THE UNEF WEEKLY   

THE SAND DUNE

Page no.01

VOL.VI - NO 43        OCTOBER 26,1962       UNEF HQ.GAZA

Page no.02

Page no.03

RETURN OF A "NATIVE"

"I liked my work in UNEF. One meets people from different countries, and there is a fine comradery. I also liked the warm climate of Gaza as a change from Swedish winters."

   The second time Sven was here in the winter of 1960-61, with the IX Battalion. He kept watch at Armistice Demarcation Line, equipped with a sub machine-gun, field glasses and a telephone. For one month he served with the detachment at Sharm el Sheikh.

 On return to Sweden he took up a mining job. After a while he applied for a third term, and succeeded.

Sven´s thied tenure was at the Staff Coy at the Kronor. This time he was posted in the dog platoon of the Battalion. His job was to look after and train the ten patrol dogs

Certainly there are very few soldiersin the Gaza Strip who have such an all-round experience. And he is proud of that fact.

    He definitelylikes his stay with UNEF. Sven spends his spare time swimming,or playing tennis and chess. Mining still hods interest for him,and to perfecthis knowledge in the subject, he is studying chemistry, physics and mathematics. He hopes to enteramining school back home, and on graduation to become a foreman.

Having served three terms in Gaza, Sven Olof thinks he could retire from a solfier´s life. The mining jub pulls him back - and so does a young lady clerk in themining office. Strong ties!

    (By the time this article appears in print Sven Olof would be back in Suweden with the Swedish UN Battalion XV G).   - Lt Siegbahn

Page no.04

FOOD FOR THE FORCE

The unit also operates an ice cream plant and a bakery. Ice crearn is supplied every day so that each mess gets it twice a week, and the Unit bakery produces about 2,000 loaves of bread a day for all contingents except the Yugoslav Battalion and 115 ATU.

The POL Depot — petrol, oil and lubricants -  distributes about 3,000 gallons of gasoline daily. It arrives from storage depots in Suez by rail and is stored behind the warehouse, the bulk of it in underground tanks.

For cooking and operating the generators kerosene and diesel oil are used. The requirernents of kerosene vary from 700 galions in summer to 2,000 gallons in winter. About 500 gallons of diesel oil are issued every day. These items are filled in drums and given to the different battalions. The POL depot also keeps stock of antiseptics and insecticides.

The Unit’s transport platoon forms part of the UNEF Transport Cornpany. They mostly operate heavy duty vehicies and provide second line transport required for the Force. The runs include long convoys to Cairo or Port Said— sometime to Sharm el Sheikh or shorter trips inside the UNEF operational area, and inside the camp.

Unlike the 2 Sikh Battalion from Punjab, the Service Corps soldiers come from all parts of India. Like other units of the Indian Army contingent -the Medical Team at Rafah, Signals Section at El Arish and Military Police and Postal Unit at Gaza, their homes are spread from the southernmost state of Kerala to Punjab in the north and Bengal in the east. They belong to all religions  - Hindus, Sikhs Moslems and Christians - and have places of worship at Camp Rafah — a Hindu Tempie, a Sikh Gurdwara, and the two Canadian Chapels for Christians.

A cosmopolitan crowd themselves the soldiers of the 296 Cornposite Unit find it easy to mix with people from other contingents. Apart from this, they, due to the nature of the work, have to operate closely with other contingents.

There may not be rnuch glamour in their work, but “Workhorses” they are.

Page no.05

DESERT EXPEDITION

   The bright desert sky is alive with shining stars. Below, the Camp Rafah stillness is sunddenly broken by engines warming up. The time is 4 a.m. The job is a convoy to Sharm el Sheikh, on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula.

   A trip that will take us near the most ancient traces of civilization. And close to where modern-day religion traditionallly began.

   It is the start of oneo many long-distance hauling jobs done by No.56 Canadian Transport Company, RCASC, forthe UN Emergency Force.

   A lot of planning has gone into the desert expedition. For most drivers it is almost a standard procedure. The 416 miles each way are minor compared to themonthly unit tally of more than 100.000 miles. But it is a tough, long grind in hot, humid weather.

   There, at the juncture of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba, a small Swedish guard unit supported by a dozen Canadian Soldiers maintain a watch over the Straits of Tiran. They observe and report on shipping.

   Normally, supplies are flown in by No.115 ATU (RCAF). Our cargo is too great a quatity for the twice-weekly air run. Our heaviest load is a new water distillation plant for the Royal Canadian Engineers detachment. It is to replace one installed by the Bristish Army in 1943.The sappers convert the Red Sea salty waters to fresh water source at Sharm.

   With other welfare supplies,we are carrying many cases ob beers.   A priceless commodity is one of the loneliest and hottest places on earth. Some say it is at the end of the world. We agree.

   Our convoy commander, Lt.Gilles Beaulieu, has made a last minute check of men and vehicles. We have our weapons,mess tins, utensils, sleeping bags, camp cots, and our water bottles are filled.

   Each trunck is topped up. One vehicle carries 1.000 gallons of gasoline and four jerricans of motor oil. Desert travel burns up both items.

   After giving final orders,Lt.Beaulieu pulls out in his jepp to lead us. Of six 2½ ton cargo trucks, one has the distillation plant,two carry gas and oil, two have canteen stored,and other has our own equipment and pack rations supllies. The latter vehicle also pulls a heavy water trailer for men and machines enroute.

   Two trucks bring up the rear. One a ¾ ton power wagon as convoy ambulance.carries a Norwegian medical assistant and his emergency crash kit. Tailend "Charlie" is a five ton heavy recorvery vehicle with two RCEME mechanics.

Page no.06

   We are on the move. Our headlight ones mix with beams from guard tower searchlights around camp. The weather is cool. A pleasant wind rustles. through our truck cabs. Each vehicle has an alternate driver for the long haul.

   After passing the camp gate barrier, we shake down into our march speed of 35 mph and vehicle tailgate-to-radiator interval of 50 yards.

   The desert is quiet. We have nothing to look forward to for the first hour except barren, flat sand and winding, paved road.

   As we near El Arish we pass the darkened Yugoslav Battalion camp, drive between tall, date palms, and then pass the equally-dark Marina base housing our fellow-Canadians of No. 115 ATU.

   From here it is a straight run to El Qantara and the Suez Canal. The scenery changes to rolling seas of sand and the sun begins to rise above the sand-dunes to light the ernptiness of the desert. There is little vegetation to be seen, but occasionally we can see the Mediterranean Sea on our right.

   At El Qantara we are on schedule. The desert has stirred and we see heavily-laden camels being led by Bedouins in long white shirts. Tliey are completely independent people who normally bear allegiance to no man or flag. But we in the IJNEF seem to have gained some measure of their friendship.

   For centuries they have roamed the desert, seeking pasture for short periods of time, and building low crescent-shaped dwellings lined with sheep and goats hair. Theirs is a hard life, but to the Bedouin there is no other way of life for a man. We wave a friendly greeting.

ONWARD TO SUEZ

   On our right merchant ships and oil tankers seem to rise out of the sand as they wend their wav along the Suez Canal.

   We find that the desert is rarely deserted. Now there are long-haired goats and black sleep being led by black-robed Bedouin women and scrawny-looking, barefoot children. The Bedouins seem to appear out of nowhere and then suddenly disappear into no where.

   After a couple of cigarette breaks, 10 minutes on the hour every hour, and with the sun reaching its peak height in the sky, we reach the outskirts of Suez City and keep on driving. In the distance on our left are a range of dome-like hills. We are on a flat, sandy plai. Small, thistle-like bushes dot the landscape. Occasionally there is a lonely, twisted tree.

   Heat waves begin to shimmer over the sand. And some of us begin te see mirages. In the near distance, the tranquility of a deep-blue lake sheltered by cool green trees. But as we near it,, the deceptive scene disappears into the yellow sand.

   Winds blowing through the cabs are nuw hüt and sandy, and we can feel the heat from the metal roof. Concentration on driving helps to keep us from thinking of the scorching sun.

   We have been driving along the Gulf of Suez for some time, and are approaching hilly aid mountainous country. Along the route are a few oil wells and not far from the road, a few manganese mines.

   After 190 miles we reach Abu Zenima, where we are scheduled to bivouac overnight But in the middle of a hot, sweltering afternoon, Lt Beaulieu decides to push no. Instead of laying over, we pause long enough te stretch our legs and eat lunch.

   Just 20 miles inland at Sarabit el Kadim the site of ancient turquoise mines, have been found probably the oldest alphabetic inscriptions ever found. The writings, carved in stone, now in the Cairo Museum, date from about 1850 BC.

   Also between here and the desolated town of El Tor, 65 miles ahead of us, around deserted copper mines, are traces of Egyptian settlements dating back to 3000 BC.  

   At El Tor we pause briefly and then begin the last few hours of the outward trip. It is still daylight as we wind our way up through limestone-hills and mountains. We pass through canyons that seem similar to the US Grand Canyon. 

   About 30 miles east as the crow flies, and much longer and torturous by vehicle, lies Mount Sinai the traditional site where Moses received the Ten Commandments — source of the Christian, Moslen and Jewish faiths. Jebel Musa (Mount of Moses) is a peak over 7,000 feet high, lying in the middle of massive red range of grafite and sandstone. At it foot stands St. Catherine’s Monastery, built on the site of the Burning Bush (Exodus 3:2-5) in 520 AD by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian, and since continuously occupied by Christian monks.

    Periodically, we reach the Gulf of Suez shores.   And then we resume an uphill climb into a second belt of mountains as the sun goes down and the sky darkens. The road is narrow and serpentine, a series of gradual “S” curves, as it reaches high above the valley. On the way downhill we have rounded the tip of the Sinai. In the eerie, failing light we see a mixture of valleys, and cut, scarred and barren ground that must be like the surface of the moon.

   Then as we pass by relics of the 1956 Israel­Egypt war, smashed and burned trucks, carriers and guns, we sight our objective. Ahead are the series of isolated buildings that make up the Sharm el Sheikh outpost.

   The end of our outward trip. We quickly park vehicles, shed clothes and head for Shark Bay to wash away the dirt, grime and sweat. The trip has taken 15 hours of almost steady driving. Feeling cleaner, we gulp down a late dinner and put to bed our tired frames.

   Before heading back we have a two-day layover. The first is taken up swimming in crystal-clear waters, waLking on a shell-laden beach and whiling away hours watching the splendid array of fish­huge starfish, slim needlefish, spectacular tuna and thousands of fry.

   Our second day, a bonus because we didn’t bivouac overnight enroute, is a tour to Ras Nasrani, about 15 miles away through more strange, fascinating country. There, at a lonely observation post we take turns scanning the Gulf of Aqaba and Strait of Tiran through powerful mounted binoculars.

   The straits are narrow and shipping is forced, by coral reefs and a broken ship, to move through a channel near the post.

   Nearby are abandoned minefields, coastal gun emplacements, and broken tanks, vehicle and trenches. Fierce rocks jut up out of the ground as hills and mountains of changing colours to form a picturesque backdrop.

   But our visit is over and now we must start our return expedition. We have driven through mach of the 24,000 square mile Sinai Peninsula, but have had little time to tour the historic sights.

   Perhaps another day. It is said that that which is here today, was here yesterday and will still be here tomorrow.

Capt.O'Regan

Page no.07

DAILY DOUGH

   Nestling at a corner in "Litle Yugoslavia" in El Arish, at the foot of a sandy hillock, is a newly constructed " T " shaped barrack. On both sides of its lowly, white walls are written in bold painted letters," The IX Rotation of the Yugoslav Contingent". The roof cover shines int the sun. Huge branches of an old arish tree, convered with dust,.bend over it.

   It was around noon when I entered the barrack, unnoticed by its four busy occupants: Privates Matija Hus, Petar Robman, Drago Culibrk and Petar Mihajlovic - all dressed in vests, trousers and white caps.

   Robman, Culibrk and Mihajlovic were leaning over a large board - which served as a coverof a still larger kneading trough. Culibrk was weighing pieces of dough, using a small scale. Robman and Mihajlovic were mixing water with flour, preparing loaves of bread. Hus was sitting at a small table next to the wall, putting the weighed loaves into small cotton bags and lining them up in wooden troughs.

   Silence. Only a dull thud of the falling dough on the plank was heard. Their faces were covered with sweat.

   "This is the last one", said Hus.

   Then, they all stopped work, as if they heard a command.

   "Finished for the day ? " , I interrupted.

   "Of mixing flour - yes " - answered all of them smiling, and hurried towards the door.

   The room was empty. Only huge wooden troughs were standing empty in the middle. Traces of dough could be seen everywhere. two large wooden troughs full of loaves of bread were placed against the wall. A few sacks of flour were seen on the side of the troughs.

   I followed them  to the next room. Hus took out a packet of cigarettes and offered one to me. We were smoking. Then the Company Commander Maj Mojic and the private on duty at the bakery, Mladen pajcic appeared at the door.

    "How are you boys". asked the Major.

   "As usual, answered Hus,the foreman

   "As you see, each day is the same here", said Maj Mojic. "Every morning, the four of them start work at five and continue till noon, often longer. They do not stop until bread for the whole contingent is ready".

   "It isthe same every day, mixing, mixing, mixing..." Mihajlovic silently complained.

   "Shame on you", said Hus. "How would you feel about digging a trech, for instance, for a 120 mm heavy gun ? "

   "How? ... Tell me,how many times you have to dig a trech for a gun ?" continued Mihajlovic.

   Oh, forget about it, Robman said and moved towards the bakery. Others followed him. As they approached the white bakery one opened the iron door, and others pulled out a plate with 64 loaves of baked bread.

   "In a few minutes another 64 loaves will be ready", said Hus.

   "And, then, itwill be finished for the day", sighed Mihajlovic.

   "No", snapped Hus.

   "Yes, your are right. We have to feed our friends", agreed Mihajlovic.

   Their friends are three pigeons, two dogs, a cat and a cock. Each day, after finishing the work, they visit them - dressed in white - and feed them.

   As I came out of the bakery, Maj Mojic said: " Wonderful men, they are ! It has nvery happened once that the bread was not ready, or not baked enough. Never, You all know it as well I do, for you eat it every day. And something else: all the menbers of the other contingents know about the quality of the brad they make".

   " Don' t you agree ? ".

SAVO KASCHELAN

Page no.08

SAT SRI AKAL

    In a two weeks’ time the 2nd Battalion of the Sikh Regiment, commanded by Lt Col DN Kamran, will be sailing for India. For the tall, tough, bearded Sikh soldier another opportunity may not come to visit Middle East, to wear the blue turban, or to serve under the flag of the United Nations. Those privileges will belong to his brethren in otber battalions of the Indian Army.Sikh 

    However, 1962 will long be remembered as the year in Deir el Ballah. And the Sikh solder will be looking back with pride at the year he spent as part of UNEF.

    It all started in the middle of last year when the Force Headquarters were told that a Sikh battalion was coming to replace the 4 Rajputs. The first problem that confronted UNEF was to provide enough turbans for them. Orders were placed to18,000 yards of blue muslin. This, it was calculated, would provide three turbans for every Sikh soldier.

    In November the battalion arrived, and the barber at Deir el Ballah packed his equipment and departed. The Sikhs do not shave or cut their hair, thus the Procurement section promptiy terminated the hair-cutter’s contract.
    Palestinians in Deir el Ballah were surprised when the Sikh soldiers did not retrun the friendly greeting of “Ram Ram”, but said “Sat Sri Akal”.• Questions were asked why he grew his beard, did not cut his hair, wore a turban, what does Sikhism mean, and so on.

    Religious teachers may have written expositions, but to a common farmer from India who has taken the olive green as his profession, ]t was not easy to explain to questioners.

    —“Sikh”, he would say, is one who learns. The beard and the turban are part of his religion. In fact the Sikhs are distinguished by the “Five Ks”. Kesh— not to cut the hair or beard; Kungha — to carry a comb in the hair; Kuchha — to wear a pair of shorts; Kara — to carry a steel bangle on the right wrist; and to bear a Kirpan, or a sword. And his religion is known as the Khalsa.

    Sikhs have been great fighters for ages. This has been partly due to the fact that they come from an area which lies across the invasion routes to the heartland of India. The Sikh had always to fight to survive. Soldiering became his second nature. Even now, among the male offsprings in a famiiy, one tills the farm, while the rest of them generally join the Army. A soldier has an important status among the Sikhs.

    The Sikhs impressed all by their smart bearing and discipline. The quarter guard of the battalion at Deir el Ballah became a show piece with smartly turned out soldiers in white anklets clicking to attention whenever a UNEF vehicle passes by. The blue berets were replaced by blue turbans along the ADL. The local children learned “Sat Sri Akal”, and the crisp military salute. The ice was broken.

    A demonstration of military discipline was shown at their inaugural parade in January. This was soon followed by the spectacuLar celebrations of “Tofrek Day” — the battle honour day of 2nd Battalion of the Sikh Regiment. The Searchlight Tattoo and display on stilts which was held on the latter occasion, would. long be remembered.

    Soon after settling down at Deir el Ballah, the Sikhs were seen running along the ADL, in the camps or jumping and tugging at ropes. Are they mad? Why do they not rest? The questions soon found an answer when the semi-annual athletics were held. The Sikhs carried away almost all the trophies, and established new records in most of the events. As they return to India, it is only a few sports events that they have left untouched, and haven’t won or established a new record.

    The Sikhs — like others in the Indian Army - are professional soldiers. The keynote in building up a good Army, the Indian Officers would explain, is constant training. Besides military training which is imparted regularly, sports constitute an important part in the life of a soldier. Besidcs, it keeps him fit and occupied. And no wonder the Sikhs won most of the prizes in sports.

    The Sikhs themselves have learned many things during their stay with UNEF; about the different peoples with whom they have worked and lived, and about the problems of the people of this country. They return home with a better perspective of the events happening in the world.

    They have made many friends. The presents they have received from colleagues of other countries will be proud possessions. In the archives of the Battalion the flags of the various UNEF contingents and the trophies and tokens of affection received during their stay here will be displayed with pride and honour.

    Again, for the first time in the history of the Battalion they have. gone abroad not to fight a war, but to work in the cause of peace. A rare privilege indeed.

    And the soldiers had a good time here. They enjoyed their stay in the leave centres in Beirut and Cairo, and the more fortunate ones their visits to Europe and England. The Sikh band, which has lent colour to many functions in the Force, visited Britain to take part in the Edinburgh tattoo, and won a good name for itself. 

    As the Sikhs sail for India, we would say “Sat Sri Akal ”.       OBSERVER

 

 

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Page no.09

A DANE DEBATES

The Gate of DANOR Battalion

Nearly six years have elapsed since the establishment of UNEF. A unique organization, it is compused of soldiers from many parts of the world. A synthesis have been achieved. The force is a busy organization, as can he seen from white painted vehicles moving all day long along of streets of Gaza,or the Caribou with bold UN making flying across the sky. They, however, do not give one a correct picture of the mature of the work of the organization. The real work is done along the Armistice Demarcation Line, at the lonely Observation Posts that dot it along its length.  There the blue bereted soldiers stand sentiinel alert all the time, keeping a watchful eye on the frontier Luckily, peace has been prevailing  here for a long time. There are few incidents. Ocasionally a bedowin strays across the ADL, or

a shepherd crosses  it to bring back the sheep. But , the soldier at the Observation Post has to be careful not to overlook such violations, for these small incidents may flare up and attain serious proportions. The work is tendious, and the weather is not too good. For Dane, who is not used to tropical climates, it is not easy to suffer the hot sun beating on the shimmering sand. Then, why does the Dane volunteer to come here ? Why does he, us many do, opt for another term ? An arbitrarily chosen soldier says: “ I wanted to start a buseness back home. I Wanted money for that, and by serving with the UNEF, there can be quite a saving, Also, before settling in life, I wanted to travel and see the world. As a matter of fact, the ideals of  United Nations , the work of  UNEF, do not enter a soldier´s

mind when he      volunteers. But soon aflter landing in the Strip, he becomes consious oh the proiblems of the area. The Political situation in the Middle East, and its impact on the events happening iin the world, become clearer. He soon has undertanding of the significant role of UNEF. – and begins to take pride in his work. That makes the tendious duty at the ADL aceptable to the soldier. But everything ins not tendious. There is a lot of adventure. He meets people from other countries, visits various places of interest, like Cairo, Luxor, Beirut – and Jerusalem, to visit whick place every Cristian is anxiouns. And no less an experience is his stay in Gaza, among people who belong to a different milieu. ( Sand Dune )

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Page no.10

THE PLANE

 

BRAZILIAN AIR FORCE

 

     “FAB 2045 cleared to take off...”

 

    The message f rom the centrol tower comes jn strong and clear through the pilot’s earphones. As he increases engine speed, the propellers bite into the air and pull the large C-54 aircraft onto the take off runway at the Galeao Military Air Base in Rio de Janeiro.

    Minutes Iater, tracing a smooth curve in the dark sky, the big four engined plane bears towards Recife, its first stop on the trip to El Arish, in the Middle East.

    It is an aircraft of tbe Braziflian Air Force (BAF), which departs regularly from Brazil each month, carrying to fellow-countrymen on duty with UNEF messages from their families and small gifts.

    “The Plane”- hasan affectionate place in the Brazil Battalion. And is a great morale-booster for the soldiers.

    In spite of the fact that they could regularly correspond with their near and dear ones, a small parcel received through the plane has a special meaning to whorn it is addressed.

    A pair of woollen socks or gloves made by the mother, wife cr sweetheart acquires a value, hard to explain. A piece of home-made candy brings to the Middle East the simple, yet special, flavour of things back home. Of small material value, they are “valuable” and make the plane expected and welcome.

It’s so popular that the plane serves as a calender for the troops “Two planes more — and 1 will be home...”

    Landing in the desert airstrip at El Arish, plane and crew are welcomed by speciafly assigned men from the Battahon. The Movernent Control detachment at El Arish gives them technical assistance.

    At “Bathalao Suez” the crew is warmly received by men, anxious for news from home.

    “How’s Rio... ?“    “...and how’s the football chainpionship going on ?"

    Very often pilots have been personal friends of the soldiers who wear the Blue Beret. More questions follow:

    “...so my Junior is walking?”

    The talk goes on till the night is old. The crew and their friends chat and chat, about things at home and in the Middle East.

    With the confident feeling that they are the link between the soldiers and their homes, the plane crew leaves El Arish with words for many a soldier’s family — and the heartfelt thanks from the blue­bereted Brazllian boys.

    “When is the next plane ?“

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Page no.11

OF SADNESS, AND CHEER

There is a room at ythe UNEF Hospital in Camp Rafah that is set apart from the ordinary sick-bed wards.  And it holds a special place in the hearts of the Norwegian ofíicers and men who administer to the health needs of UNEF.    It is a room of dadness and a room of good cheer. And it takes many litte things as well as time and patience to look after the physical and mental needs of its occupants. For the room does have patients, patients who soon learn to smile again as their bodies mend and become filled out from tasty and nourishing food.    It is a room with chalk, crayon and grease pencil drawing on its otherwise starkly bare walls. And amidst the many small beds, dark curlyhaired children crawl and play. For this is the room where from day to day, and week to week small Bedouin youngsters recover from injuries and malnutrition.    Among the occupants of the room are twe little girls who have become the sweethearts of the hospital. They have been patients for some four months and are not yet fully recovered. Both girls were given typical Norwegian names, Laura and Signe, by the former CO Lt. Col. R. Nordlie. SLOW RECOVERY Laura, when she was admitted to the hospital, was very much undernourished and had an unbelievably low blood count of between 20 and 30 percent. She had to be fed by the doctors intravenuously until sufficient strength was restored for normal feeding.     Today she is in good condition but her Bedouin parents have asked that she be kept at the hospital a little longer. They and the Norwegian staff are afraid of returning her to the desert, where the RCD Recce Squadron picked her up, as it would perhaps be only a question of time before anemia and malnutrition again took its toll from her frail body.    Signe has suffered the most pain of the two. Doctors are amazed that she is slowly recovering as she suffered the most terrible wounds that they have ever had to treat. Only a very small child, Signe had been playing as all children do when she suddenly tripped and stumbled into a roaring fire. The severest burns were on the stomach and chest, but her face, arms and hands were also affected. After much patience and medication, the doctors were successful in stopping infection, and she has had many operations to transplant healthy skin to where the parched and burned layers once lay. Doctors are now confident that she will recover.    Although the hospital personnel and other patients in a way adore the small ones from the Sinai, there is no doubt that the greatest love, affection and respect is reserved for little Signe who has lain so admirably calm for many months.    Soon the children will be receiving clothes and comforts from Norwegian voluntary organizations who have heard of their plight.

Page no.12

THE LARGEST "CONTINGENT"

    Contingents may come and contingents may go, but they go on for ever. And, in a sense, they are the largest contingent in the UNEF the locally employed civilians.

    There are nearly 1,700 local civilian employees serving with the Force — in Gaza, Rafah and El Arish. They are employed in various capacities, from. watchman or labourer to clerk or accountant.

    Many of them have been with the UNEF from the time it landed in Abu Suweir. They moved with it to El Arish, Rafah and finally to Gaza. They have seen many a rotation, but they themselves have never rotated.

    Members of this ‘contingent’ have been recruited locally. They are paid on a daily or monthly basis. Nearly half of them are unskilled or semi­skilled such as watchmen, labourers and cooks. Many of them are skilled in various trades — drivers, mechanics to name only a few. Others serve in the administrative departments of the Force, where they are employed as translators, clerks, technical assistants and storekeepers.

    Their knowledge of the local languages and familiarity with the area has helped considerably in the functioning of the Force. Those. employed in administration have developed a better knowledge of English. Many of them speak and write French —which has been, to a very large extent, the language in which the people of the area conducted their business. Consequently some of them have been selected to join the UN operations in the Congo, the ntimber being nearly 25.

    The majority of the local employees are refugees. Those recruited in IsmaiLia and Cairo have brought their families to Caza, and have settled here. Their children go to local schools, run by the government and the UNRWA.

    Their social life centres round the CRC the Civilian Recreation Club — situated in one of the local “villas”. There they gather in the evenings, see films or play indoor games. Twice a month parties are arranged, which compare well to those held in UNEF messes. During summer they have trips to the beach, or other places of interest in the Gaza Strip.

    It is true that the local civilian employees do not belong to the military or international cotnponent of the UNEF. However, they have, and are, making a significant contribution towards its functioning.

Page no.13

DESERT AIRLINE

 

 

    Aircraft of No. 115 ATU (RCAF) may not have the most comfortable passenger seats, but without a doubt they are among the most-worked flying machines. And the men who operate them for UNEF are second to none in skill and devotiontoduty.

    The 90-man unit helps to remove a sense of isolation for grateful UNEF menbers by providing a link with neighbouring countries. The three hightailed Caribou transport aircraft, with their prominent UN markings on a field of white, are seldom airborne without carrying a fuil load of UN personnel, maul freight and baggage. They have a normal carrying capacity of 18,70O pounds of cargo or 28 passengers.

    An airline and freight seivice from El Arish and Gaza to Cairo, Beirut , Port Said and Jerusalem, is combined with a ferry service that takes troops, mail and supplies from_ and to such isolated Sinal desert outposts as El Quesima, El Kuntilla, Ras el Naqb and Sharm el Sheikh.

    Although logistical support is the largest task, the unit’s operationa1 - role as the aerial eyes of UNEF along the IF is no less important. Two single-engine Otter aircraft, cruising at 100 knots an hour, are used to scan the barren Sinai wastelands in support of ground reconnaissance troops.

    On the shuttle service from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, north to. Beirut and southwest to Cairo, the seven pilots in the unit turn in about 200 hours flying time: monthiy, and an average of more than 900 nautical miles daily. From April to June this year, statistics show cargoes of more than 230 tons of freight, 42 tons of mail, an equal amount of baggage, and 1,858 passengers.

    Middle East flying is much different from fiying in Canada, but new piiots quickly adapt themselves to the sameness of the desert and its lack of prominent landmarks. They must fiy corridors and must not pass over Israel. Their approach chart warns them to beware of camels and goats on the runway. And they find shimmering heat waves, caused by sand-reflected heat, make Otter landings difficult.

    For every hour of flight, the wear and tear of desert flying requires 10 hours of aircraft maintenance. Powdery sand infiltrates bearings and must be washed out weekly, heat and gravel quickly wears out tires, damages propellers tips, removes paint from fuselage and wing undersurfaces, and gravel propelled by the slipstream cracks starboard side windows.

    To keep the aircraft serviceable, there are 55 ground crew personnel representing nine trades and skills. Made up into three maintenance crews, they work in shifts in a iarge cantilever hangar built by RCE sappers. During busy periods the tradesrnen work round the clock. Every 100 hours fiying time means a three-day inspection, and a major weekiong inspection is made after 800 hours of flight. At each 1,000 hours, a complete engine overhaul is done and new propellers instailed.

    With such a heavy workload, and a main supply base 7,000 miles away in Canada, the unit has to stock a large amount of spare parts to keep aircraft serviceable, about 6,000 different items. Major replacements held here are two complete Caribou engines and one Otter engine. A small metal repair workshop turns out pieces of fuselage “skins” and other minor metal work.

    The unit’s work is international and in itself it is partly international, being supported by several other UNEF units. A Yugoslav guard company is attached, Indian Army signallers look after landline communications and Canadian soldiers operate VHF ground to air communications equipment, provide engineer services and do movement control and postal work.

    No. 115 ATU (RCAF) by its efficiency senso of duty, and enviable safety record, stands out as an integral part of a pioneer force.

Page no.14

Page no.15

Band Major Gurdial Singh of 2nd Battalion os the Sikh REgiment leading the Battalion Band at a UNEF function. The Band achieved international fame this year when it participated in the recent Edinburgh Tattoo.

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Our Cover: 

Sentinel of Peace - Yugoslav soldiers at the Observation Post in El Quesima, along the International Frontier. 

Photografh by Sgt.Gord Groucher, Canadian Public Relations DEtachment. 

Photograhs on pages 9 and 15 are by Hrant Studios, Gaza.

THE SAND DUNE  is published on Fridays at the Office os Public Information, HQ. UNEF Gaza.

Editorial Staff: I.Ramamohan Rao  (Editor): Grujo Zlvkovic. Public Information Officer:O.Dich

VOLTAR