8th & 9th April, 1948 - Homeward bound at last and Ron is twenty... but there's no beer in the bar.

Thursday, 8^th April, 1948

This morning I was up at a quarter to six and after completing my toilet & breakfast packed the remainder of my kit into my issue kit bag.  We took our kit down to the transport yard where it was put onto a truck.  We formed up on parade outside the guard room where the roll was called and where some members of the parade were annoyed to see the Canteen manager and laundryman waiting with debt books poised for action.  Next we walked down to a nearby playing field where the convoy was to form  up.  The roll was again called and we piled into buses and trucks ready for the journey.

At different places in Jerusalem other trucks joined the convoy which looked terrific when we got out onto the long country roads.  Looking back I counted thirty vehicles.  Four bus loads of Police, two of married women and children several trucks of Police and the

A Jerusalem Convoy...
It's not their convoy but is from the period

rest baggage with armoured cars dispersed in the convoy.  Also there was a spare truck, a breakdown lorry and a private car containing a doctor.  In all the convoy was really well organised, which came as a surprise to most of us.

We left Jerusalem punctually at 8.45am and after a short stop in Nablus arrived at Jenin at 1.50pm.  In Jenin we again were surprised at the organisation awaiting us.  We got our kit, were told our huts and had a cold luncheon.  The I.G. was in camp as well.  The heat in the camp is terrific, almost like summer.  My friends and I went to the camp cinema this evening.

Friday, 9^th April, 1948

I got up this morning of my 20^th birthday at 7.45am after an excellent night’s sleep.  The atmosphere even so early in the day was heavy as in a Kamseen.

For breakfast we enjoyed a kipper a rare delicacy out here.  After breakfast I had a game of snooker and wrote home.

The ladies have been given exclusive use of all the best parts of the camp but we found the reading room unoccupied so established ourselves there.

I had a look around the old camp this afternoon; many changes have occurred here and over all is an air of neglect.  The insides of the huts need whitewashing and the gardens are covered in tall weeds.  Weeds are also breaking through the cement of the parade ground, a thing that would never have happened in the old days.

The canteen has no beer so farewell celebrations have been very quiet.

[Editor's Note:  The personal experiences recorded in Ron's diaries have formed the basis of this blog and I have largely ignored the ongoing deterioration in the political situation except where it directly impacted upon him.  However, as the British Palestine Police started their withdrawal the unrest between Jews and Arabs flared into full scale civil war which would dominate the next few years and indeed the ensuing decades.  At this time atrocities were committed on both sides and on this day the Jewish Haganah, Irgun and Lehi forces attacked the town of Deir Yassin.  Anticipating an easy victory the Jewish forces were initially repulsed and a bloody battle ensued.  The villagers were finally overcome and enraged Jewish guerillas rampaged through the town massacring men, women and children - anyone found alive - resulting in a death toll of between 110 and 140. The massacre at Deir Yassin is now regarded as a pivotal event in the political history of the region setting the scene for bloody conflict and the ongoing Palestinian refugee crisis.  For a full and harrowing account of the Deir Yassin massacre and its political implications follow this link

7th & 8th January, 1948 - Another uncomfortable visit to the Souk and a couple of renegade policemen...

Wednesday, 7^th January, 1948

In preparation for anything that is likely to happen within the next few days, my friends & I decided to visit the “Suq” for our last purchasings.  The attitude of the local Arabs to us is markedly different since they have learned we are soon to leave this area.  All the shopkeepers who have catered especially for the English are worrying about whether they will be able to sell their remaining stocks while the other shop owners do not press their wares for sale as they used when we first came here.  A sight never seen in the “Suq” before the recent disturbances is the now common firearms display.  Every type of firearm can be seen from pistols to Thompson Sub machine guns of various ages.  I have seen 1902 Enfield Rifles & the very modern Thompson.  In the tailors shop today when trying on a pair of trousers I saw a .303 rifle behind the counter.  On examining it I found it to be serviceable but the barrel was very dirty.  The majority of the weapons are the same.  Their owners treat them as playthings and take very little care of them.  I gave the tailor a lecture on the care of firearms for which he cordially thanked me.

1946 - Allenby Bridge also known as King Hussein Bridge.
The bridge was first constructed in 1918 but destroyed in the
Civil War in 1948, eventually rebuilt and reopened in 1994 as the sole entry/
exit point between Israel and the West Bank

Thursday, 8^th January, 1948

At about 9am this morning the Garage Foreman made the startling discovery that two of his 15cwt trucks were missing.  At once the cry went out that they had been stolen.  But how could they have been taken past the English Guard on the M.T. Gate? was the question all asked.  All drivers were accounted for but on further checking it was found that two mounted B/Cs were missing.  The Station Sergeant said he thought they were on the rifle range with a party firing this morning.  A truck was sent to the range to check up.  On the way there one of the trucks was found abandoned at the side of the road.  The two B/Cs were not on the range & their civilian clothes had gone with them.  One had been on a road block a mile from the station.  He had gone sick and come back to the station telling the gate guard he had come in for a cup of tea.  He later returned sitting beside a driver whom the Gate Guard did not recognise in one of the trucks.  The guard thought the duty

driver was driving him back to his post.  The truck was cruising to start as it reached the road block and was let through when it was seen to be a Police truck.  They went to Damiya Bridge across the Jordan but the Arab Legion would not let them cross.  They then went to Allanby Bridge & tried to bribe a B/C on duty there with Nil Result.  The B/C raised the alarm and they were eventually caught and lodged in Gaza Lock-Up having reached a point between Gaza & Beersheba.  I know the two chaps well and would never have thought they had such a daring plan hatching in the last few days.  The B/C i/c Road Blocks is on open arrest as he is a suspected accomplice

5th & 6th January, 1948 - Heavy rain and future plans for the evacuation of Palestine..

Monday, 5^th January, 1948

What a beastly night it was last night.  From early in the evening when the heavy rain and cold set in it became gradually worse.  At about 3am I was awakened by a most terrific explosion which, if I had not known of the thunder storm raging outside, I should probably have attributed to Jewish origin.  I learned this morning, from one of the unfortunates who had to static guard in the storm that the explosion had been caused by a thunderbolt which, he said, had landed about three hundred yards away up the mountain.  Now the rains have started I expect they will continue through the winter.  It is only on rare occasions in England that I have seen rain fall as heavily as it did last night and this morning flooding the fields in just that period of time.

The cold has persisted though the rain has eased.  I sat in the recreation room this evening with about eight other chaps.  We all crowded around the fireplace competing with one another when a nearer chair became vacant.

Tuesday, 6^th January, 1948

This morning the Assistant Superintendent of Police held a meeting attended by all the Inspectors & Sergeants in the Sub-District.  I learned afterwards that it was to discuss the approaching evacuation of the country in as much as it would affect Nablus Division.  Apparently all, except a few H.Q. Staff, are moving to a Depot at Haifa or Jerusalem where they will await transport to take them home.  The Administration and Crime branches are all to be taken over by Arabs and a company or so of an Army Battalion are to defend the area until such time as the country is properly evacuated.  The Mayor is going to act as the Liaison Officer between the Police & the Army.  We have all been left very much in the dark over the whole affair and no-one yet knows any dates at which the handing over is likely to take place.  We rather think it will be in the very near future, and I for one am, in a way, looking forward to the move as it means one more step towards England and the beginning of a new job, a thing forced upon me.

3rd & 4th January, 1948 - Cold winds, a bit of teasing and a haircut..

Saturday, 3^rd January, 1948

The days are becoming colder now with gale force winds blowing through the valley in which Nablus lies.  As yet there is no form of heating in our offices but we hope shortly to get a stove of some description.  The barrack rooms are not heated in any way so in the evenings evidence of their desertion can be seen around the crowded fireplaces in the canteen and Club.  I am very glad I am off the normal foot duties which mean, in this station, an endless series of night and day static guards with a few escort duties as a variant.  I notice the sangers as used by the guards have been amended in construction so that they would now be of little use in case of attack as the loop holes, so appealing to draughts, have been blocked up.  All this goes to make the sanger a cosier place in which to spend a night.

When our particular friend is on guard we take a sadistical pleasure in educating him as to the number of seconds in a minute and minutes in an hour.  When he makes as if to cock his rifle we bid hurried farewells and return to the warmth of our beds.

Sunday, 4^th January, 1948

We always have made a habit of rising late on Sunday mornings but since the cold weather has set in the day is becoming even brighter when we brave the keen air.

This morning I rose just in time to dash down to the mess before breakfast finished.  After breakfast I had my fortnightly haircut administered by a short tubby Arab who always wears a “Fez” as if he were selling a hair restorer of which his hair was no capable advertiser.  This barber comes from the town every second Sunday morning with his portable shop.  The portable is a marvellous combination of drawers, shelves, mirrors etc. and has so many compartments I often wonder how he knows which drawer contains which.  As all barbers out here he does not consider that his customer will be pleased unless he finishes by half drowning the poor unfortunate in about six varieties of hair oil.  His face can be seen to drop quite plainly when I refuse to have more than a small quantity of type 1.  The tip usually restores his confidence in himself.

 

1st & 2nd January, 1948 - At work on the 1st January!? A thief, a road accident, and a bit of spring cleaning.

Thursday, 1^st January, 1948

After the welcoming party given for the New Year in the club last night I retired at about half after one.

The next thing I knew was that the sergeant was waking me and trying to impress on me that everyone was wanted downstairs on the veranda for a rifle inspection.  This does not sound a very impressive opening to the year and was caused as two rifles were stolen during the festivities of last night.  The inspection was of no avail the rifles not having come to light.  Unfortunately we have a B/C in the “Humara” who is a known thief and although he is under open arrest on a charge of selling his own pistol and a force rifle he is suspected of having something to do with last night’s thefts.

At the office this morning I closed all the registers & files for 1947.  Why, I don’t know, but I hated this work as there was such an air of finality with it.  The Assistant Superintendent went through my court Exhibits and destroyed about thirty.  After all this work I found that today was supposed to be a holiday.

Friday, 2^nd January, 1948

Modern Jiftlich;
an impoverished Palestinian village

I was rather annoyed at not being told that I was on holiday yesterday.  I did not bother to rush to work this morning.  I was only about half an hour later than usual but enough to put me right for the day.

A road accident was reported last evening so I had to pass the information on it to Divisional H.Q.   A boy was knocked down and seriously injured in Jiftlich Area when a lorry tried to turn after unloading oranges at a Bedouin Camp near the Jordan.

I handed 10 of my arms and ammunition court exhibits into the stores today and later put the court exhibit room in order.  I can now find exactly what I want at once, a definite asset in court exhibits which are always on the move to and from the court.

This evening Bicknell, Mountford, Moore & I went to the Club where we played table tennis and snooker.

The B/C suspected of the theft has been subjected to a grilling today and has admitted many minor things to some other B/Cs who are taking the law into their own hands with the aid of “Fil-fil.”[1]



[1] Not knowing the meaning of "fil-fil" I asked Graham Jenkins of the Palestine Police Old Comrades Association if he had any ideas as to its meaning.  His reply:  

"I seem to recall that the phrase fil fil  literally means  “hot pepper” but was used as  a sort of slang. In the context in which it was used it would appear to refer to “pressure” of some sort."

Hmm! The strong arm of the law!

30th & 31st December, 1947 - Ron resumés a year crime, then sees the old year out...

Tuesday, 30^th December, 1947

After my absence from work yesterday I had to set about putting the house in order.  It is surprising how the work can accumulate in such a short period.

One thing I was pleased over today I found the case I have been missing in my yearly resumé.

The Club purloined my table this afternoon to prepare it for the New Years do tomorrow evening.

This evening at seven it started to rain very heavily but it was only to be a shower.

Wednesday, 31^st December, 1947

I finished as much as I could at the office today ready for the closures of the year.

The Resumé of Crime does not show a great decrease in crime for the year.  Att. Murders have risen astoundingly but other crimes generally show a decrease.

I went with the chaps to the club this evening.  We were rather early so first played a game of “Snooker.”  When we had finished it we went to the dance room, which is used as a table tennis room.  At the far end a fine buffet was arrange[d], the tables heavily laden with beautifully prepared foodstuffs.  After 9pm the bar was made free.  I was interested in the dancing though the floor was rather crowded.  People from all over the district came to the party.  The Jenin Dept Dance Band provided the music.  At the hour we sang the old year out and the new year in.  After the Hand shaking and good wishing all around the party soon broke up and I for one retired looking forward eagerly to  what will come in the New Year and wishing it to be as good as the old and perhaps better.

MEMORANDUM

2.m.     slate blue

3.         light green

4.         rose

4.         puce

5.         orange

6.         green

7.         red

Now I may be wrong but I think
this list refers to stamps that Ron has
bought for his collection.

7.         purple

8.         brown

8.         red

10.       grey

13.       blue

13.       bistre

15.       blue

20.       olive

50.       puce

90.       bistre

100.     light blue

200.     purple

565

27th - 29th December, 1947 - Ron has his theory about the recent the lack of crime... and is put in charge of a Bren Gun.

Saturday, 27^th December, 1947

There has been no crime reported for several days now.  This does not lead me to think the inhabitants have all turned over new leaves but rather that they are adopting the same attitude with the Police as with the Tax Collector, who cannot collect his blood money for he is told “We have our own government now, why should we pay taxes to the old.”

The villagers are now probably solving their own crimes as the[y] always have to an extent, without telling the police.  Villagers generally have always been little help in solving crime with the Police.

Sunday, 28^th December, 1947

I did not rise at an early hour this morning as it is Sunday.  I lay in bed until I am just in time to get breakfast if I do not shave then I come back and shave then see to my laundry for the week or have a haircut.  I usually look into the office to see no outstanding crime has been reported during the morning.  Today I was busy with the crime resumé for the year.

Monday, 29^th December, 1947

This morning I was up at 6.30 and in the Station at 7.30 to hand a court exhibit to my staff to take to court.  I had to hurry back to the billet after this to go with a party to the rifle range on the Jiftlich track to fire an annual musketry course (disguise for using up surplus rounds in H.Q.)  Not as many chaps seem to be I am not at all interested in the arts of riled firing.  I am very mediocre a shot and this may be the reason for my disinterest as I cannot enter into competition with my mates.  At this time of year it is a day wasted as all the yearly returns have to be done.  In my resume of crime for the year one case under “Other Larcenies” is being very Pimpernelish in the degree of its evasiveness.  I have now been nearly two days trying to find the error in the figures.

Bren Gun
 source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Bren_light_machine_gun

To night I set about answering my Christmas mail as I am on “Stand by” duty which means I am armed with a Bren Gun and stay in my room ready in case anything happens.

24th - 26th December, 1947 - Christmas in the Holy Land although the spirits are not particularly holy!

Wednesday, 24^th December, 1947

It was bitterly cold last night with a terrific wind blowing through the valley.  I was in the Sanger[1] on the M.T. Gate and the wind whistled through it continuously for the whole of the 6 hours.

I got to work at the station earlier this morning as I wanted today to get everything ready for tomorrow and Boxing Day so that it would not necessitate my coming in for any reason.

I finished off the case file I had to leave last night, cleared up outstanding correspondence and typed the return of case files for destruction this month.

Several people started to prepare for the celebrations by drinks this afternoon.  There was a party in the Club this afternoon for the children.  There are about 20 English children in Nablus now.

In the evening all and sundry including the Stand-by Guard and one of the gate guards went to the Club where supplies of beer & spirits have been mounting up.  They diminished rapidly this evening.  The S.P. bought seven of us beers.  The “I.G.” arrived at about 9pm and stayed for a few drinks.  The Station Officer not knowing the I.G. was in a good mood but [put?] the gate guard on a charge.

[1] The Sangar was a sandbagged post at the entry to the station compound.

Dad didn't see it then... but this
was the Christmas film of 1947 -
Miracle on 34th Street

Thursday, 25^th December, 1947

^24th

In the general jubilations many glasses were broken but no other damage.  The wives all joined in to help out with the dancing.  Every room in the Club was heavily and skilfully decorated but no one had bothered to get in some of the red berried mistletoe tha grows around here.

^25th.  I was up at 8.30 this morning and spent the morning very quietly.  At 12.30pm Room 44 went En Masse to the mess to see how things were progressing.  Both the Dining Hall & the recreation rooms were being prepared for the Dinner.  As things were not quite ready we all helped to put nuts, oranges, pies, biscuits etc and beers (the cook retained several for his staff) whisky, gins, port, brandy etc. etc.  When we had finished the tables were well and truly laden.  All the civilians (English) in Nablus had been invited and many accepted including the A.D.C.  The dinner was a great success with all that could be required.  The sergeants waited on us (some objected.)  After the eats we all moved into the Dining Room for speeches and toasts.  We had a speech by the traffic tester who told us how the “I.G.” had yesterday been asked what qualifications were required for his position?  “Had he his Pro-Pay?” and told that his silver braid was scrambled egg.

Friday, 26^th December, 1947

^25th In the afternoon after dinner Room 44 went to get Bicknell’s suit from the tailor who supplied a boy to carry it back for us.  In the evening we all went to the Club which we found to be almost empty.  It livened up a bit at about 10.30pm when the C.I.D. arrived in force.  We were all in bed by 12pm though I understand that several B/Cs tried to gate crash a party in progress in the Sergeants’ Mess.

^26th I stayed in bed all this morning the first rest of the Christmas Holiday.  Getting up for lunch I went to the Station to see that all was in order and found that the A.S.P. had paid a visit and had gone through everything and had been quite pleased.

The S.P. has apparently received information that all Police Armouries in the country are to be attacked tonight by Arabs as they have no arms supplies.  We have brought all the arms from the Station down to the Billet Armouries to reduce the number of extra guards required.

I spent a quiet evening in my room with the rest of the chaps tonight.  We finished the lovely Christmas Cake sent to me from home under the guise of “Books”.  Dickens could not have written a better Christmas Story

22nd & 23rd December, 1947 - There is a shortage of men and Ron has to shift himself to get things done.

Monday, 22^nd December, 1947

This morning there were no escorts to take my prisoners to court.  This meant I had to dash around at the last moment trying to get an escort.  First I phoned the M.T. section up and they said they would supply a truck right away.  I then made haste to the Billet to wake men who had been on duty up to midnight.  Such men are excused duty up to about 8.30am.  Those on duty after midnight are excused the whole of the following morning.  I managed to get two out of bed who should have been up & dressed.  The court starts at nine we arrived about 9.30.  We then found that another prisoner was wanted so I took one of the chaps, borrowed Salphit’s car and dashed back to the station to make out another release from prison order for this additional prisoner.  I was rushing around all morning on escort duty myself as we could not get enough men to form an escort.

The S.P. payed the station a visit this afternoon, pulled everything to pieces but put a very kind entry in the inspection book.  After he had left B/I Pattle decided to give us another lecture but failed hopelessly when B/I Coles came in and told him he should not go down the Sukh.

Tuesday, 23^rd December, 1947

After the S.P.’s little chat yesterday I decided to start putting my house in order as he promised another visit within a few days when he expects to find everything in the station, and especially my charge register, up to date.  I went through the whole of the charge register from the Beginning of the year and filled in all the points that were missing.  These are not important points – only such things as “date investigations were completed”  “date referred to Magistrate.”

The Charge Room

This afternoon a letter came from Division telling me to make a summary of all the statements recorded in a Road Accident case in which proceedings had been instituted.  This is quite a big job and to top it in bold letters was written “TREAT AS VERY URGENT”  I immediately set to work on it and by 5.15pm had half completed it.  Then it suddenly flashed into my mind that I was on gate guard at 6pm.  Owing to the shortage of men all employed staff have to do at least one night duty a week.  I have been granted the privilege of the 6pm – 12pm as this does not interfere with my work.

19th & 21st December, 1947 - "Bicknell & I" brave the Souk and notice a change in the attitude of the locals

Friday, 19^th December, 1947

I transferred the firearms case to the Urban today and all the staff were happy as these cases are a lot of work and often for nothing.

A new order came out today as a result of a petition sent to the S.P. this is that No British will go into the Suq with a rifle slung on their arm.  They must be armed with pistols which will be concealed under the jacket.  Bicknell & I went together to the suq this afternoon.  This is the first time I have been into the Suq since the troubles.  The attitude of the people towards us is markedly changed in the suq where they feel safe in the narrow maze like streets.  The people no longer make haste to clear the path for us to walk and the butchers do not attempt to cover their meat.  Nothing of importance was said as we passed and the shop keepers we visited still value our custom.  I bought a case, pyjamas, shoes and oddments.  A walad seeing B & I with cases shouted “El Englisee rah, Alhumdillila.”

Ron notices a change in the atmosphere at the Souk.

Saturday, 20^th December, 1947

There was very little to do today after the finish of the primary stages of the recent cases.

I tore a large triangular gash in my Kallil trousers this morning on some barbed wire.

I changed into civvies for this afternoon I often do this when I get browned off with uniform.

This evening I turned up the bottoms of my blue uniform trousers as they are a little long.  I managed to do it passably after first turning up one more than the other and then having to take it down again.

Sunday, 21^st December, 1947

I was called away from breakfast this morning at 8.45 to prepare a release of prisoners notice as the one I gave out last night has been lost.  This made me feel very angry towards one of the Palestinians as the court started at nine and it would be impossible to be there on time.

This afternoon Paddy Moore & I went for a long walk right around the town.  We passed three men carrying rifles but of course took no action against them.

17th & 18th December, 1947 - Contraband and rumours...

Wednesday, 17^th December, 1947

When I went to the office this morning I found that the Urban Police had caught a lorry load of contraband rice and sugar outside Balata and on searching the lorry at the Rural P.S. (Police Station) a rifle and 19 rounds were found.  Apparently this belonged to one of the “Gibney Kabears” in Nablus and I received orders to leave everything until I received instructions form the S.P.  On my way to the Billet where the lorry loaded was parked I saw the Mayor leaving the Billet.  He had been to see the S.P. to get the whole case cancelled.  The S.P. must have been very embarrassed over the whole affair.  The case is however being continued but instead of prosecuting under contraband it is amended to conveying foodstuffs (controlled) without a licence.  The rifle case has been transferred to the Urban as it was found in their area.  I did not know what to do with the 32 sacks of sugar & 10 of wheat (sic)*  No-one wants anything to do with it, neither the Food Controller nor the Customs People.

* Ron described the haul as rice above and again below.

Thursday, 18^th December, 1947

I had to rush around this morning trying to find somewhere in which to store the sugar and rice.  The Armoury in the Station has been transferred to the billet so we moved all the rice and sugar in there.  If I had put it in the court exhibit it would have been filled to the roof.

A hot rumour came in today that we are leaving Nablus in the second week in January and are going by the illegal immigrants boats to Cyprus where we will live in the Detention Camps[1] there until suitable transport is found to take us home,  I rather hope this rumour is fulfilled as it would mean another country to see. 

Cyprus, August 1946-February 1949.source United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

All manner of rumours are in the air but nobody has heard anything official yet.

[1] There were 11 Cyprus Internment Camps which were maintained by the British to house Jews who had tried to immigrate into Palestine in contravention of the British policy at the time...  

13th - 16th December, 1947 - A general telling off is in order from the S.P. and Ron is shocked by heavy-handed practices of Palestinian colleagues

Saturday, 13^th December, 1947

Sunday, 14^th December, 1947

No Entries

Monday, 15^th December, 1947

The Superintendent called all available Police to a lecture in the club this afternoon.  Apparently two C.I.D. men on Saturday evening had gone to the only hotel in Nablus and became a bit more merry than was good for them.  On leaving the Hotel they had their pistols stolen from them.  Fortunately the Mayor came to the assistance again and got them returned.

The S.P. gave us a lecture on being too complacent in our attitude.  He put the Palestine Hotel out of bounds and sayed that if a case arose where a rifle or pistol was taken from a B/C in a café all cafés would be put out of Bounds.

Tuesday, 16^th December, 1947

A wanted man was arrested this morning and charged and cautioned in the office.  He was then sent under escort of one Palestinian to the Lock-Up where unconvicted prisoners are lodged.  This Lock-Up is about 100yds from the Station and when waiting outside the door, as it can only be opened from inside, the prisoner bolted.  The Palestinian escort could not run fast & the prisoner being a young chap had a good start.  One of my “I” Branch men was stood at the Station gate and ran after him.  The prisoner soon covered the 200yds across the flat and slowed down when he began to climb the rocky mountain the “I” man caught him and the escort then came up.  These Palestinians can be cruel at times and they beat the poor prisoner something cruel pushing him back so that he fell to the ground five times.  He was also forced to go through a prickly pear hedge.