadside, but if they cant they will make getting it repaired as painless as possible.
Click Here For More >> |
|
