the cairo diaryPhotographs and Memorabilia : el gedida, Egypt and the Sudan (1945 - 46)
"The comaraderie and the fact that the war was almost over gave us an overwhelming sense of pride and purpose - that, and the fact that none of us had ever been to Africa before."
Jean Brown, WAAF (El Gedida / April,1945)
MOTTO: Oculi Exercitus
("The Eyes of the Army")
The crest depicts an eagle attacking a serpent (the enemy). In WW 1 No 6 squadron was reknowned for providing strong anti-tank air suport for British army and infantry units.
MOTTO: Primum agmen in Cælo
("The Vanguard in the Sky")
The crest depicts a lion "passant guardant" (facing the viewer) with an eagle's claw on the left shoulder, and clutching an elephant's tusk in its right forepaw. In WW1 No 237 squadron was assigned to coastal and anti-submarine patrols.
Italian East Africa bordered both British-held Kenya and the Sudan, which were jointly controlled by Britain and Egypt. Italy also had a foothold in Somaliland (now Somalia) while Britain had interests in Abyssinia (now Ethiopia) and Eritrea (on the Red Sea). In addition to the danger of Italian occupation of key Mediterranean ports along the North African coastline (and control of access to the Atlantic), Italy also threatened approaches to the Suez Canal and access to the Middle East from the south.
A timeline of key events in WW2 in North and North Eastern Africa 1939- 46 / Photo in Public Domain.
Learn more
The National Archives of Royal Air Force (RAF) operations / Photo: National Archives.
Learn more
Photographs © 1945-46 the Estate of Jean Ingleson.
View the gallery
All content property of the Estate of Jean Ingleson.
View the gallery
Photographs © 1943-45 the Estate of Jean Ingleson.
View the gallery