This group photo is from my dad's collection. He was a Royal Marine during WW2 Norman Matthews from Birkenhead EX 5587 MNBDO1 HO On the back it just says "Some of the lads at Helmieh" My dad is in the middle front row Caryl
Good Photo! Egypt? Wasn't there a major Hospital at Helmieh? A 2/10 British General Hospital. Many NZ nurses there also as well as the Queen Alex's. There was also 1 NZ then 3 NZ General Hospital.
Good Photo! Egypt? Wasn't there a major Hospital at Helmieh? A This is also where the Artillery Training Depot was, just outside Helmieh where they conducted live shoots. There was a lovely swimming pool in Helmieh and an Australian Club which was frequented by the NZedders as well. Wouldn't you like to have a report of the goings on there.
This is also where the Artillery Training Depot was, just outside Helmieh where they conducted live shoots. There was a lovely swimming pool in Helmieh and an Australian Club which was frequented by the NZedders as well Thanks for that Spidge I wondered what my dad was doing there and what was there at the time On some of his other photos he has written 'Helmieh" on the back. For a while I thought it said "Helmich" and that threw me, only just recently twigged what it really said - doh! I've just applied for a ww2 site from the hosts here, so I'll upload more photos to that Meanwhile here is another On the back of this one it says Myself, Paddy Boyle (or Doyle), Job Ashley, Joe Aldred. Would really like to know more about those men, so maybe once I put them on a site their family members might spot them and tell me more Wasn't there a Paddy Boyle or Doyle (looks more like Boyle than Doyle) who was awarded a VC? He wasn't a Royal Marine AFAIK, but he was in North Africa and somehow the Paddy in the photo does look separate from the rest, as if he isn't a Marine, or maybe he was, very common name Is that the club in the background? Caryl
Spidge, Do you know the name of the RA training area? I am unable to find Helmich on my large scale map. The only Base Depot (RA) that I am familiar with and have some photos of was at Almaza near Cairo. http://coleraine-battery.tripod.com
I am unable to find Helmich It's Helmieh not Helmich. I made the same mistake, could not read my dad's writing! or did you make a typo? Caryl
Sorry typo+memory, When you go to write a message, the origional message you are referring to disappears and you type from memory. Helmieh..............Helmieh httpL://coleraine-battery.tripod.com
Could be the club however I have never seen a picture. The only Boyle & Doyle who have won VC's were in WW1.
Spidge, Do you know the name of the RA training area? I am unable to find Helmich on my large scale map. The only Base Depot (RA) that I am familiar with and have some photos of was at Almaza near Cairo. http://coleraine-battery.tripod.com 4th Regiment Royal Horse Artillery was formed at Helmieh in Egypt in May 1939 from three batteries drawn from independent commands in India. The batteries were C Battery, F (Sphinx) Battery and G Battery (Mercer's Troop), with the latter as F/G Battery. It was equipped with the 25 pdr MK VP. When G Battery left in 1939 and the Regiment was reorganised into three batteries it was joined by DD Battery, which was formed from C and F Batteries in October 1941.
This is the Paddy Doyle I was thinking of and he was an MC holder, not VC. Now it's me getting mixed up LOL! Lt. Colonel Paddy Doyle MC Obituary in The Times 13th October 2000. " ...Paddy Doyle had a very full war. He was awarded his M.C. for conspicuous gallantry in 1940 at the battle of Karen, Abyssinia against Italian forces where he faced the last recorded horse mounted cavalry charge. His brother was killed in that battle. PD later served throughout the North African campaign and then in Burma. .." Probably isn't him. I'll ask around and see if anyone has a photo of the Paddy Doyle just in case Caryl
This is the Paddy Doyle I was thinking of and he was an MC holder, not VC. Now it's me getting mixed up LOL! Lt. Colonel Paddy Doyle MC Obituary in The Times 13th October 2000. " ...Paddy Doyle had a very full war. He was awarded his M.C. for conspicuous gallantry in 1940 at the battle of Karen, Abyssinia against Italian forces where he faced the last recorded horse mounted cavalry charge. His brother was killed in that battle. PD later served throughout the North African campaign and then in Burma. .." Probably isn't him. I'll ask around and see if anyone has a photo of the Paddy Doyle just in case Caryl A hero in Africa and forgotten in Burma. What a war!
