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Palestine

The friend of mine that was stationed out there said a soldier friend was shot in the back and died from it when he was walking back to the camp, he also mentioned young women being the other side of the fence offering themselfs to the soldiers for money.
 
Bernard,

I agree with you absolutely respecting the TA. They were formed in the early 1900s with the specific condition that they were for the defence of the realm. In other words to be available if we were attacked.

Old Boy
 
Chris,
I didn't know they had changed things.
when I finished a 3 year stint pretending to be a soldier:(,I was put on the reserves for 4 years,and at that time they were recalling the reserves for,some of their colonial fracas.Well,my view was I ain't having none of that malarky,so I joined the T.A.for 2 years, and it was for home defence only.:rolleyes:
 
my father served in palestine with the coldstream gaurds, 1945/47,after seeing action in egypt,libya,pantalaria, and other campaings in north africa between 42/45.
but i dont think the average british soldier had much idea about the political agenda at that time. it was just another job in another strange country.
 
hi all
as far as I can recall the TA were the expeditonary force in both 1st and 2 nd world war and saw action in both conflicts well before the regular or conscript army's, and i thought like the for-runner milita was for the defence of the crown, ie for the goverment of the day to use as and when required.
paul
 
I had forgotten about that Paul,a man up our street was in Wales on his annual camp with the T.A.when the war broke out,and he was sent straight to France.He didn't return home until after Dunkirk
 
Yes Ray that happened a lot it happened to my Uncle Ern he had a terrible time and just got back by the skin of his teeth having 3 boats /ships sunk under him at Dunkirk and only some 20% of his unit came back alive and well. We tend to forget how much we owe to our part time soldiers who leave their jobs and loved ones on a voluntary basis to go into harms way, I say a great thank you to em all.
paul
 
Don't know if this works???
but I have tried to enter the memorial for our lads who did not
return from Palestine
dennis
 
This photo of some of our Lads standing by
a Jewish armoured car that came to grief
on the Jaffa Rd. 1948
 
Hallo Alf, Sorry I have taken so long to reply to you. I have just read "Counterpunch" it hits the nail right on the head. I have often been asked "what did you do in Palestine, why were you there"? I was in the Royal Engineers and we lost 58 men killed out of the total 478 service men and women who lost ther lives over 3 years of murders and atrocities by the terrorist gangs. Its not only the governments who hid it away from the public, the media can also take the blame. Geff
 
get asked the same questions Geoff!!, about the "British Military Policing Operation Aden Emergency" 64/67.
paul
 
Hi Elder Brum,this has absolutley nothing to do with a post ,I noticed that you served with the Coldstreams,I wondered if you had any knowledge of a William Timbrell,also Coldstreams, he served in Palestine ,a little earlier than you,he lived in Bordesley Green,had 2 brothers ,Ted and Richard,they are distantly related,living in Aus makes it hard to trace folks.!!Regards Valbern1
 
Hi Valbern I will pass your post on to Dennis who served in Palestine. He is having problems at the moment accessing the forum. Will copy your post and e.mail it to him. Jean.
 
Hi there, I am afraid the name doesntn ring a bell, when I joined the 3rd bn in May 1948 they had just returned from Palestine.He must have either have ,got demobbed, or joined another battalion, Sorry, Bernard. If you knew where he lived you might trace him thru the Coldstream Gds Assc;
 
I have just received a photograph of my uncles grave in Palestine .His name was Frank Shakespeare aged 19 from Bloomsbury Street .His regiment was the 17/21st Lancers.
 
Why is it that when post war conflicts etc. are mentioned, Palestine never comes into the debate. It is about 4 years ago that the goverment allowed
Palestine veterans to march at the cenataph in Whitehall. I am well aware that it was not a war as such but we did lose 478 men and women over the period 1945-48. It was terrorism at its worst. These figures are correct
I have book with the names and units listed. "EPITAPH FOR AN ARMY OF PEACEKEEPERS" British forces in Palestlne by George Webb.
Geff

Don't know where you got your numbers that are according to you are correct. Think you will find that the numbers are double yours, 785 to be precise. These are true numbers, army itself lost 699 personal, men and women. That's not counting other services like air force, navy ,nurse's. I can supply every name, Reg., Corps, date of death if you wish. Then there was British members of Palestine Police who are not in my roll, then native troops from islands in Indian Ocean who served as escorts to transport and guards who served in other duties. Advise you to get the Book ( Forgotten Conscripts ) by Eric Lowe, A truthful account written from the viewpoint of the Soldiers who were there bearing the brunt of Political folly and weakness. The highest rate of fallen other than Korea for a peacetime folly. You also mention the cenotaph in London, that is why we build our own cenotaph at EDEN CAMP in North Yorkshire and attend there every October
 
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