entertaining the troops

Whilst training at the beginning of the war, in Aldershot and then in Scotland our unit R.A.M.C.(tropical diseases) would organise numerous concert parties. Our first xmas there we gave the hospital a forces pantomine.Soon after that we were on our way overseas.We were aboard the Mauritania heading to Aden and Egypt. Here we formed a dance band,a mixture of troops and A.R.A.S.C. and gave shows nearly every night of our journey.Victor McLagens brother was our entertainments officer.He managed to get us permission to have time off to rehearse. We gave a different show every day,the troops on deck during the afternoons,the officers mess in the evenings and the ships crew later that night.
Once we had arrived in Egypt the first hospital we were attached to had some singers who were very talented, so were able to continue our concerts there.
We were then called to Syria as smallpox had broken out.Again I entertained troops on the piano in the King David's hotel.
We came across a bombed cinema in which we were able to give three nights of shows for the hospital staff and any walking wounded.
After the war finished i was sent on home leave after 4 years away.Iwas then sent to Germany and then demobbed in 1946

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