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.