Wartime in Basrah

online resource

posted on 2024-06-05, 19:37 authored by Their Finest Hour Project Team

Fredrick Henry Hawkins was in the Royal Army Service Corps. The 1944 Christmas Day menu for soldiers in Basrah was signed by all who were with him at the dinner. There was movement control for him to go on leave on 11th May 1945 from Basrah to Beirut. Each soldier had two dog tags- in case he died, they would be used to identify the body. When he came back from the war, the contributor felt that he was an intruder until she grew to know him. He sent her a leather bag from Egypt.

History

Item list and details

1. Christmas menu 1944 in Basrah, Iraq 2. Movement control permission slip 11.05.45 from Basrah to Beirut 3. Dog tag with name and number

Person the story/items relate to

Fredrick Henry Hawkins

Person who shared the story/items

Yvonne Lillian Florence Paris

Relationship between the subject of the story and its contributor

He was the contributor's father.

Type of submission

Shared at West Berkshire Museum, Newbury on 17 January 2024.

Record ID

116246 | NEW010

Usage metrics

Keywords

Their Finest Hour World War Two Africa African Animal Animals Armed Forces Armies Army British Empire Clothes Clothing Egypt Egyptian Empire Naval Navy Rail Royal Sea Ship Uniform

Licence

CC BY 4.0