THE MEDLOC ROUTE
As Remembered By M. Taynton - RAF 107 MU
M. Taynton of RAF 107 MU remembers his outward journey to Egypt on the ‘MEDLOC ROUTE in 1946 –leaving on the 12th June and arriving in Egypt on the 21st June.
Special train Warrington to Dover. Ferry Dover to Calais. Specail train Calais to Toulon. 2 Lineside stops to de-train for food, Neuveux Pallais for lunch and Bram for supper. The train consisted of carriages with wooden seats (3rd Class) and personnel slept either on the luggage racks or on the floor, rather than on the seats. The toilet compartment at the end of the carriage was a hole in the floor in the corner. Frenchmen were trying to buy cigarettes at every place the train stopped at 150 francs for 50 (free issue) – there were 480 francs to the pound at that time.
Boat ‘Empire Mace’ Toulon to Port Said. On the boat we had an allowance of 5 bars of chocolate each and could purchase boxes of Turkish Delight for 2 shillings, 1lb tin of sweets for 1s8d. 120 cigarettes for 5s, soap, Brylcreem and tins of condensed milk. A typical day was dinner at 12:30, fatigues 16:00 to 16:30, tea 17:00 and lights out at 22:00 hours. We slept in bunks, in tiers of 4 and had salt water showers. On arrival at Port Said I remember Egyptians in boats alongside trying to sell us everything imaginable.
Special train Port Said to Cairo. When the train was leaving Port Said station one of the personnel leaning out of the carriage windows had his sunglasses snatched off his face by an Egyptian on the platform as the train went by.
Luckily he had his A.M. Pamphlet 160 full of useful information for warm climates