Trace and Tell your Family's Empire Stories
Introduction
When I was 20, just after the Second World War, I spent a year in Egypt as a regimental officer in the British Army. As a soldier, I was involved in protecting the Suez Canal Zone. I experienced bitterness from some Egyptians who were resentful of the British Army presence.
I returned to Egypt in 1951 as a missionary for the Egypt General Mission (EGM). In contrast to my army experience, this time my everyday life involved helping and communicating with the local Egyptians and I spent two years learning Egyptian Arabic.
As a missionary I developed a connection with the Egyptians that would have been impossible as a soldier. However, I was expelled from the country by the Egyptian government in May 1956 for teaching scripture to Muslims in a missionary school.
I still have a great affection for the people of Egypt and their country. Eventually, I returned to Egypt in the 1990s as a tourist. Today I live in Cheltenham with my wife Irene, whom I married just before starting work at the EGM.
Browser by chapterAlan East talks about getting caught up in a nationalist demonstration by Abdel Nasser.
When visiting Port Said in 1953 for a change of scene, I had another coincidental encounter with a key Egyptian political figure. A great crowd of Egyptians had gathered and I found myself unwittingly part of a rally in support of Gamal Abdel Nasser!
I stood at the back, looking to see what was going on and witnessed a cavalcade of vehicles. There, standing up with his bland smile and waving to the multitudes, was none other than Nasser himself. Caught up in such a political situation, I had to contribute my cheers too.
So there I was, in the midst of this demonstration supporting Nasser. It was good to see him in the flesh but of course he had a different attitude towards the British. He was well-known for his Arab nationalist and anti-colonial foreign policy.
Muhammad Naguib eventually relinquished his position as prime minister in 1954 to Nasser. Later, in 1956, Nasser also assumed the presidency.
