DIARY OF THE VISIT BY A DETACHMENT OF LEVIES TO LONDON ON THE VICTORY PARADE TOUR. 1946
Personnel representing the Royal Air Force Levies at the Victory Parade in London 8/6/1946
O.C. A.J.G. Mullett- RAB Khaila Zaia Gewagis [2IC]M.B.E
Rab 100 Staiphan Neasan M.C.- Rab 100 Baijan Peko M.C.- Rab 100 Warda Eshu- Rab 100 Youkhana Narsi- Rab 50 Patros Lazar- Rab 50 Giwargis Barkho- Rab 50 Shlimon Bukko- Rab 50 David Warda- Sgt Khail Mikhail- Sgt Mako Shimon- Cpl Khoshaba Barkho- Cpl Yoseph Odishu- L/C Mikhail Mikhail- L/C Oraham Youseph- Pte Mirza Bassi- Pte Enwia Nanno- Pte Khamis Melooki.
The Levie contingent arrived at Liverpool after a not so unpleasant sea trip via Malta and Gibraltar on the 20th May 1946.
They were met there by Wing commander Archeray and Captain Prior of General Robinsons Staff. Brigadier Hardy the Port commander and an ex-Levie force commander, boarded and took the detachment to see the H.M.A.S. Vanguard lying nearby, the Vanguard sunk in 1917 taking down 800 of its crew. later they visited the Mersey Tunnel and other places of interest.
On the following morning the detachment landed and was taken by special train to London. The Levie officers on route were very impressed by the English country side and some expressed interest in farming there after the war.
On arrival at Euston they were taken to the contingent camp at Kensington Gardens and settled with other contingents.
On the following day Major General Robinson paid an informal call and chatted to all the men. The rest of the day was spent settling in and in the evening a tour was arranged round certain areas of London.
24/5/46
Visit to Madame Tussaudes. The Levie party generally was very impressed. Theatre tickets were issued in the evening and a party attended the Prince of Wales theatre.
25/5/46
Devoted to Museums i.e., Science, War, British Indian. Theatre tickets were issued in the evening. The Levies were unanimous in their condemnation of "tubes', and preferred London corporation Buses as their mode of transport.
26/5/46
A party attended a service at St Paul’s Cathedral, then were escorted around London on a tour. Later they went to the cinema.
27/5/46
A wet day. Levies went to a theatre and dinner at a London restaurant.
28/5/46
The changing of the Guards and the Horse Guard parade proved an attraction close to the Levie heart. In the afternoon the party visited the Tower of London.
29/5/46
Another water trip but this time shorter, by river to Greenwhich. The overseas league during a broadcast invited several Levies to the microphone and they obliged. In the evening they went to the Theatre.
30/5/46
The Levies visited the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and later Harrods. In the evening several officers had tea with the King and Queen.
31/5/46
Drill in the morning. The officers in the party were invited to Tea by the Air council and were entertained by C.A.S. Lord Tedder, Sir John Sleaser, the secretary of state for Air and several other high ranking officers and officials. A dance was laid on in the evening.
1/6/46
Drill in the morning and a tour of the BBC.
2/6/46
Attended divine service at Westminster.
3/6/46
Flown by Dakota to Germany, and after circling over the Ruhr they landed at Cologne for an hour and then to Berlin where the Levies visited Adolph Hitler's Headquarters and the Air raid shelter were he died, an odd collection of Iron Crosses and photographs were collected as mementos. Returned by Air to London and landed at midnight.
4/6/46
Lord Tedder C.A.S. paid an informal visit and later a rehearsal for the march past was held.
5-6-7/6/46
More rehearsals for the Parade.
8/6/46
Victory parade extract from a report by the officer commanding detachment.
The parade went very well except for the rain in the end. We wore our full rig-out and made quite a splash of color in the centre of the RAF blue. Our plumes were somewhat bedraggled however when we eventually returned to camp.
9/6/46
A visit was arranged by Col. Mery, an ex-Levie C.O. To the R.A.S.O.E.F.I. At Norwood which was very pleasant.
10/6/46
Levie tea party at the Hyde Park Hotel, attended by Levy officers past and present.
11/6/46
Officers attended a welcome party given at Hampton Court Palace also attended by the King and Queen.
12/6/46
The Levies were conducted around Abingdon Bomber Station;
" The weather was not too kind, we had to rush to see it all, but it was very interesting".
13/6/46
A visit to Whitebreads Brewery and Beer tasting, a good day all around.
14/6/46
Visit to the offices of the Daily Mirror.
15/6/46
Toured around Westminster Abbey, also visited stage door canteen.
18/6/46
A trip to RAF Regiment Depot Grantham.
21/6/46
Visited Government gardens and Law Courts.
24/6/46
Trip to Dagenham Motor Works and theatre in the evening.
25/6/46
Cleaning and packing in the morning, later tea with the Bishop of London.
26/6/46
Embarked Liverpool en route Habbanyia.
The above Diary does not include the almost daily visits and invitations by Levy officers, trips by small parties to Exeter, Scotland, Dover and Brighton, and dances at the overseas league on Saturdays and Wednesdays. Tea dances on Sundays and trips organized by other people around London. Owing to the limited duration of their stay many invitations were declined.
The Levies however did enjoy their stay immensely and returned home regretfully.
They were met there by Wing commander Archeray and Captain Prior of General Robinsons Staff. Brigadier Hardy the Port commander and an ex-Levie force commander, boarded and took the detachment to see the H.M.A.S. Vanguard lying nearby, the Vanguard sunk in 1917 taking down 800 of its crew. later they visited the Mersey Tunnel and other places of interest.
On the following morning the detachment landed and was taken by special train to London. The Levie officers on route were very impressed by the English country side and some expressed interest in farming there after the war.
On arrival at Euston they were taken to the contingent camp at Kensington Gardens and settled with other contingents.
On the following day Major General Robinson paid an informal call and chatted to all the men. The rest of the day was spent settling in and in the evening a tour was arranged round certain areas of London.
24/5/46
Visit to Madame Tussaudes. The Levie party generally was very impressed. Theatre tickets were issued in the evening and a party attended the Prince of Wales theatre.
25/5/46
Devoted to Museums i.e., Science, War, British Indian. Theatre tickets were issued in the evening. The Levies were unanimous in their condemnation of "tubes', and preferred London corporation Buses as their mode of transport.
26/5/46
A party attended a service at St Paul’s Cathedral, then were escorted around London on a tour. Later they went to the cinema.
27/5/46
A wet day. Levies went to a theatre and dinner at a London restaurant.
28/5/46
The changing of the Guards and the Horse Guard parade proved an attraction close to the Levie heart. In the afternoon the party visited the Tower of London.
29/5/46
Another water trip but this time shorter, by river to Greenwhich. The overseas league during a broadcast invited several Levies to the microphone and they obliged. In the evening they went to the Theatre.
30/5/46
The Levies visited the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and later Harrods. In the evening several officers had tea with the King and Queen.
31/5/46
Drill in the morning. The officers in the party were invited to Tea by the Air council and were entertained by C.A.S. Lord Tedder, Sir John Sleaser, the secretary of state for Air and several other high ranking officers and officials. A dance was laid on in the evening.
1/6/46
Drill in the morning and a tour of the BBC.
2/6/46
Attended divine service at Westminster.
3/6/46
Flown by Dakota to Germany, and after circling over the Ruhr they landed at Cologne for an hour and then to Berlin where the Levies visited Adolph Hitler's Headquarters and the Air raid shelter were he died, an odd collection of Iron Crosses and photographs were collected as mementos. Returned by Air to London and landed at midnight.
4/6/46
Lord Tedder C.A.S. paid an informal visit and later a rehearsal for the march past was held.
5-6-7/6/46
More rehearsals for the Parade.
8/6/46
Victory parade extract from a report by the officer commanding detachment.
The parade went very well except for the rain in the end. We wore our full rig-out and made quite a splash of color in the centre of the RAF blue. Our plumes were somewhat bedraggled however when we eventually returned to camp.
9/6/46
A visit was arranged by Col. Mery, an ex-Levie C.O. To the R.A.S.O.E.F.I. At Norwood which was very pleasant.
10/6/46
Levie tea party at the Hyde Park Hotel, attended by Levy officers past and present.
11/6/46
Officers attended a welcome party given at Hampton Court Palace also attended by the King and Queen.
12/6/46
The Levies were conducted around Abingdon Bomber Station;
" The weather was not too kind, we had to rush to see it all, but it was very interesting".
13/6/46
A visit to Whitebreads Brewery and Beer tasting, a good day all around.
14/6/46
Visit to the offices of the Daily Mirror.
15/6/46
Toured around Westminster Abbey, also visited stage door canteen.
18/6/46
A trip to RAF Regiment Depot Grantham.
21/6/46
Visited Government gardens and Law Courts.
24/6/46
Trip to Dagenham Motor Works and theatre in the evening.
25/6/46
Cleaning and packing in the morning, later tea with the Bishop of London.
26/6/46
Embarked Liverpool en route Habbanyia.
The above Diary does not include the almost daily visits and invitations by Levy officers, trips by small parties to Exeter, Scotland, Dover and Brighton, and dances at the overseas league on Saturdays and Wednesdays. Tea dances on Sundays and trips organized by other people around London. Owing to the limited duration of their stay many invitations were declined.
The Levies however did enjoy their stay immensely and returned home regretfully.
The Levies were not impressed by the Tubes in London, preferring the open air.
Above and below the Levies march past.
photo top; 1946 London- from left- RAB100 Stepho Neasan MC - RAB 100 Biejo Peeku MC - RAB 100 Warda Esho MM - Canon of Lambeth Palace- RAB 50 Iskhaq Giwargis - RAB Khaila Zaiya Gewargis MBE. Cpl Moshe Tooma - RAB 50 Giwargis Barkho - RAB 100 Shlimon Bukho - RAB 200 Youkhana Narsai.
