Memories of the War - Salvation Army Band

My father was called up in 1941, returning in 1945 having served the whole war in Egypt and Iraq in the REME corps (Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers).

Father played in the Salvation Army Band. He realised that there were many Salvation Army bandsmen serving in the Middle East. They joined together calling themselves the Cairo Red Shield Band. To this day they are the only Salvation Army Band to have played in Jerusalem.

Instruments were sent out by boats but these were destroyed when the boat was sunk. Replacements were raised from an appeal around the UK. There was a celebration in 1944 commemorating the arrival of the first delivery of instruments. My father collected the bandsmen's autographs and played the trombone.

Father sent regular letters home to his wife who wrote to him. They are full of holes where they were redacted for security reasons.