Fred Caroe 2


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Fred Caroe part 2

From 2734823 LAC Caroe C.F.

RAF Hospital Staff

Aden

August 17th 1955

Dear Dad,

Thank you for your long letter of the 9th. Life chugs on just the same - at least work does.

The weather has started to hot up again, it reached 112F yesterday and the humidity is awful, nearly 90%. Last night apparently it rained again for 10 mins. You heard all about our last lot of rain, I told Jane about it in my letter to her.

That lot of rain flooded the cricket pitch and the charity match was a washout and so was all cricket for 5 days and tennis for 3. However on Thursday we were knocked out in the 1st round of the 25 overs each K.O. comp., they made 121-7, we made 81-6, I was bowled 4th ball for 1 run !

Last Sunday though I played for the Area versus Besse & Co in the RAF Cup knockout, we got them out for 50 and we made 53-2, I made 9 not out. We play again on Sunday in the next round.

If I am posted away from here all mail will be sent on to me. My friend Donald who went to Bahrain for 4 weeks has had his posting there made permanent though he likes it for one reason they have air conditioning. It is less likely I will be posted away because I play cricket, hockey and tennis for the hospital and am in the Area Command cricket team, but one can never tell as all the stations in Iraq are now in the Aden Command.

HMS Cheshire. Built 1927. 10,550 tons.

Yesterday I went on an official medical party on board the troopship "Cheshire" (Bibby Line). There were 3 of us 2 corporals and myself, it was only a formality to see if the sick bay wanted anything, they didn't so we were entertained by the M.O. on board-- drinks all round. We spent 15 mins after leaving the "Cheshire" speeding round the harbour zigzagging between ships and delivering various ship's officers back to their ships who had been visiting the "Cheshire". We were in the RAF launch, flags flying hooters blowing- we felt quite important !!

We had one Seaforth Highlander who came into the Medical Ward with dysentery he got up country, and while I was sorting out his kit I found his bayonet and 10 live rounds 0f.303 ammo in his pocket !!

My book reading is jogging along, I am going on night duty next Monday so if it's quiet I can catch up on some work I hope. My tennis racket has not come yet, but a P & O liner has just come in so it may be on that. I had a long letter from Andrew at Stege in Denmark, he seems to be enjoying himself greatly.

You ask about savings, well at the moment I cannot afford to increase them I get paid roughly £5 a fortnight, it soon goes. I am trying to build up a reasonable wardrobe of civilian clothes, I have had to buy a pair of white gym shoes, socks last no time here, they rot ! I have 11/- a fortnight mess and bearer's bill. During the last fortnight I bought one pair of shorts 12/-, pair of long whites £1, 2 pairs socks 5/-, 1 pair gym shoes 15/-, and so it goes on !!

Love to Jane and Clarissa

Love Dad

Here is a letter that Fred wrote to his younger brother, Andrew.

From 2734823 L.A.C. Caroe C.F.

RAF Hospital Staff

Steamer Point

ADEN 2 am (on night duty) Sept 3rd 1955

My Dear Andrew,

Thank you for your long letter which arrived yesterday accompanied by one from Graham H... and Peter P.. -all male mail ! I hope you are enjoying the good old English climate, I believe the weather is not so good now. After 3 weeks with temps well over 100°F here it is cooling down now.

It was good to get your letter. I used to think it was a waste of time writing to you as you seldom replied, however you have improved ! I had not heard about Uncle Colin, I hope he lasts out, he's recovered from these illnesses before so I hope he does again.

I have just come back from the morgue having done the necessary on a man who died of haematemesis about 2 hours ago. He was a nice chap, the chief steward on the SS "Carthage". He had had a serious op to try and stop internal bleeding but although it is a week since the op he just couldn't last.

BP Cup. Cricket 1955

Well, young man I'm amongst the runs again, last Sunday we won the BP Cup and we each got a small replica cup*. It was a terrific do. Piles of food and beer and gin etc. We all got rather tipsy. I was on night duty too and slept most of the night ! In the match they made 75 and we made 76 for 3, I was 25 not out. I hit a six to level the scores then snicked a vicious leg break through the slips to win the game. In my last three innings for the area team I have made 9 not out, 38 not out and 25 not out. My average for the Area team is 50.50. When I get home I would like to become a member of Neston CC, it is such a long way to Liverpool CC.

I have had to learn how to play some very fast bowling, with it being a matting wicket the ball fairly whizzes off the pitch. The Indians here also mange to turn the ball a terrific amount.

Thanks for the tennis racket, it is in good condition. Did Jack O'Connor pack it for you. I will send you another 1/- stamp sometime. Please tell Dad I will write again soon, love to them all Behave yourself.

Love Fred

P.S. When do you start your N.S. ?

* I have still got the cup !!

From 2734823 L.A.C. Caroe, C.F.

RAF Hospital Staff

Steamer Point

ADEN

July 20th 1955

Dear Dad,

Thank you very much for your letter received today, one of four I got.

Before I forget I have not received a Sunday Express yet, I can't think why I expected one last Wednesday but never got it. What beastly cold weather you are having -- only 80°F ! It has cooled off a little here but not much, still over 100°F every day.

We had a terrific sandstorm last Thursday at 5.0opm. It was a magnificent sight to see it come down from the north, a huge orangey black cloud swept over North Aden and the buildings appeared to be swallowed up in the rolling sand, then it hit us and it was fun no more. We could not see more than 5 yards for an hour, then it died down and we had a stifling night. Sand in our beds and even in our breakfast the next day.

We have this polio outbreak here and now have three cases, one is my friend John Bowden, he is the junior radiographer in the hospital and we used to play tennis every now and then when I could borrow a racket !

We have had a terrible tragedy, a Wing Commanders wife was caught by a shark only ten feet from the shore while bathing in Elephant Bay - I believe there was no shark netting there. She was pulled out by a local man and two RAF guards. I saw when she was brought in, I will not describe her condition to you. She sadly died.

A pilot was brought into the hospital having been killed when his Venom crashed upcountry. You do I presume know all about the troops here. One was killed by rebels up country the other day and an RAF Regiment fellow had to have his leg amputated here. We had a very interesting lecture on polio here, it is generally believed now that it is spread, by food etc and the virus enters the body by mouth. There are three types, fortunately it is the milder type which is here. The little boy who has come round from polio has now got meningitis and is on the seriously ill list.

I heard the live commentary of the Test Match on the wireless and near the end it was very exciting to listen to. I also heard the Wimbledon Finals broadcast and last Saturday heard large parts of the Grand Prix from Aintree which Mercedes so admirably won.

I hear Lancs beat Leics by an innings and 50 runs yesterday. What a test team -- Watson - ugh, Insole -well!! Lock and Wardle, what's wrong with Cowdrey --toe ache? I think they should bring back Washbrook.

Wonders will never cease, I have been chosen to play for the RAF Representative X1 versus an All Indian X1 in a charity match on August 7th.¹ The Representative Team is chosen from all the RAF and Civilian teams. It is going to be quite a do as H.E. The Governor will be there and the A.O.C. and the C.O.'s of all the RAF Stations in Aden. The charity is "The Poor Peoples Fund"-- I shall have to buy a new white shirt.

Andrew is a lucky young brother, flying to Denmark, just wait till he has to fly to Aden to do his National Service! No one here is allowed any leave as a state of emergency has been declared at the hospital because of the trouble upcountry. We are due for a practice "alert" tomorrow and Friday because the authorities here have reason to believe that there may be some incidents in the town against RAF and Army because we have been using planes and bombs and armoured vehicles up country. What do I fight with -- a hypodermic syringe and a bread knife ?

Congratulations on winning a medal at the Philatelic Show.

Mr and Mrs Debbas are getting me some first hand information about a scooter.

Only 14 months to demob ! Love to all and a pat for Nick

Fred

PS We have a large aircraft carrier in the harbour today on loan to the Australian Navy.

I am working on Medical Ward now and lo and behold who should be a patient there but a Danish Seaman who said that you performed his marriage service in your office. What a small world. [My father was the Hon. Consul for Denmark in Liverpool and consequently had the authority to marry Danes in his office. I was Consul from 1972-79 but never had to perform a wedding ceremony!]

¹The cricket match never took place as we had a mega thunderstorm on the Saturday morning which produced about 5 years rain in 40 minutes, the whole of Aden was a soggy shambles, temporary houses washed away, sewage all over the place - cases of dysentery shot up. The smell was awful for weeks.

More of Fred's letters: Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

This page last updated Saturday, 02 August 2008

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