Fred Caroe part 3

From 2734823 LAC Caroe C.F. ADEN

Tuesday night August 2nd 1955

Dear Dad,

No letter from you for a while but maybe it was on the mail plane which crashed at Aden Airport yesterday, it ran into a Valetta while landing. I don't know yet if any mail was lost.

Now, about the Sunday Express, I got the 1st one today (July10th issue!!),it had come by sea mail, not surprising it had 1 1/2d stamp on it, typical journalists, it was addressed to LAS Carde !

I have thought about the motor scooter and discussed it with Mr Debbas and also with the Adjutant here. Mr Debbas says the scooter is useful but not much good as the roads are so bumpy and at least 5 people get knocked off each week, so he advised me against it and has kindly offered to lend me the TR2 which he does not propose to sell now. The adjutant advised very firmly against buying a scooter or car because if I was posted up country who would look after it.

With the Iraq command closing down there are 5 or 6 new stations to supply with medics in the Persian Gulf area and these are being drawn from this hospital. As it is we are 8 short which makes it hard work now. Donald Aimes has gone on a one month detachment to Bahrain.

I have my name down for a two week course in Jerusalem. The Padre organises it and we have to be prepared to go at very short notice (we went in September at 2 days notice, flew to Egypt, then to Mafraq in Jordan and then by bus to Jerusalem).

We had 4 Seaforth Highlanders in the hospital yesterday, all wounded upcountry fighting dissident tribesmen who are using dum-dum bullets. They either make their own bullets which have a rough finish or they take the point off an ordinary one. The bullets make an awful mess of our soldiers. They are banned by the Geneva Convention, but these tribesmen have never heard of it!Even our medics go up there armed !!

I have been playing a lot of tennis with a borrowed racket I even beat the ex Hospital champ 6-1, 6-2, 6-2.  Three sets nearly killed us both so we plunged into the sea.

Yesterday we played APL at cricket. They made 54, we made 55 for no wicket.

I saw Genevieve at the Astra Cinema for the 3rd time, saw it twice before at home at the King's flee pit in Heswall.

With luck I shall be a fluent linguist when I come home. I have a secondary job as interpreter here. Whenever a Spaniard or Italian comes in as a patient they always get me to come and translate with Italians, I speak French or failing that some Spanish. Surprising how much they understand.

The French are the easiest of course. I have interpreted for at least 15 Frenchmen alone. You should see the looks on the Sister's (All Officers) faces when I jabber to foreigners, I can just read their thoughts, "What, an orderly speaking languages !" Most of the Sisters are awfully "uppish", damn it, they are only SRN's who have come into the RAF for an easy life -- some admit it reluctantly.

Must close now, my love Jane and Clarissa and Bon Voyage to Andrew.

Love Fred

From 2734823 SAC Caroe C.F.

RAF Hospital Staff

Steamer Point

Aden Monday October 17th 1955

I suppose I had better fork out for a cricket slip cradle at Birkenhead School, Colin Heppard asked for a £1 to help. Would you like to give them a £1 out of my weekly savings. I enclose the letter again from him, it might be a good idea to tell him where I am !

May be you have noticed from the top of the letter I am now an SAC. I passed my SAC Trade Test Exam so I get my SAC back dated to 9.9.55. It involves an increase in pay, some say its 6d a day others say 1/-. I will eventually get a Regulars pay when I have done 18 months of my National Service, it is a lot more money.

Now, Jane's parcel has NOT arrived, I have my doubts that it ever will. I will keep enquiring at this end.

I have been working all hours recently due to staff shortages and with having several tennis practices I felt washed out on Friday as I had developed a mild dose of dysentery. I took 24 Sulphathaladine pills on Friday, Sat and Sun; and feel ok now.

Tomorrow I play for the Hospital in a match, we should walk it - the top two players play for the Command.

The cool season has come well and truly now, the max temp has been below 90ºF for last 3 days and at night it dropped to 78ºF. My sheet and pyjamas are now worn. The atmosphere is far less humid now and visibility clear as anything. We can see the mountains of North Yemen.