Mystery 1948 photo. R.A.S.C. boat??
 

I was just wondering if anybody might be able to figure out the where's and why's of this photo. I can't really make out the town name if that's what they are referring to. Then,,, Gulf of Siny? Sing(apore??) Is that an R.A.S.C. boat? It must have had some weight to it if it was heavy enough to get hung up on the bottom. It's just a curious photo with a tantalizing amount of info on the back.

Thanks,

Monkey

Gulf of Suez??
Cord Cursive writing, note the tail on the z.

Phil.

There is an area/town at the Southern end of the Gulf of Suez (where it meets the Red Sea) called Jamsah (various spellings) , it is north of Hurghada and roughly the same latitude as Sharm El-Sheikh in Sinai.

Lots of reefs/sandbanks and great for scuba diving/snorkelling. There are WW2 shipwrecks in that part of the Gulf/Red Sea including the SS Thistlegorm (sunk in October 1941).

So , possibly the picture is a tourist boat ?

Have included some pics of the Thistlegorm (I dived it 20+ years ago) and it is 'living' military history. One puzzle , why were there hundreds of pairs of Wellington boots in the hold :confused:


N.B This post may have nothing to do with the original picture but the area brought back some great memories. :D

Could be right.
 

NTXT

Again , may have nothing to do with original photo.

During WW2 the British army was interested in the Jamsah (Jemsa) area and produced a detailed survey map ( Royal Engineers. Field Survey Company, 512th) the map included roads/tracks leading to Jemsa Bay plus all the coral/sandbanks off shore.

The coastal region also had petrochemical/mineral facilities.

Perhaps those in the photo were expats /military based in Egypt ? When I worked in the Middle East we would often spend weekends "exploring" the Red Sea coast , driving to quiet areas and going out on boats to snorkel/dive.

Sounds right again.
 

I think you guys are barking up the right tree here. Thanks for that.

Hi There , I recently purchased a book called "The Army's Navy" all about the R.F.A. / Water Tpt vessels etc, and I shall check it for the name but the British Army did have various vessels all around the world , but will check for you. Regards Bob

Thanks
 

Thanks very much for that Bob. It would be great to get a bit more info about this.

Monkey

First came across a reference to this in a Gavin Lyall novel. One gathers it became slightly confusing when the 'Captain' of one of these vessels was a Lt. Or a Major! ;)

Lt. Maj. Capt. SKIPPER
 

I think I've actually seen the official appointment of "Skipper" referred to as an RFA title too.

SOLVED 4 years later
 

OK, I found a full photo album by the same gal who had this photo. She was Joy Yetton, RAAF, posted as a Leading aircraftsman to 109 Maintenance Unit, Fayid RAF Station, Middle East Forces, Egypt in 1947 - 1948.

Another photo (shown) is labelled Blue Lagoon (likely a name they made up for themselves) Gulf of Suez, Sanai Desert. Notice another RASC boat here, this one Mary Queen of Scots.

The boys and girls were having a nice day out and snapped a bunch of pics.

Thanks for your help.

I did my scuba diver Instructor course at Sharm El-Sheikh on the Sinai Peninsula , one day was a boat trip to the Blue Lagoon at Dahab/Dhahab.

The Sinai Peninsula has the Gulf of Suez on one side and the Gulf of Aqaba on the other. The Blue Lagoon is on the Aqaba side.

.

Thanks
 

Thanks for the info.