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.

8th - 12th July, 1947 Ron's sorting out the Mess... and "Hooray for Chicken!"

Nablus Souk or Sukh

Tuesday, 8^th July, 1947

A return visit to the scene of Sundays escape proved fruitless tonight.

The Contrabandees are probably shy of the hitherto popular track now.

Wednesday, 9th July, 1947
I went with Ryan to Nablus today.  We went to the Sukh for minor requirements & later I visited the Nablus Rural Mess Caterer who has a big mess.  I bought all his spare tinned food from him for our mess.

Thursday, 10^th July, 1947 & 

Friday 11th July, 1947

No entries

Saturday, 12^th July, 1947

The outstanding incident today occurred at dinner time when to the great pleasure of the mess, three chicken were served.  It is the first chicken the majority of us have had since we have been here.

Sunday, 13^th July, 1947

After yesterday’s gourmandising we were disappointed in the dinner today as Spinneys [1] truck did not arrive with the weekly rations.  I had to send the mess boy running to get stuff for a quick meal as we delayed hoping the truck would arrive.

[1] I've linked through to Spinneys before but this is a Wikipedia entry about them.

24th - 26th March, 1947 - Pay roll escort duty, Arabic lunch, a gazelle and Ron's first impressions of the Sukh...

Monday, 24^th March, 1947

I was up with “the lark” this morning & reported to the P.W.D at 7.30am.  Myself & another B/C & a truck with a Palestinian driver were to act as escort to the P.W.D pay truck.  We left Nablus at 9.30am & went tearing over the country paying all the labourers.  For each job a labourer does he receives a card on which his payment is recorded.  He gets paid every fortnight or at the end of the job.  99 out of every 100 sign for their pay with a red ink thumb print.  For lunch we were given chicken with a dish or Arabic bread spread with fried onions.  It was very nice even though eaten with our fingers in a field.  As the Arabic foreman said “This is how Henry VII liked to eat chicken” he had seen the film in Cairo.  I saw my first gazelle this afternoon bounding up the mountain side.  No spare rounds.  We were given coffee & cigs at almost every stop we made.  We got back at 6.30pm, in time for dinner.

Tuesday, 25^th March, 1947

A lovely day.

I was not called upon for any duties until midnight when I went on guard.

This duty from 12 to 6 was quickly passed, I do not remember it passing quite so quickly before.

Wednesday, 26^th March, 1947

I came off guard & went to bed but I could not sleep as I felt sweaty.

At 10am we were paid.  I have saved £10 out here so far.

In the afternoon Graham & I went into Nablus & down the Sukh.

Nablus Sukh then...

Ron wrote on the reverse of this picture:

"April. 1947.  

One of the main roads

 in the Sukh.  Nablus.  

Note the crowded 

shop space & the 

sacking hung up to 

give shade.  

This picture cannot unfortunately convey 

the true amount of 

filth & the smell."

...and now

A corner of the Sukh Nablus
- April 1947