I also joined the Toc-H-Group run by the Station
Padre for visits to various places, including
the leprosy hospital at Sheikh Othman. Col.
Curtis (Army) and Lt/Col. Bonham-Carter would
give talks. He was O/C of the Indian Punjab
regiment. We also watched them beat the retreat
at Khormaksar.
With several others I took up the invitation of
having a day on board the cruiser HMS Norfolk in
Aden harbour. Getting up up at 5am, we were on
board at 6am, given breakfast and out to sea
quite quickly. Torpedoes were fired and 18” guns
firing off at a large target being towed along.
In the evening the ship was darkened, and then
huge flares lit up another ship not far away. It
was quite a thrilling day and evening.
At the end of hostilities in Ethiopia our work
came to a halt for a while. Then orders were
given to clear the site and we were kept very
busy moving aircraft, engines and all equipment
to Steamer Point.
After a couple of weeks all was done and those
of us who had had no leave before leaving
England would be returning again when the
Troopship arrived at Steamer Point.
On the 3rd December 1936 we embarked
on Troopship Dilwara and left Harbour at
12 Noon.
Halfway through the Mediterranean Sea, we were
told the RAF Stations we would be posted to. On
the 20th December 1936 we arrived at
Southampton, disembarked and were given rail
tickets and a six week leave pass. I was very
glad to be back on dry land after 16 days and
nights sleeping in a slung hammock, another 4 ½
thousand sea miles over with.
