14th & 15th April, 1948 - Ron is enjoying the cruise but no luck on the Tote.

Wednesday, 14^th April, 1948

We sailed from Malta at about 10pm after setting off and taking on hundreds of troops.  I should imagine the discipline is very strict on land for the naval launches & other crafts were all spick & span.

I think I must have slung my hammock on the wrong side of the ship last night for I woke during the night feeling a cold wind blowing.  This morning we pressed close by the North coast of Pantelleria Island.  I got out my binoculars and this showed me the details of this face of the island.  Extinct volcanoes domineered the picture, the sides sloping steeply down to the cliff faces.  These slopes are deeply terraced between the old volcanics lava courses.  Houses are scattered thickly on the lower slope but not by the sea.  A lighthouse on the cliffs and a castle on the summit of a hill stand out from the other simple houses.

We shall see quite a deal of land as we pursue our course just off the north coast of Africa.  Cape Bon was sighted at midday.  All the coastline seems to have been volcanic at some time and as a result is very barren looking.

This evening we assembled on deck for an open air cinema show.

The weather has been beautiful with no sign of rain but as soon as the show started so did the rain.

Thursday, 15^th April, 1948

There was no land in view this morning but at midday it could be faintly seen through the misty low lying clouds.

There is a totalisation held on deck every morning to see who can judge the mileage covered in the last 24 hours.  I bought a shilling ticket this morning but was unlucky.  Judging from the map of our route and our average speed I should think we should arrive at Gibraltar tomorrow night.

This afternoon I spent reading with the usual break for tea and a bun at 3.30pm.  Yesterday we each received a bulk ration for 11/-.  This consisted of 300 cigarettes, a bar of chocolate, two rolls of sweets & six chocolate biscuits.  This was very cheap but I did not need so many cigarettes but had to have them to get the other articles.

12th & 13th April, 1948 - Settling to life on board - swinging hammocks on deck.

Monday, 12^th April, 1948

We are now getting settled down to our temporary home.  The messing is good and the sleeping which we do in hammocks on deck, is passable.  These are the main things, for the others we manage.  Toilets if hurried are completed every morning early.

For recreation we can walk the decks or lie on them with a book or just lie talking.  Over the inter-com system we get musical programmes and the news and in the late evening some of the ships crew get out their instruments for a sing song.

The Police are wandering around trying to use all 2^nd class facilities but so far I think the only ones who have escaped the Red Caps detection are those in civilian garb who use the 2^nd class lounge.

The sea has been like a mill pond all day and this morning we saw an island off the coast of Crete.

Tuesday, 13^th April, 1948

Every night now the population of deck sleepers increases.  The chaps are beginning to realise the advantages of sleeping up in the clean open air.

Recreation facilities are becoming routine.  For myself I read and talk with my immediate friends.  Over the loudspeakers we get a half hour of “swing” music in the morning followed by a “Quiz” and a half hour of light classical music in the evening.  Otherwise the loudspeaker shouts for certain people to report to other certain people.

In all, up to now the voyage has been a continuously pleasant relaxation.

Valletta Harbour, Malta, 1948

This evening while I was in the ships cinema the ship pulled in to Valetta Harbour.  After the cinema I walked the decks looking out upon the Harbour lights.  I wish I could have seen it by day for in the half light it was attractive to see.

11th & 12th March, 1948 - Ron gets up, tries a bit of embroidery and goes to the cinema..

Thursday, 11^th March, 1948

Every morning between 9a.m. and 12 mid-day we are not allowed to smoke.  It is during this period that the inspections by the officials & M.O.s take place.  Yesterday the Colonel I/C the camp came around and as a result I was told this afternoon that I could get up for a while.

I felt a little dizzy after being in bed without food but this passed off and I sat out on the veranda in the Sun.

Not quite finished...

The walking around made me quite tired and in the evening I sat by a chum’s bed and continued the embroidery of my badge, given to me by the Sister in charge of handicrafts for the patients.  There are various things which can be done in this way to break the monotony of days in bed.  All come under the impressive title of “Occupational Therapy.”

 

Friday, 12^th March, 1948

This morning as an “Up” patient I had to wash in the wash room.  There are also showers and baths in the ablutions.

When a patient is up he is required to help with the duties in the ward.  These comprise such tasks as dusting and washing lockers, supplying bed patients with “bottles,” washing water, meals, drinks etc.

This all helps to occupy the time and for the other spare time we read, talk and listen to the Radio.  I think I shall go out on Monday.  I heard the doctor tell the sister this morning that I was ready to go out.

This evening I went to the hospital cinema, it is very much of a barn but quite large and well seated.  On the walls are small murals of scenes in the Arab lands.

The film was a Cowboy type and passed an evening away if of no other value.

12th and 13th February, 1948 - Ron hits a losing streak at Table Tennis and has to polish up his gun...

Thursday, 12^th February, 1948

After yesterday’s lesson I did not lie back in bed after my alarm clock had wakened me at 7.45am.  In company with the other members of my room we repaired to the dining room and the guards “ate a hearty breakfast.”

This morning I played six games of table tennis and am still unable to account for my losing each and every one of them.

In the afternoon I indulged in a favourite occupation of mine, letter writing.  I wrote one letter a ten paged one to my mother, father & sister.  I hope my correspondents enjoy reading my letters as much as I enjoy writing them.  Todays letter what (sic - was) built around the themes of how I exercise my brain and how I remain sane on a six hour static guard point.

 

Friday, 13^th February, 1948

“Friday the 13^th,” the chaps shout, “I’m keeping my head down today.”

It was on a Friday 13^th that I signed my last document, my attestation, on arriving in Jenin.

The day was one of the quietest since we have been here.  It was spoiled by a rifle inspection held in the afternoon.  After all the recent rain I had several very bad rust spots

on my rifle and in preparation for the inspection I had to spend a great part of the morning & afternoon removing these.  About 60 of us were on the Parade.  I was in the rear rank.  The officer inspecting thoroughly examined the rifles of those in the front rank then the rain began to pour down so that he only glanced at the rifles in the rear rank.

4th & 5th February, 1948 - The etiquette of the frisk is under scrutiny.

Wednesday, 4^th February, 1948

The duty passed reasonably quickly today and without any outstanding events.

One minor incident occurred when one of the B/Cs on duty with me felt a little over energetic and instead of running his hands carefully up in under a man’s arms when he was searching him, brought them up with some considerable force.  The other B/C and myself saw the funnyside of this but the astonished fellow being searched was too preoccupied determining whether or not his ribs had been broken.  When he discovered he was whole he forgave the B/C in a generous way and offered us cigarettes all round.  Probably this last move was to safeguard himself on being searched another time.

Thursday, 5^th February, 1948

It poured with rain all this morning starting at approximately 3am and finishing just before lunch time.

Typical of the lack of interest taken by N.C.O.s in the Welfare of the Force we were taken to our posts on the back of an open 3 tonner.  If at a future date I attend a reunion dinner of the Palestine Police I shall be very surprised if I do not snigger in the middle of one of the inevitable speeches made praising the life we led and the conditions we worked under.

This evening my recreation took the form of a visit to the Zone Cinema.  I do not think I have ever been more impressed than I was by the film “The Four Feathers.”  It was truly an excellent film excellently produced, filmed and acted.  The propaganda value in this country at this time is also not to be neglected.

17th & 18th January, 1948 - A trip to the "Y" and Ron gets to grips with his smalls.

Saturday, 17^th January, 1948

This morning I went to the “Y.M.C.A.” in the heart of the city.  The building is a marvellous construction with a tower in the centre and domed wings on the main building.  I have been told that it was built by an American millionaire and is the largest Y.M.C.A. building in the world.

I visited the library there and found it to be an excellent collection of books.  Also there is a swimming bath and a gymnasium but I did not see these.

Also today I learn that we in this camp or billet are to be known as “The 1^st Guards Company.”

Such stupidity on the part of the powers that be must only go to show that the days of the British as Police in this country are surely finished.

 

Sunday, 18^th January, 1948

Sunday is never treated as a religious day of rest through the general mass of the force here, but it is noticeable that a Sunday morning is very different to any other morning in the week.  There is a general atmosphere of quiet and calm about a room or street which is not present on a weekday.

For myself today I was very energetic in that I did some washing.  I started by washing some handkerchiefs and a pair of socks and later ventured upon a vest and a towel.  I was very pleased with the results of this labour and as the local laundry is exorbitantly dear I shall continue my washing in fine weather, of small articles anyway.

A Detail was published this afternoon of the duties we shall all be on during the coming week.  I am with two others on guard at the Public Works Department’s Workshops.

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

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

5th - 7th November, 1947 - A change of beds, Ron recognises some home truths about his work and enjoys the cinema showing...

Wednesday, 5^th November, 1947

I had my second cholera injection at 12am this morning and felt no effect from it at all today.

My bedstead was changed today for a very strong one.

Leaving work at 6pm I returned to the billet to find the engine had failed so that there were no lights.  Proceeding to the Hurricane Lighted dining room I carried my rifle vertically by the trigger guard on my right side.  Sgt Graham came out of the dark on my left and asked me where my rifle was.  I escaped as I had mine but many other chaps were not so fortunate & were placed on charges.  He received a bad chit over the inspection yesterday & I suspect he is trying to curry favour with the powers that be by tightening up on the arm carrying rules.

Thursday, 6th November, 1947

The Khutheh brothers are still in court.  Today the case was adjourned until Saturday when the court intends to visit the scene of the crime as the witnesses are not clear enough in their accounts of the incidents.  It is rumoured that when Conway goes the B.C.“I” in the Urban will replace him & I will go on a B.C. “I”’s course in Jerusalem.  I hope so in a way.  It would be too much for me to take over the Rural “I” branch.  A really competent man is required.  I have reached the conclusion that a B.C.“I” to be any good has to work to a terrific system & have an enormous memory for detail.

 

Friday,7^th November, 1947

The remarkable thing about the Friday evening cinema show in the Club, is the fact that although the defects in production are a regular feature the audience never lessens in density and never fails to see the funny side when the gremlins in the sound box gives a soprano a Basso Profundo voice.

This evening Esther Williams was the attraction playing a non swimming roll in “Hoodlum Saint.”[1] 

[1] Esther Williams was a competitive swimmer as a teenager and later became a Hollywood actress - many of her roles using her swimming skills...

27th & 28th October, 1947 - Ron is laid low with a cold, bad news and 'end of holiday blues'... but Beirut nightlife seems to help.

Monday, 27^th October, 1947

I now have a cold, from where I have obtained it I don’t know.  In the club this morning I received a phone message from Dorothy saying that she was too ill to meet me this evening.

I was very disappointed at this and I was not looking forward to and evening alone.

 

As it happened I went out with Rich & Stan first to the “Dug Out” to hear the really brilliant pianist there then on to a cinema to see “Bedelia.”  We then went to the Kit-Kat for the latter part of the floor show then on to the “Copacabana” for a few beers.  Here we met John who having taken Liz home at 11.30 after a rather dull evening came back here when he saw the light.

We found it amusing that ‘Ajram’ the millionaire owner should favour us with so much of his attention until about 3.30 in the morning.

 

Tuesday, 28^th October, 1947

Well the fateful day has arrived.

All packed and ready to return to the routine of Palestine life.  We had to wait for two hours as the truck had broken down.  This made us late and meant it was dark long before we reached Jenin so that we spent the night there.  I met Bob & we spent a quiet evening in the canteen.

Supplementary Post- Beirut snaps

Dad took a few shots of Beirut that I haven't used in the diary posts... here they are:

"Beirut 1947.

The mountains in

the background are

the home of the 

Winter Sports."

Baalbek

I have now been able to identify this building.  The wonders of Google!  It is the great Umayyad Mosque in Damascus

...but where is this Square?  Damascus or Beirut?

Harmonising horns on high speed American cars...

Ron is on the far left

The lovely Erica... the one with the 18' yacht!

Beach party with the Ladies from the British Council,...

...and now from the other side.

24th - 26th October, 1947 - Ron is troubled by the locals and his best laid plans go awry...

Friday, 24^th October, 1947

The trades people (if one can call them that) are a damned nuisance.  A long line of taxis we have to pass and each one in turn asks us if we need one.  Walking along with cameras in our hand does not make us immune to the professional camera man who can’t resist pestering us.  Beggars are very numerous but not too persistent in their requests for “Bucksheesh.” 

The boy driving his flock of turkeys...

After snapping a boy driving a flock of turkeys through the street the other day he was quite put out when we would not pay him.  The traffic laws if any seem never to be complied with here and it is hell at times in a busy street, nearly mad from hearing harmonising horns on the high speed American cars.

To day we went out in the yacht but as there was veritably no wind had to give it up.  The Arab skipper was to have today off so I rather think he was a bit cunning.

Went to see “The Batman” - “More full of action than the American comic.” – We found at the end it was a serial.

Saturday, 25^th October, 1947

Joe and I wandered around town this morning looking for suitable subjects to photograph.  We went to the docks where we were told that photographing was not allowed.

After lunch Erica came to the Pension and John returned bearing a note for me from Dorothy in which she said she had developed flue & would be unable to come to the dinner & dance as we had planned.

I'm guessing Erica took this one...

...and here she is - Erica...

Erica, Joe, Rich, Stan & I went out in her 18’ foot yacht and enjoyed a pleasant sail.  Joe was unfortunately sick just before we entered harbour.

I went alone to the cinema tonight and who should sit in the next seats but one, Joe & Erica.

Sunday, 26^th October, 1947

I went up to see Dorothy this morning & found her still ill, no arrangements could be made for tomorrow evening.  She liked the photograph & wrote on my copy. 

"To Ron -
Here's wishing you
good luck, and many
more Happy Holidays!
Dotty."

This evening Joe & I went to see “Cloak & Dagger.”