New Zealand - El Ballah? What - where - who - why?

Originally Posted by Del Boy

New Zealand - El Ballah? What - where - who - why?

Ummm in reference to WW2 it was the location of the 2nd Division New Zealand General Hospital.

http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/te...ed-c10-14.html

Originally Posted by MontyB

Ummm in reference to WW2 it was the location of the 2nd Division New Zealand General Hospital.

http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/te...ed-c10-14.html

Correct MontyB, and you are spot on the website. I only just found it. Did you spot the last paragraph. 'Ready for the rush (of injured) from El Alamein.' And they had come from what is now Israel.

I feel like Michener sticking a pin in the map of America and stabbing Centennial to write about. El Ballah is just a rail halt in the desert and it late became a British Station Hospital at the time of The Forgotten War, of the early fifties. Insurgency was at its height from the Moslem Brotherhood, the spawners of Al Quaeda, based in nearbu Ismailia andwhich still exists at the political source of the Islamic Caliphate.

The period 1951-54 key, but unrecognised after the Suez attack fiasco of 55, and campaign medals have only just been awarded.

When I served at El Ballah, it had become a battle camp, just a barbed wire perimeter around tents, very exposed in hostile territory on active service.

I was surprised to find it has a few of its own websites with photos and details of many who served there, including 'colonials'. I particularly like the photo galleries of guys, depicted then young now old, one with his son and grandson, and the latter was about to take up his stint in Iraq.


Looks like you 'colonials' travelled well. Well, here's a belated thanks from folk who needed all the help they could get.

Originally Posted by Del Boy

Looks like you 'colonials' travelled well. Well, here's a belated thanks from folk who needed all the help they could get.

Hehe have you ever tried to keep a Kiwi or Aussie out of a fight?



If we aren't fighting a common enemy we are generally fighting each other on a sports field.

As far as WW2 went New Zealand had forces all over the place, I had uncle's who served in Scotland, France, Greece, North Aftica, Italy and the Pacific so yeah they got around and surprisingly none were injured or arrested.
:P

Originally Posted by MontyB

As far as WW2 went New Zealand had forces all over the place, I had uncle's who served in Scotland, France, Greece, North Aftica, Italy and the Pacific so yeah they got around and surprisingly none were injured or arrested.
:P

my family fought in greece, North africa, italy and above europe in WWII

hell....just look at the reputation the 28th (maori) battalion carved for itself.
i've always believed that both the aussies and kiwi's punch well above their weight in battle.


but then again, im biased lol