Where are you now?

I'm having a problem again. I wanted to post two photos, but after each post my machine goes off-line which makes working on this blog very time consuming. I guess I'll continue with this photograph, publish the post and then open it again and edit it. By doing that I can continue.

I mentioned that we used to borrow the Chevvie and sometimes go out exploring at weekends. This a photo taken on one of those trips. I'm closing the blog now. I'll edit it and upload a photo.

Great!

That worked. Once again the photo has appeared at the top of the Blog. Never mind. At least it has appeared.

The top photo shows the Chevvie that we used (to use) to go on our trips. It not only was our means of transport but also our living accomodation. Can you spot a pair of socks hanging there?

The feet that they belong to are in the windscreen on the right.

It used to get very cold at night so the guy in the background kept his socks on. Very observant! You have all recognised that it must be about midday because the sun is shining almost from directly above. Well we didn't succeed in taking many photographs in the dark at night. That's it.

Thank you all for following my blog. I hope you enjoyed sharing that adventure with me.

I wish I had more photographs to include, but I have to admit that one of my sons has nicked them from my albums and accuses one of my daughters of taking them from him. Makes me wish that I had converted all my hard copy photos to digital CDs. I started but found that far too time consuming. At least if they end up in a shoe box somebody may find them interesting. If they are on a CD who would bother to open the CD to see what was there?

I'm not angry. Many of those photographs appeared in a Collage that hung on the walls of the village hall during our Silver Wedding party. As that was over 25 years ago, I don't imagine I have much hope of getting them back into my albums. I know exactly where to put them if I do.

Bye for now..

Where are you now?

I found this photograph in my album of photographs taken during my tour of duty in Ankara. It is the wedding of Jemal Shenkartal. In the photo, top row are: Mr. Clarke (the American), Jimmy Piper (Pip) (He had been a Foreman of Signals, too.) Orhan Hataysal, Mrs. Piper, Barbara Milkamanovicz ( or Barbara Melekoglu. You choose.), The bridegroom and bride. In the backgroud are Major Bernard Pigg and his wife. The remainder are the family of Jemal. Front row: Me, Memhet Caner and somebody I don't know.

I have searched my photographs to find a photograph that included Mithat Akkurt. He was one of the Cadre at Mamak Signal Training School (Mamak Okulu). If I find one I'll make a special blog just to be able to include him.

I wanted to add another photo to this Blog but for some reason it isn't loading, so I will create another blog. Aha, the wonders of science! The problem was that my PC had gone off-line. When I tried to edit the blog I had another chance of uploading a photograph, which I have done. The photograph didn't go where I wanted it to go, but as I have said before, I'm not interested in a fancy Blog but just a plain down to earth text and photograph blog. I don't intend to move it incase that goes wrong.

Back to the picture at the top of this blog.

In 1990 I went down 'Memory Lane' and made a visit to Istanbul and Ankara. All I want to say at this time is that it was both a wonderful and sad experience. Sad, that I couldn't remember much of what I had previously known. Sad that I couldn't find any of the people whom I dearly loved except Orhan Hataysal. Wonderful that I did find and meet up with Orhan. I did try so very hard to find old friends. I was running all around the old haunts of Istanbul and Kavaklidere in particular, in Ankara. I visited the British Council to see if they had any records or addresses of the people whom I knew. I went to places where I remember my friends lived. I met with no such luck. But. Something strange did happen that I have to mention.

I arrived at Ankara Railway station after travelling on the night Mavi Tren (Blue train). I wanted to repeat that journey in luxury, but couldn't get onto the Oriental Express so accepted a seat on the other lesser one.

At Ankara it was pouring with rain and I tried to get a taxi to take me to an Hotel. All the hotels were full according to the taxi driver because there was a Medical convention taking place. I remembered a 'grotty' area in Ulus where there were cheap hotels so went there. I approached one of those hotels and was met by the owner. He told me that he had one room for one night only and that I could have that. As we walked towards the door and foyer all the lights went out. "Ha", I said. "Nothing has changed." "What does that mean?" He asked, so I told him that power failure was quite common when I was in Ankara in 1949. We immediately struck up a friendship so I asked him if I could borrow his telephone directory. "That is also the same. We just don't have a directory. Who do you want to find?" I told him that I was looking for Orhan Hataysal .

"I know him!" He said. "I'll have him here at 6:00pm sharp. You go off and do what you have to do. Make sure that you are here at 6:00pm"

At 6:00pm sharp I saw Orhan coming through the door. We embraced. I think we both had tears running down our cheeks. "Quick" he said, "Let's catch a 'bus to my place and celebrate." So off we both went to his home in Kavaklidere and boy did we celebrate. Before the last bus, we walked to the 'bus stop and he saw me safely on that bus.

The next day I had to clear out from that hotel and try to find another. I tramped the streets of Ankara again. I found a hotel almost walking distance from the Airport bus terminal. Tired and with my feet almost in shreds, I checked into the restaurant for my last meal. I booked an early call so that I could get to the bus in time. I felt a tap on my shoulder and looked round to find Orhan. "How did you find me?" I queried. "We have means.." he joked. He told me that he had that day started a new job with the Indian Embassy and would be too busy. We parted company with a promise that we would meet again the following year and that I would bring my wife.

Pan forward to 1990. I wrote to Orhan to confirm the dates that we would be travelling to Ankara. I got a reply from Orhan's son that his dad had disappeared.

The photograph at the top of this blog is of the national newspaper. It states: GREAT ALARM FOR THE SECRET CODE EXPERT. Searching operations of the Police, Gendarmerie and Navy helicopters continue after 14 days for Ahmet Orhan HATAYSAL who disappeared in Gebze during a seminar.

Police Departments of 73 provinces have been alerted. Kidnapping of the expert by unknown agents or terrorists is a possibility.

70 years old Ahmet Orhan HATAYSAL, who worked in different sections of NATO and U.N. as well as in American and English Companies, disappeared on the 5th day of a seminar which was arranged and taking place in the campus of the training centre of Tusside , 3km from from Gebze.

The TURKIYE newspaper dated May 24, 1991 stated: STATE SUPREME SECURITY COURT IS SEARCHING FOR THE NATO SECRET CODE EXPERT.

Istanbul. - The head of State Supreme Security Court is investigating the incident of Ahmet Orhan HATAYSAL who came to Gebze in order to attend a seminar and disappeared on May 2nd. The news appeared in the press, concerning the missing of Hataysal who worked in NATO and U.N., as well as in foreign companies, have been accepted as a denunciation and an investigation has been started. The authorities have found the case worth investigating.

I was so saddened by that news. I did all I could from England to search for him. I visited Istanbul again but could not get any help. Then after placing a notice on the DEC Notice board about Istanbul when I worked for the Company, Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), I received a reply two years later. The person who answered that note contacted me and continued my search in Turkey. Sadly he had to confirm that there is no longer any hope of news.

I may make one more blog. If I get no replies, I will change the title.

Where are you now?

This photograph shows a group of people who went on a Weekend British Council trip to the Baraj near Ankara. It is what we often used to do for recreation when we were not working. The Baraj, for those of you who are not familiar, is a dam and electricity generating plant. It is a lot more. It is a place where you can escape and enjoy nature. It is a place where you can have a meal and a drink. It is a place where you can take the children for a day out. I have pleasant memories of that place.

In the photograph at the top are: The brother of Basha Milkamanovicz (or Barbara Melekoglu as she sometimes was known). Next are three people who came along for the trip. I think that they may have worked for the British Council. In the lower row are: A member of the British Council, me, Frank Pedley (a Foreman of Signals who was a member of the BTS for a little while, before he went back to the UK to be commissioned), Barbara Milkamanovicz (or Basha Melekoglu - I never got the name right. Nor could I remember how to spell it.) She was a very good friend of mine. I'd love to know where she is now. Last man in that row was a Yedek Subay from the Muhabere Okulu.

There was always plenty to do around Ankara. For example visiting the Zoo, the Gardens at Ciftlik and so on. I remember one day when an Elephant called Mohini arrived. "Moheni Geldi" was on a large banner that proceeded the Circus. (My words). When the elephant got to the crossroads at Yenisehir it caused traffic chaos. Yes, it caused a complete traffic jam.

Another place we'd visit in winter was the 'Sugar Bowl' at Ulu Dagh'. When we went there it was not a Ski resort as it is now, but it was simply a place that had plenty of snow and facilitated a lot of skiing. We used to travel out from Ankara in a 3-ton truck. It was bitterly cold and we always dressed to be warm, not to look like people who ski today. We had basic skis that clamped onto our army boots - and that was it. We took hot soup in insulated containers for our lunch. And we took wax to wax the bottoms of our skis. We stayed for as long as we could guarantee daylight to get home again to Ankara and then made the journey back. We were usually shattered.

Sometimes we were given permission to use the Chevvie 20-cwt truck and Refat our driver at weekends to go out into the countryside camping and of course exploring. I have flown over Turkey when going to Hong Kong and looked down over the barren landscape and thought of those days. Sometimes we'd drive for hours and come upon a village. We were always invited to share their hospitality. Often we were very grateful (at night) to see a light in the distance that told us that there were people nearby. By the weekend's end we were tired and grubby, ready for a good hot bath and a good night's sleep. We seldom got that on our adventures.

For the less adventurous and the British Married families who arrived in Ankara, there was always a party to attend at one of the Married families homes or billets. After a while a club was formed. It was a bit like a pub in atmosphere. One could buy alcohol at the bar. Games like Bingo and Beetle were sometimes played. I became the treasurer and chief cook and bottle washer, not being socially inclined. It is a wonder that nobody suffered from food poisoning. I could make sandwiches last a week and people wouldn't complain that they were dry. After a while we found somebody else who could actually cook bacon, eggs and chips. I don't remember the hours of business, but I have a suspicion that it became a bit like a pub in that respect.

If we had any money to spare we would sometimes be very lavish and go to a casino (The Garre Casino adjacent to the Railway station.) to see show or visit one of the three 'girlie bars' in Ankara. I quite enjoyed visiting the cinema. Most of the films had English language sound tracks.

I once travelled to Istanbul. Not satisfied I have returned twice more. I always visit the Army Museum and Cicek Pasaj. I had a book called "Strolling through Stamboul". Somebody stole it from me, but I was able to get a later version called "Strolling through Istanbul." It is pretty much the same, but not quite as good as the original.

Where are you now?

When I was posted from Fayid in Egypt to Ankara I needed a travel document. I didn't have a passport, so I was given a piece of paper, shown above.

Afterwards, upon my starting work, the Turkish Army authorities photographed me and issued me with the document shown above the travel document. It is falling to pieces now but I still treasure it.

How I was selected for the job might be interesting to somebody who served in Egypt.

I was posted to Egypt as a Wireless Operator. I disembarked from a troop ship at Port Fuad and climbed aboard an army 3-ton truck. In the truck with me were other Royal Signals people who had been posted to the Middle East Land Forces Command as it was then known as. The truck then took off down the (Suez) Canal Zone calling in at all the Royal Signal units. At each unit, somebody would come and look at us like we were cattle. In Ismalia I was lucky to be treated to lunch (in the outdoor mess). It was a horrible experience. A bird flew down and took my lunch. The sweet of dried figs was alive with maggots. I decided there and then that I was going to hate the posting . Nobody seemed to want me so I got off the truck at the last stop. I was posted to that unit. It didn't last. After 70 days I left Egypt. I was called to the GHQ and the General interviewed me. That was the first time that I felt human. We had a long chat and he decided that I was the right man to send to Turkey. He told me what he wanted me to do. I was then placed on a "Awaiting posting " list and was available for all kinds of jobs not connected with Wireless operating. I became a drill instructor, a detective, a bus conductor and anything else where and when I was needed. One day I was issued with Civilian clothes and put on a train to Cairo and told to spend a night in a certain hotel and the next day present myself at Cairo Airport. I flew to Ankara via Cyprus. It was exciting as it was also the first time I had flown.

I eventually arrived at the Ankara Airport and there was nobody to meet me. That was quite unusual, so I tried to get some information as to what to do next. Nobody seemed to understand me and I was beginning to get worried when Major Smith, who was to be my commanding officer, turned up in a Land Rover and took me off to Yenisehir and to my digs.

I was given time to familiarise myself with Ankara whilst waiting for my army kit to be delivered. Remember I travelled as a Civvy. It was like having a free holiday. I got a lot of support from the other guys in the digs.

In a few days my kit arrived and I went to my place of work. I was told what was wanted from me and told to start. I was introduced to Orhan Hataysal who became my mentor and friend.

I had a blank sheet of paper. I had nothing except my imagination and my will to do what I could to the best of my ability. I was in my element. Major Smith was a very good Officer and in a sense gave me a free rein to do what I thought was needed. He helped me as best he could. For a few days I had the support of an American Army Sergeant who left me to it and that was that.

Where are you now?

I told you yesterday that we had to travel into Mamak by Chevvy truck across open land from Ankara. This is where I used to live in Yenisehir. The address was 10 Meneksi Sokak. Oh yes, I have been back to see if it had changed. And it certainly had. Where our house stood is now a Shopping Centre. I strolled up and down the street and it was so changed that it was impossible to even picture it as it used to be. I felt a little sad about that.

As it was near to the Subay Ordu Evi, (The officers club), and as I knew from the 'bush telegraph' that Jemal Shenkartal was there, I went there. I hung around outside waiting to see if somebody would ask him to come out and see me. Very soon two Signal Corps Officers emerged so I asked them if Jemal was inside and they confirmed that he was. I then asked them if they would be kind enough to call him for me. "He's asleep.. " they told me. "O.K.", I replied, "Please be so good as to wake him." "Nobody wakes a General!" was the next reply. We smiled and I thanked them.

Later in the day I tried again to contact him, but I failed. However, that evening, my last in Turkey, Orhan Hataysal appeared at my hotel to wish me goodbye. I'll say more about Orhan before I finish blogging.

I don't want to give the impression that I was the only person living in the Billet in Yenisehir, that would be misleading. There were several of us and the other photograph shows: A Cypher Wallah (Forgotten his name. He wasn't part of the BTS, but was assigned to the British Embassy.) The next person is yours truly, then Tich Kellett and Dave Hawkins. Bottom row: Lofty Mobbs (Royal Corps of Signals, also assigned to the British Embassy, with the dog) The guy is Busty Chappell.

Tich, Dave and Busty were in the then R.A.S.C. also part of the BTS. We were all buddies.

When we all left Turkey, it seems that we parted company never to meet again, hence the note in each of my blogs of "Where are you now?" Possibly somebody my read this (thought I think it quite unlikely) and get in touch.

I was privileged to be afforded accomodation in a house in Yenishehir during most of my stay in Ankara.
Mamak was a few miles away from Ankara proper and we had to make the journey on a daily basis in a Chevvy truck. In the first photo is Refat our driver.
Quite a lot of our daily journey was made across open ground where there were no roads. I can assure you that it was quite a bumpy ride sitting in the back of a 15 Cwt. truck.
Sometimes we were allowed to borrow Refat and the truck for the Weekend when we were allowed within reason to go camping.

Also in the photograph are some more members of the Cadre, including Pip Piper, the Foreman of Signals who dealt with more technical courses.

The second photograph is of the Military band which used to come and play outside our building.

I have titled these 3 photographs as "Teleprinting".

We had a small room with just enough space to put 4 teleprinters. Guess what? We only had 4 teleprinters so we had to share them with time allocated during a normal Touch - typing session.

One of the aims of the course was for the students to be able to send fifteen messages in fifteen minutes on a teleprinter or teletypewriter without any errors. After they had mastered the touch-typing skills they then went on to learn how to format and send messages on teleprinters.

The students were also taught basic maintenance of the equipment. Full and detailed maintenance courses were conducted in another part of the school.

At the time of this course design the NATO armies had several methods of communication that were governed by "Procedures". United Nations troops were being despatched to Korea and it was essential that all the communicators understood the other. The procedures were designed to ensure that all the participating countries had a standard that everybody could adhere to. There was a procedure for handling messages using teleprinter and another for handling messages using "Tape Relay."

We did not want to force anybody to have to communicate only in the English Language, so Orhan Hataysal designed Message Forms and Teleprinter Message Layouts that were similar to the English equivalent and could be understood by anybody familiar with telecommunications.

In essence, tape relay (procedure) was a semi automatic system whereby paper-tape was punched using a paper tape perforator where the message together with the handling instructions were embedded in the tape. The contents of the coded tape were then fed into an automatic paper tape transmitter and the information was sent to the correct recipient either by line or wireless, depending on what type of media was available. Careful monitoring was used to insure that messages did not get lost but were properly receipted for and recorded.

Procedure was taught in the classroom as theory and was applied during teleprinting practice. The third photograph shows a procedure lesson being conducted. Orhan was my interpreter during the first courses and after that I had to help me a Yedek Subay who had learned along with my students of previous courses.

I don't think I will be breaking any Official Secrets Acts by stating that the Muhabere Okulu also taught students from countries other that Turkey. We even ran a shortened course for American troops who were being posted throughout Turkey. I cannot say more than that.