Fred Caroe part 4

From 2734823 SAC Caroe C.F.

RAF Hospital Staff,

Steamer Point,

Aden

11.30 pm Nov 13th 1955

Dear Dad,

Well this is my last night duty in this hospital it's also my last duty here. Next Thursday I'm leaving to go to the A.P.L. Hospital 7 miles down the road. APL stands for Aden Protectorate Levies. In all probability I shall be working in the Medical Inspection Room there, a far better job than running round these wards!.

The APL are the Arab army of Aden. They help guard the border against Yemen. I will be attached to the Levies but doubt if I will be sent up country. RAF Officers command them.

Instead of my RAF cap badge I shall wear the APL badge which is two crossed Arabian swords on a green background, and on my epaulettes some more brass the letters "APL".

I will let you know my new address as soon as possible but you can write to me here in the meantime as I shall be up here 2 or 3 times a week to go swimming, collect mail and see my friends etc.

It is beastly chilly at night now, down to 74F, I am wearing a khaki shirt my green pullover and white gown on duty tonight. I hear from the news you are having a very warm November.

Just had my midnight meal !

Night sister and I have played a prank on the orderly M.O. We have taken his sheets and mattress off his bed and hidden them, any minute now an irate M.O. will appear on the scene, it ought to be quite amusing !

Jane's parcel still hasn't arrived, sea mail is due today. John Gilmore who works here hasn't received a parcel sent in June. The locals here seem to have started a pilfering campaign, lots of money, watches and other valuables have been stolen as well as bedding. I had a blanket stolen from the Night Staff Billet, another had 2 sheets taken and another a sheet and a blanket.

I am playing a lot of hockey, yesterday I played for RAF Steamer Point v Little Aden, we lost 4 -3, not bad considering during most of the first half we had only 10 men -- one got a nasty cut over his eye which needed two stiches. It was 2 - 2 at halftime. I scored our first goal, I play right wing now. For most of the second half we only had 9 men, another was hit on the shin and a vein burst, first aid was applied by me !!! He needed 4 stitches.

They scored the winning goal 3 minutes from the end. I play again on Wednesday. Despite night duty I feel immensely fit -- 4 games of hockey and 2 of tennis since Nov 2nd and on nights! I am playing tennis tomorrow.

Must close now and do a ward round.

Love to you all, Fred

From 2734823 SAC Caroe C.F.

RAF Hospital Staff

Steamer Point

Aden

Thursday 7.30 pm 21st Nov 1955

Dear Dad,

Thank you very much for your letter and Colin Heppard's received yesterday.

Despite the address I have moved to APL Singapore Lines but as usual the RAF have boobed, there is no room in the APL quarters so for tonight I am sleeping in an RAF Regiment Billet and tomorrow morning I hope to be allocate a bed in an APL Billet. I leave it to W/O Rowe the Camp Commandant to work it out !!

It is no good giving an address yet without a Billet number. Singapore Lines are on the isthmus between Crater and the airport, the runway is very close to the APL hospital, We are at most only 5 feet above high tide mark. It is nice and cool as the wind blows straight off the sea.

On Tuesday John Gilmore and I climbed Sham Sham, we walked about 4 miles round the coast and went straight up from sea level, phew did we sweat, it was cloudy all morning so not as bad as it might have been. We left the RAF Hospital at 8.00 am and reached the top by 10.30 am, we stayed up there 2 1/2 hours, it was quite cool, the sun came out at 12.30 and we soon got burnt as we walked down to Crater, from there we got a taxi back to Steamer Point.

I have sent by registered sea mail two parcels for Christmas, one for Jane and one with yours and Clarissa's presents in. I am certain there will be no duty on Jane's, and with a little luck none on yours. However if there is, let me know and I will refund it. You'll see from the customs declaration what they are but it is no excuse to open them before Christmas !!!!

It is now Saturday 5.20 pm.

I can now let you have my new address, it is Billet 8, APL, Singapore Lines, Aden.

I am actually writing this while visiting my "old" Hospital.

My new job is far less strenuous physically, no running around wards and if I go anywhere I either get the ambulance or a very posh Land Rover. So I get driven around in state by APL Arab drivers !!

I work in the M.I. Room, there is just a Corporal Foster -- his name is Fred as well - and myself. The M.O. comes for Sick Parade at 8.00am but soon disappears afterwards. Fred (Foster) is a very nice chap, he is going on leave on Monday so I shall be i/c the M.I. Room. There is a lot of paper work to learn and masses of forms. It is really quite interesting though it does not sound so !