10th October, 1943: Palestine rain

We were awakened before the flies could wake us up. We might have disturbed them for a change. Bill Taylor and "Shorty" were also leaving with us. An army captain, our passenger, was there and very soon after 8 o'clock, we were again looking at Egypt from the air. We had had a good time there, but other adventures lay ahead. I had no regret when leaving. 

We crossed the Nile - and Cairo - a vast city, opened out beneath us and seemed to spread out into the desert. A city built in a narrow strip of green in this vast desert, it looked so cut off from everywhere. Once over the river we beheld nothing but desert. In the morning haze, the "Red Sea" was but a watery grey mass on our distant right. 

We were soon in Palestine, but there was nothing to indicate our entering this land, known to all. Palestine - the "Holy Land" - was most of this land desert too? Soon the brown and gold of the desert was broken by patches of green. Orchards, probably orange trees, covered many acres of land, but the country did not appear to be green as England, with rich pastures - and fertile valleys. We landed at Lydda, and I felt thrilled that the least I could say was that I had stood on the soil of Palestine. 

My knowledge of the Bible is nothing compared with what it might be - but many stories flashed through my mind. Immediately behind the control tower was a public highway. Along this road passed a man riding a donkey - how like the days of Christ. The desert so near - where Christ went out into the wilderness. The orchards, and the parables Christ made using the orchard to illustrate his story. The weather was not too promising, so we were allowed to stay there until the following morning. 

We had only been there a short while when we had a heavy shower of rain. This, we were told, was the first rain they had had for months - we seemed to be the messengers of good fortune - for rain is needed there badly. It was the first heavy shower I had seen since leaving Scotland, and it was a strange experience to feel huge drops of cooling rain pouring down my face, without feeling any resentment towards the weather. 

A native of the country ran for shelter and stood near me. "This - no good for work", he said, but it was the way he ran that amused me, as though bullets were falling. There were many Americans around, on leave and coming to Palestine to see what all Christians have read about - the "Holy Land". We could not avail ourselves of such a grand opportunity, there was no means of transport. This was most disappointing, but I had to be satisfied with the little I had - having stood on the soil. 

Here, for the first time, I saw a locust, a huge ugly looking brute much like a fat grasshopper. We spent most of the afternoon at the mess. We changed the little remaining money we had into Palestinian money. 1000mils = £1; 50 mils = 5 piestres = 1 shilling. Being accustomed to Egyptian money it was easy enough to handle, one tenth the number of mils we had gave us the equivalent number of piestres. 

After dinner, Lofty met a friend of his, a fellow pilot, and we were all introduced to each other. Having spent some time at the mess, we all went to the camp cinema together. This cinema was in the open air, and the coolness of the evening - the starlit sky made the setting so complete. It was a most pleasant evening. Bud Abbott and Costello in "In The Navy" was grand entertainment, and enjoyed the evening immensely. 

We all walked back together and parted in the billet knowing we should be seeing them again at the next station. We were all going the same way. That night, thunder roared like an artillery barrage - the lightning almost one continuous flare.