by Vicky Unwin
With much love,
Sheila
C in C Levant
5/3
My dear Mama – I’ve had your airgraph in which you ask if my tale of woe re evacuation [The Flap] can go in the school magazine. I don’t think it can, actually, as we aren’t allowed to publish anything about the service without it being vetted first. On Monday I went round the Catacombs with Miles, one of the men from our office. It really was awfully interesting – you go down a long spiral staircase deep into the solid rock until you come to a series of corridors and rooms, all with holes cut in the walls where bodies need to be put.
There are layers, 2 of which you can explore, and the 3rd which is filled with sand. After thoroughly exploring these (we went with a special guide and about 50 other people in a fleet of yellow Alex taxis) we then went to Pompey’s Pillar which is a very tall pillar erected to commemorate something that I can’t remember. All around are earthworks and a couple of sphinxes and other statues – mostly of Roman time and origin. I was awfully glad that I’d done this, because 2 days ago, when I went on watch at 1300 I was told I was to go off to Cairo and work as soon as possible! This was a tremendous shock. So off I rushed, packed all my things, saw my dressmaker bade farewell to Mme. Vegdi and Eve and all my friends, and caught the midday train from Alex yesterday …
Heaps of love,
Sheila
She has in fact been summoned to work with Admiral Ramsay on Operation Husky, but of course cannot mention it. She must have been thrilled.
Operation Husky was the result of the Casablanca Conference held on 14 January 1943, where Roosevelt and Churchill met to discuss the next step in the Allied strategy, following on from the successes of the north-west African landings in November 1942, and Montgomery’s victory at El Alamein. At this stage the Allies were split in their views: Stalin desperately wanted an Allied offensive to relieve his forces from the relentless German attacks on the Russian front, while the British and the Americans wanted to make safe the Mediterranean sea-routes, reduce Axis air power and eliminate Italy from the war.
By the end of the successful and extremely short campaign – Husky only lasted from 10 July until 16 August – both sides could claim that their objectives had been met. The Italians had surrendered, their fleet captured; the Germans were diverted away from the Russian front and, of foremost importance, the Allies had shown they could attack the Axis on its home territory and win. It was a demonstration of grand strategy at its best; the whole of Operation Husky took only six months from inception to delivery:
C/O RNGHQ, Cairo
16/3/43
My dear Mama – …Well, here I am in Cairo – quite settled down in my new job (not cyphering this time) and living in the YMCA. These are very good places, not a bit full of tents or grim, but quite charming, well furnished, good food and altogether pleasant. I share a room with Mary Henie, who came up with me, Maureen Brennan, who has been in Malta since the beginning of the war, and a Polish girl who doesn’t speak English. I’m working quite hard for me – 08/30 till 1300, then 1500/2000, but at the moment I don’t have to go till 1700. When it gets hot and we have to go in at 1500 I don’t know what I’ll do! John is in Transjordan, on a course, and won’t be back till 30 March. HOWEVER, I have been having quite a good time, mainly due to the fact that an awfully nice person called Ronnie Croker, Major, Skinner’s Horse, is on leave in Cairo, and we have been hitting the high spots. I knew him vaguely in the summer – he is a friend of Pam Boyne, who was in our draft, and also knows Robin Chater very well. We have been dancing these last three nights, twice at Shepheards, and the other time at a nightclub here; today we are lunching at Gezira Club and I expect we’ll watch the polo. Tho’ it’s not supposed to be very good. Ronnie is a crack player, I believe – I’m afraid John’ll disapprove frightfully as he hates me going out with anyone but him, but as we aren’t engaged I can’t see any thing against harmlessly enjoying ourselves … Life in Cairo is very gay; dancing at Shepheards every night, full evening dress, lots of cinemas and good places to dine, but the food is really better in Alex. I like Cairo, but oh it is awfully expensive. I had to pay 3/6 for a bottle of Swan ink which I’m sure is only 1/- at home – and everything else in comparison … About the photos, I told you I sent you 2 of which I had taken in Alex in the Autumn – by sea – so they should be arriving soon. They aren’t too bad – John likes them anyway. You say you think he sounds a dear – well he is and he isn’t. Awfully temperamental and hard to get on with, and oh so jealous. It quite frightens me, and I find it makes me rather deceitful against my will, as I never like hiding any of my activities from anyone. He really is very good looking, not that that’s terrifically in his favour, tho’ … By the way, you never need worry if you don’t hear from me, if anything happened to me the admiralty would wire you at once! Have you had the necklace yet – I sent it a month or so ago. I’m very pleased with my new work, as I’m the only Wren officer on the staff and everyone is so nice. Long may it last! I had something so important to tell you but I can’t remember it. Oh dear. Tons of love, Sheila.
Despite having to work gruelling hours, Cairo was obviously fun and, with John away, Sheila loses no time in finding a new admirer to take her to Shepheards, dancing – she obviously loves dressing up – and to the Gezira Club (her temporary membership card is stuck in the scrapbook). Rosemary is still firmly in her sights now that she is on a roll, yet it doesn’t prevent her from sending her lovely gifts:
RNGHQ MEF 27/3/43
My dear Ma – I’ve just had your airgraph of 2nd March – very quick. Did you ever get the necklace? I did send it and you should have had it by now … I’ve just had an airgraph from Paul, who is in UK again, doing a course at Portsmouth. Very browned off he isn’t out here! He’ll be ashore till the end of the year. Funny, isn’t it, I’ve not seen him for nearly 2 years now, and he still seems keen to meet me again and keep up contacts. I like him. When I write I’ll tell him to look you up if he’s ever up your way. As regards life out here – I’m still very pleased with it. Ronnie Croker went back to Iraq last Saturday. We had several good evenings together before he left. I like him too! Very tall, rather thoughtful, and very much the soldier, dances well and is altogether rather after my own heart. John, alas, won’t be coming back here, this I rather feared, but the regiment has moved and he’ll have to join them. He may, however, manage to get down here on Monday for the night.
… I’ve had several airgraphs from Rosemary lately. I think it’s a great pity she can’t get her commission quicker, as I really do think her activities sound rather ‘cheapening’. Actually, I know this sounds awful, but she really sounds as if she’d go out with anyone in trousers, whatever he’s like, from what I can gather in her letters. Have you felt the same? … I wish Rosemary would get married, much more fitting of her to do so and then perhaps I could (not that I’m thinking of it at the moment!). One of the people on our staff is just like Jaap – same laugh and smile – it’s most disquieting! Tomorrow’s my half day, I do hope it’s fine, as last Sunday a horrible dust storm arose, blotted out all the sun, made us all filthy, and was, to all intents and purposes, exactly like a pea soup fog in London. It made us so depressed! With heaps of love, Sheila.
My last letter, unnumbered, was 41.
RNGHQ MEF 4/4
My dear Ma – … Well, life in Cairo is still very happy for me – most days I work 10 hours and when you come to think that it’s now pretty hot over 80 degrees in the shade and getting warmer. I don’t think this is at all bad! But I love my work and everyone is so nice – it’s a pleasure to be able to work under such conditions. I’m waiting for the bump, as usually one doesn’t get a lucky break without a snag or two. I work with 2 Pay Lieuts. (1 RN and 1 RNVR) and we laugh and joke all the time. Tho’ I work flat out without stopping from the time I start to the time I go home. The snag is, I suppose, that I’m terrified of the secretary but that keeps me up to the mark, so I suppose it’s a good thing. The du
st is appalling, and we have plagues of ants, but I’ve a tin of Keatings handy and that soon kills them off. The day I wrote my last letter, which was delivered I hope, by an officer returning to the UK, I had been to the Musky with Flags and two other officers. First of all we had lunch at Gezira with another of the staff and then off we set in a taxi, Flags bought a grand pair of slippers, and we spent a minute or so in a perfume shop, but otherwise we didn’t buy much. The smell in this latter shop was heavenly. It costs £1 an ounce – undiluted. We did have fun, all smelling different perfumes till we didn’t know where we were. In the end we walked out without having bought any. You would love the amber shops, mummy, I go crazy about necklaces and have seen a natural turquoise one I’ve just got to have, tho heaven knows how much it is.
… Tonight and tomorrow I am going out with Ronnie Croker who was here on a course. He’s nice. John will be down on a course soon. He sent me a message from his mother. I quote ‘I am happy to hear of S.M. and always welcome your confidence (!!!) Maureen (his sister I knew as a Wren) says she remembers Sheila and thought a lot of her. Give her my best thanks for being so good to you’ !!! So I am approved of – but what a terrifying message! He goes on to say ‘it’s such a pity you are looking for someone with more than me!’ However, whatever happens we are still the best of friends, though if I don’t marry him, I feel awfully sorry for him as it must be dreadful to feel as he does and not attain his desires. He is now a captain … Ronnie has just been on the phone to say the Continental again tonight, and so what would I wear?
Short, I’ve just told him, (no, mummy not shorts) I shall wear a new nice blue-green one I’ve just had made (like this). Do you like it? And some new deep burgundy shoes like this, rather smart I think (!!!). I suppose you’ll think I spend too much on clothes (John does and says I should save more) but I have saved £5 which is in a new P/O Book and I do feel clothes are an investment. With lots of love to you all …
Sheila.
❖❖❖
The sinking of the Medway, referred to in the next letter, in fact took place in early July 1942, just off Port Said. She was sunk by two torpedoes fired from a German submarine. Sheila’s two great friends, Audrey Coningham and Esmé Cameron, were on board as signals officers. As Alexandria was preparing to evacuate for The Flap at the end of June 1942, they had been ordered to join the Medway:
RNGHQ, M.E.F. 14th April
My dear Ma – Many thanks for your card of the 1st received today (55) No. 52, and an airgraph … Every time you write R. seems to have or just going to have, leave. I’m so jealous, as I heard yesterday all C in C’s Cypher officers are having a week – as I’m out of that racket, I stand little as no chance of getting any at all. I feel I never shall see Palestine or Syria. At the moment I’ve got tonsillitis (of the walking variety) nothing at all serious tho’.
I went with Maureen to the Musky on Monday and have bought you some slippers, tho’ I’m now wondering whether they will be big enough. They are bright royal blue leather. I also got some leopard skin ones for Rosemary and will pack them up and despatch when I can find a box to put them in. We had more fun there – I also treated myself to a gazelle skin (all hairy – like the beast itself) handbag. Would you like one. Do please let me know at once and I will buy you one. I think I shall get you one anyway. They are most unusual at home, and I love them. I also bought for 12 piastres (about 2/4d) a native bangle of very heavy metal which I’m rather pleased with. In silver they are much more expensive about £1/4/-.
On Sunday morning I rose at the crack of dawn and went riding with one of the chaps I work with. I’ve had rather bad horses and I’m now so stiff I can hardly walk! In the evening I went out with Myrette Acfield, another Wren officer, who is public relations officer here and we went afterwards to a houseboat called ‘Puritan’ which is run on the profits of Gezira club for servicemen on leave. There we met some of the repatriated P.O.W.’s back from Italy. Most of the ones I met had been taken at Tobruk, what tales they had to tell!
I see the paper today mentions the loss at the ‘Medway’. Well now we can reveal more – there were 3 Wren officers on board. Esmé Cameron, Audrey Coningham and one other. The day we left Alex, Esmé came rushing into our room and packed up everything she had, down to her fur coat, and all Audrey’s things as well, as they were sailing that night. Off she went and off we went to Port Said. The following night just as I was getting into bed very very tired, a girl came to my room to tell me Esmé was downstairs and wanted to see me. The ‘Medway’ had been sunk!! I just couldn’t believe it – our most valuable ship with all s/m [submarine] torpedoes, spares and equipment for the E. Med on board. Frightful. However, I dashed downstairs to see Esmé looking bright sun burnt pink all over, absolutely filthy and without one thing in the world – everything having been lost. She’d been on watch when the ship was hit at 0830, had locked all the C.B.s [Citizen Bands – radios] in the chests, and with the 2 other girls, had clambered down the side of the ship, already heeling over, and had had to swim for it. They were in the water about half an hour, by which time the ship had sunk – a terrible sight they said – a very calm sea and the ship taking it’s last plunge. Audrey (she was always the cat that walked by itself – she came out with us) swam with the other 2 to a nearby destroyer, decided she didn’t like the look of it much, so turned round and made for another one. En route she met two sailors, one without a life belt and very exhausted, so she took hers off and helped them both to the ship. She was recommended for an immediate award of life saving medal – I noticed it in Levant orders last week. What times we live in! You see, Wrens do go to sea. Yes I shall miss the sea now I’m in Cairo, but I still like being here. Ronnie reappeared last Friday, his course having been put back a bit and we went to Gezira Club dancing …
With tons of love to you both,
Sheila
The film Desert Victory, referred to in the following letter, was a documentary charting the Battle of El Alamein, considered by many to be the turning point in the war, when the Allies eventually routed Rommel and his Afrika Korps. As well as explaining tactics, it contained footage of the battle itself, including some captured from the Germans, and of Churchill, Montgomery and other leaders. It also paid tribute to the men and women who played their part by working in factories at home, which made it extremely popular. King Farouk himself attended the premiere in Cairo, a rare occasion, as he was avowedly and openly anti-British. Indeed, most people believed that even though Egypt was nominally self-ruling, Sir Miles Lampson, later Lord Killearn, Ambassador to Egypt, was really in charge:
RNGHQ, M.E.F. 20 April
My dear Ma – as usual I’m completely adrift with numbering – I know I wrote roughly a week ago – 14th I think, when I’d a bad throat, well, as I couldn’t go sick, I celebrated by going gay and have recovered. I went to see an amateur rendering of ‘The Shine and the Rain’ with Maureen and some of her friends, but it wasn’t awfully good. The following evening we went to Gezira club and danced and the next evening Ronnie came back from his course and we made up a party of 4 and went to Shepheards to dance. It was great fun. Unfortunately he has departed for Persia indefinitely. Funny he knows Robin Chater isn’t it? I have had 2 letters from Robin this week who is still up there but hopes to be down sometime. I should like very much to see him again. On Sunday, Mary and I had arranged to go to the Pyramids and Idwal Humphrey (yes Welsh) who works in the same office as I do, (a Pay/Lieut. RN) wanted to come too, so we made up a three and went. The journey was made via tram, incredibly crowded – and when we got there we at once hired camels and proceeded up the hill in traditional style. They do lurch terribly, you have to cling on to a sort of pole on the saddle to stick on at all. Eventually we dismounted (the guide, too from a little donkey we had hired for him) and were conducted to a tomb belonging to some Prime Minister or other (who we were never quite sure, but possibly it was to do with King Cheops, because it was near the Cheops Pyramid).
Eventually we came t
o the tomb itself and of course had to clamber down doubled up – as it was a very narrow hole. The guide took us to the coffin which was a huge stone affair terribly tall, and then we climbed up and looked inside and there, according to the guide, was a ‘skellyton’. How we laughed! There was too! After this, crouching in the corner of the tomb by the light of two fluttering candles, he told our fortunes in the sand. I have 61 1/2 more years to live! More laughter! We then proceeded forth on camel past the Sphinx, did a bit of trotting (very bumpy) and took some snaps and then back to the Great Pyramid itself, which we’d promised ourselves we’d climb. It is 450 feet high, and the blocks are as big, and sometimes bigger, than a man. However, up we went. Mary gave up half way, but Idwal and I pushed on and eventually reached the top in under 20 mins, which is quite good. It really was an amazing sight.
You could see so clearly where desert ended and Delta began and of course you could see all Cairo, the Citadel, the Pyramids of Sakara, some 8 miles away, and so on. I was quite frightened of falling off, but the top is a flat surface of about 15–20 square feet. There were also on top an American and English RAF officer, and a funny little Syrian who climbed to the top of the flag post (much to my terror!) and insisted afterwards in taking lots of photos of us with my camera, for which I was very grateful as I discovered afterwards he was a professional photographer. Once down again, we had a large tea at the Mena House hotel, which I am sure had never seen such tramps, all in shorts, beneath its portals on a Sunday afternoon. Now, of course, we are all terribly stiff, but it was certainly worth it! … Tomorrow 4 of us are going to see ‘Desert Victory’ – I am longing to see it. Actually, I have also been invited to go by some more people tonight, but of course, can’t see it twice. It is showing in 3 cinemas at once here. Tomorrow, also, I am having lunch with my Big White Chief [Admiral Ramsay], rather awe-inspiring, but he is a dear and in the afternoon we have been asked (Wrens I mean) to take part in a quiz over the wireless, but as I’m working don’t expect I’ll be able to go! Oh yes, life is very pleasant.