When I saw the tents in the prompts for the next two weeks I knew I was in trouble - which photos do I show when even the sailor suit caused a problem of sorts.
Looks peaceful and a time for fun,
However during wartime in the Mediterranean it was serious business for my brother ashore during his Fleet Air Arm service in WWII.
However during wartime in the Mediterranean it was serious business for my brother ashore during his Fleet Air Arm service in WWII.
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| Tented Accommodation |
This was probably in Egypt where it was warm enough to:
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| Dry that white sailor suit
At another (treeless) location seen from the air I'm left to wonder who used the tents.
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Recovering aircraft or operating a desert airstrip was even less luxurious.
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| Somewhere in the Middle East |
I'm left to wonder as I never saw these pictures while he was alive. If I'd asked where, he'd probably have told me I didn't want to know.
After all when he left to go to war I was instructed to tell anyone who asked that he had gone to stick a bayonet up Hitler's arse.
For other experiences under canvas I suggest you check out the links at Sepia-Saturday-246.
Interesting pix - I wonder where they were? Like your brother's attitude.
ReplyDeleteWhat interesting photos -- what? no clothesline for those white sailor suits? The view from the air makes the tents look like the little Monopoly houses.
ReplyDeleteHi Bob - can't help but agree with your brother's sentiment, nor Jo's comment about his attitude ...
ReplyDeleteI wonder where the camp was .. interesting photos though ...
Cheers - Hilary
Loved the shot of the clothes drying. Your brother's fine sense of humor shows in both that photo and his colorful description of where he was going & what he was about! :)
ReplyDeleteThe sailor suits laid out on the grass give a kind of ghostly air; a disembodiment. Were you ever cheeky enough to use your brother’s line?
ReplyDeleteLittle Nell - I was only 8 at the end of the war but I had explained to Lady Baldwin, the wife of Air Vice Marshall, Sir John Baldwin, where and why my brother had gone.
ReplyDeleteBob, Would loved to have seen the look on Lady Baldwin's face. I hope it was a giggle.
ReplyDeleteI burst out laughing when I got to the bayonet (and where it should be implanted). The sailor suit spread out in pieces on the lawn is really interesting...
ReplyDeleteI wonder what kind of response you got when you followed your brother's instructions.
ReplyDeleteNot exactly 5 star accommodation! They put up with a lot, those lads.
ReplyDeleteBob in trouble? Never! You are the master of pulling out interesting photos and stories every time!
ReplyDeleteA fine set of photographs. No need to know where they were taken, they tell a story all on their own. Good post.
ReplyDeleteThough the heat may have been less than suitable, in many ways the desert must have been an ideal place for military maneuvers. Vast flat and sandy plains that could be laid out with army-like precision in neat lines and squares.
ReplyDeleteI suppose the clothes would have to be on grass, although my impression of Egypt is that there is not a lot of it there. The photos remind me of my uncle Ken's service album, although it unfortunately has no captions at all.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful collection of photos, which gives a rare insight.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this....and you made me smile.
Photographs by an Englishman and so similar to the ones taken in the desert by Australians. Thank you Bob's brother. We owe much to you and your kind.
ReplyDeleteThat sand must have been very clean to lay out his "whites" on top! I have photos from my dad in WWII while he was in Italy, that I never knew of until after he passed. I'm sure I would have gotten the same answer as you did.
ReplyDeleteThe lack of information let the photos tell their own stories very graphically...rather like your brother's wartime philosophy. Would loved to have seen Lady Baldwin's reaction.
ReplyDeleteAh, we both have the middle east for our posts, though I don't have any tents.
ReplyDeleteI do like the "stick a bayonet…" line. He's gone and was a failure. But these images remain from those he tried to vanquish.
These are really oool! It sounds as if your brother wanted to just forget about the whole thing.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I could have found something for last week with my FIL's Guam pics, but you guys have seen most of them.
Great job.
Kathy M.