16 Oct 1945, Barbara Anslow's diary
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Left Suez early and entered Suez Canal. Mainly desert wastes on Arabian side, and a very good road on British side. Troops swimming in canal & sitting on embankment. They waved and yelled at us 'You're going the wrong way!'
Was told the Turks tried to cross the Canal in 1915, only one barge got across - they carried barges on their shoulders, having carried them for miles over the desert.
Passed remains of ships sunk by Germans in war - mass of rusty twisted metal parked on the side of the canal. Tannoy announcer gave details: it's about 40 feet deep where we entered. The Italians didn't bomb the canal much in this war.
In 1968 it reverts to the Egyptian Govt. but apparently we are building another canal in this part of the world. The Pharaohs started on the canal in BC. It now costs 8/4d per person to come through the canal.
Arrived Port Said in evening. Some mail came on board, but none for us. Men were given different forms to fill in, reporting war casualties, details of escapes etc.
