El Adem + Tobruk
Reminisce 3

Some memories of people, events and places.
Do you know anybody mentioned on these pages?

HI Don,
I can't believe you have forgotten El Kabir Bondu Foxo! AKA Foxy. I slept in the bed opposite you in that grotty nissan hut we lived in. I think you gave me the name El Kabir.

When I arrived there was you, me and Les Simkins who were the Radio Mechanics, where we worked a shift pattern of day on, day on stand by and day off. The stand by day was almost a day off except we had to go out to George quadrant to set up the Pye Radio and the battery for the stand by lighting.

I loved every minute of the range. Although with Jack Jones (RSO) drinking habits I am surprised that we ever got ready for an exercise. After Les left, Keith Duncan got posted in, and we all seemed to gel and get on together.

After El Adem I went to Lyneham where Les was stationed, and we more or less took up from when we left El Adem.
I have so many memories of the Range. By all means pass my email address to Les's son, I have loads of memories of the good times we all had. I have been away for a couple of days, so apologies for not replying sooner. I will leave you with this phrase, it should ring a bell. Echo Bravo 8 Sierra this is Charlie Xray 3 Juliet!!

Robbie Foxwell

Hi Don,
Thanks for the email. I also received an email from Steve. Les was a drinking partner at the Range and also at Lyneham. We had many a drunken escapade at the various hosteleries locally.
I do remember the dining room which doubled up as a cinema in the evening. Some one operated the old 16mm projector and we all stocked up with beer in the fridge at the back, so during reel change there was a mad dash to renew drinks.

Let me try and jog your memory about Sgt Corr. He was a short Irishman, bald on top with glasses. who walked a bit like Charlie Chaplin, hence the name Charlie. I remember he came into our room one morning really early to wake us up. You were the Radio Mechanic and I was on Stand by, and neither of us was getting up as it was ridiculously early. On his third attempt to get us out of bed he said "If you dont get up I will make such a noise it will wake the dead" You said how are you going to do that sarge. Charlie Corr said I will switch the lights on. We both roared with laughter and you said lights dont make a noise Sarge. He said yes they do, and he then proceeded to make a noise going doodaloodaloo waving his finger like radio waves, We laughed so much I think we nearly fell out of bed.
We had about three or four RSO's while I was there. A Flight Leftenant called Goacher was supposed to be in overall charge, and under him was Master Pilot Munt, Master Pilot Roland (a Polish guy who was really nice) Jack Jones (Jonah) who lived in, Sgt Brown.
Ian Stewart was the Chef amongst others, but I remember Ian as I was at Sopley with him. He got a thing going with a nurse at El Adem and I remember he asked me to do the cooking one evening. and also breakfast the next morning, so he could go and try his luck. He came back with a smile so it must have worked for him.

Brian Howlett started writing to an junior MP who had written an article saying that [wo]men in a position of authority seem to frighten men away. Credit to Howlett for jumping on the bandwagon and he started a correspondence. His problem was that he was incredibly dislexic, so the letter he wrote were rubbish. Les took over the letters, and in the end the young lady wrote saying she did not think it would work out. She sussed that their was more than one author. I even wrote one of the letters for him. He ended up at a Rehabilitation Hospital in Surrey, and then was Medfically discharged. The Irony of this incident was that a Chap called Geoff( Cant remember his second name) took the detonator from him and flung it as far as possible, and Howlett went and found it later.

I just remembered another name. Jock Hitchcock, he was the RSO that night and when he saw Howlett, he thought he had a red glove on!
How long did you stay in the RAF? I did twelve plus boys service and then came out in 1972, Doing postings to Lyneham after El Adem, then RAF Hiswah, transmitting station in Aden, back to Lynerham, and then squeezed a final tour in at RAF sharjah, with detachments to Bahrain and Masirah, finally ending up at Brize Norton.
I will finish for now,
Robbie. AKA Foxy.

Photo's of Bombing Range to follow

Now these should stir some memories of Tobruk.
Kindly supplied by Miloud El Nibou

Barclays Bank Street

Dear Don,
Quick note to inform that I was in Tobruk for almost 8 days it was very cold and lonely litter is every where and the plastic bags are in abundance and I don't think people are aware of something called healthy environment.

At all events I saw most of the old streets, the church, the police station and the site where the garrison used to be. I felt very sad and annoyed about what had happened to a nice and lovely city. Any way I came back last week and I sent some of these snaps to Trisha [Dawson] and I am still anticipating a reply. I hope you like these pictures and be able to display them.

I hope you would not mind me giving your web site to some friends in Tobruk they promise to furnish you with some pictures. I like the new pictures that you displayed on your web in particular the one of Moh'd Ezzideen's Petrol Station.

All the best my friend,
Miloud

Building opposite the Tennis Courts

The Church

The Police Station

Near the square next to the church

Entrance - Tennis Courts

The Police Station

The Old Post Office

The Old Vegetable Market

The King's Gate to the Palace

Postcard of garden opposite Church

British Evacuation

The Harbour

Dear webmaster,
It was very nice to know that you guys still remember my hometown Tobruk.
Yes, I spent the most beautiful times of my childhood in Tobruk. I still remember its streets, the garrison, the salvation army, the long beach, El Adam.
You see, my name is Miloud Omar El Nibbu. We had a couple of flats which my dad rented to the British families at the time.
We also had a shop that sells building materials and spare parts. By the way my dad is still alive he is 88 years old and he is still going strong. However, my mum had passed away four years ago and I miss her a lot.

I knew Mr. Mohamed Ezzideen. I am using the past tense here because he passed away about six months ago and so did his Polish wife. Yes, his gas station used to be around the corner of the main road that leads to the base, El Adam. We had a wonderful time then. I was a great footballer then. We played football against El Adam strong team. We even had an excellent football player, an Englishman by the name of Eddie, he used to play with our team when we play against Derna or Benghazi teams.

Tobruk has gone a major change now the government had knocked down many historical buildings, but the church still exists but you guys will not be able to recognize it.
I am not living in Tobruk now, but I go there to reminisce and ponder those happy days.

I do not remember Patricia [Dawson nee Porter], but I do remember a lovely lady and her lovely kids. Her name is Bettina Steffanie Olive. Her kids names are Gavin and her daughter’s name is Elizabeth Victoria and her husband is called Thomas or John Graham.
I would be very grateful if you could trace them for me. The period that I was talking about is between 1966-1968 but of course I remember many beautiful incidents and places.

Guys, let us share and cherish the happy nostalgic memories by writing to each other and filling the gaps.
Until then, I bid you farewell for now.
Regards,
Miloud El Nibou known as Milad Omar Khalifa El Nibou

Webmaster: 41 years have passed, if anybody can help, please email me.