Fred Caroe part 7

I hear you have been hit by some cold weather, just as well you have had a new stove installed. If you put the old stove in the greenhouse be careful the fumes don't kill all the plants !

The Aussie cricket team passes through here on about April 12th on the "Himalaya" on their way to play in England. I hope we see them, tentative arrangements have been made for an RAF Command Team to play them, failing that to go on board and see them-- I have been invited - it all depends on what time she arrives in port.

The cricket season is already getting under way with a couple of friendly matches. The soccer season has finished and tennis is coming to an end. The X ray of my heel showed a hairline crack ½" long in my heel bone, nothing bad, I can walk with pain and play games as long as it is strapped up !!

We played our quarter finals in the Aden Civvies Championship and lost 2-6, 5-7. We had a set point at 5-4,if we had won it we would probably have easily won the 3rd set as both our opponents were nearly 40yrs old and very leg weary !!

Andrew tells me the Riley has a new engine and that the big end went. I have learnt a lot about engines while helping "Ginger" (my tennis partner) a mechanic to mend various cars, re-bores, de-carbs and new big ends ! "Check the oil in future " !

You can now try ringing me when I am at work the number is Aden 3668 Ext. 8 (2 rings)

The temp was 87°F here today, down to 76°F now (9.30 pm)

Love to you all Fred

APL Sports Day march-past led by Fred Caroe. February 1956

Dear Dad,

Thank you for your letter received yesterday, I am glad you are much better now and able to get up. Dr Turner seems to use Ancient and Modern medicine when giving you penicillin mixture and terramycin. The giving of penicillin orally is generally frowned upon here as it very much doubted as to whether it does any good.*

Time is flashing by despite things quietening down a bit. The weather is moody, the day max: since Wednesday have been 82.5, 85.8, 86, and 84. But the minima have been odd 74, 69, 66, 69. (66 F said to be lowest temp. here since 1921).

My heel is giving me no trouble, my ankle is still a bit swollen but stands up to all the rigours of the day.

I gather it is a little bit warmer in G.B. though plenty of sport was hit yesterday. I listened to the "live" commentary of the Ireland v Scotland rugger,  it was exciting 14-10. I have listened to nearly all the live commentaries of the last 5 weeks, whether soccer or rugger, with much knob twiddling I've found the best spot to pick up the Overseas Service.

I have had a few practice sessions on the radio and today at 4.30 pm I make my debut "live" on the radio. I am announcing on AFBA (Aden Forces Broadcasting Association). I will be introducing an Anniversary request programme. We broadcast on 241.7 metres Medium wave, given good conditions it can be heard all over the middle east and beyond.

I expect Aden will be in the news again as some serious trouble looks like brewing up up country.

200 new Belgian rifles have found their way into dissident tribes hands, how no one quite knows but the theory is Russia-Egypt-Saudi Arabia-Yemen-Aden. I gather a strong force is going up to see if it can capture them -- I shall stay down here ! I am in charge of the M.I. Room so I have to stay, thank goodness. No more news for now.

 Love Fred

* Penicillin was given by injection in Aden, I think even to this day it is given orally !!!

There are no letters in March 1956 - must have got mislaid, and in April there seems to be two, both to my stepmother. My father remarried in 1952 after my mother died of polio in 1947. I have a half sister (Clarissa) and a half brother.

My Dear Jane,

I received Dad's long letter with his news about going to the U.S.A. and Canada. I must say he left it to the last minute to tell me !! As the next mail out is not until Tuesday I can't possibly write to him, I will send a telegram on Monday or Tuesday.

Before I give you all the local news both good and bad, prepare yourself for a surprise -- tomorrow Monday 16th April I leave A.P.L. forever. I have been posted to the HQ of the British Forces in Aden as the deputy command hygienist-- heavens knows what I know about hygiene-except the paper work.

Apparently I am the only SAC in the Aden Command for the job, ie with necessary school qualifications and I came top in the Hygiene section of my SAC exam !! I am told I shall be "terribly powerful" and will be able to tell anyone from an AC2 to an Air Marshall whether he can live in such and such a house or not !!! (hardly likely). I shall once again be living in the RAF Hospital Billet.

Of course it means I relinquish the captaincy of the APL cricket team which is a pity. I would rather stay here at APL but it's just one of those things-one thing it is cooler at The RAF Hospital during the hot season, which incidentally still hasn't arrived - it is over 2 weeks late. For the last week we have had a strong NE wind whipping up piles of sand and causing drifts just like snow.

I received a letter from Andrew yesterday, he is lucky to have been posted to Wilmslow for his square bashing.

Over 3000 people are on strike here again, dockers, builders, and employees at the Oil Refinery and on top of that an invading party crossed the border from the Yemen and besieged a fort resulting in troops (Levies) and aircraft being sent up to repel them. This they have just about done but with the loss of a Hastings aircraft which crashed while landing on an airstrip up country. The plane caught fire and the crew of 4 plus 8 airmen got out in time. It had a small ferret scout car and 10,000 rounds of ammo onboard and it blew up. I know all the airmen; one is a cook who sleeps in the bed opposite me! One broke his leg, another his ankle, and one was burnt.

The cricket has been going well but I think I am a bit stale - too many games.

The broadcasting is going great guns, I have now got every Monday evening to myself 7.30 pm to 11.0pm. It includes an hours "Hospital Requests" (approx 18 records to introduce), then the news to read at 10.0pm then 55 mins of bedtime music (17 records to introduce). In the near future I will send you an AFBA Radio Times. Dad asked in his letter what I would like for my 21st Birthday - quite honestly I haven't a clue. Dad mentioned it was not worth my while buying a record player out here as I'm almost certain to have to pay Purchase Tax on it when I get home. Records out here are very cheap.  On AFBA we use mainly long play records.

Keep well and look after yourself, give my love to dear Clarissa and do send some more photos of her if you have any. Longing to see how much she has grown. Just 22 weeks and 5 days to demob.

Lots of love

Fred

P.S. Have you given consideration to this polio vaccine and having it given to Clarissa? From articles in medical magazines which I've read it sounds safe enough.

I do remember the authorities tried to hush up the Hastings crash -- to no avail -- too many people witnessed it !!

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