It happened from time to time a security alert would be issued from an anticipated problem to an actual attack by terrorists^*. One evening a general alert was sounded, we were told to anticipate an attack on the camp. A very agitated Sergeant assigned to our squad, who in the past had a very tough reputation, called us together and said that as I had the most military experience I was in charge and that he was going to the command post. His decision was based on information in my file relating to my experience as a Lieutenant in the L.D.F. We did not see him again until the next day when the excitement was over.

I took command as ordered and placed outposts of two men each in appropriate posts, facing the perimeter. Next step was to check the native Palestine policeman whose post was on top of the flat roof of our building behind sandbags. As I climbed the stairs to the roof I met him on his way down and there was no way I could persuade him to return to his post, even the threat of a court martial or a summary execution could not change his mind. He said he was old and his nerves would not allow him. I let him go his way and did not even report him, which he told me he had expected when he apologized and thanked me later.

The evening was uneventful apart from a few tracer bullets shooting across the sky, ours.

Later we spotted an individual outside the barbed wire perimeter. I had taken the guard's place on the roof and I got him in the spotlight.

Our orders were to take anybody who approached the fence inside to the Command Post for interrogation. I instructed him to make his way through the barbed wire, he would not move and as I approached from our side I could see he was terrified and in truth I could not blame him. I had to climb through the wire to persuade him it was safe to come with me, which he did. It later transpired he was an inoffensive bystander in the wrong place at the wrong time. Next day this individual, along with about thirty more rounded-up in the same circumstances were transported to military Head Quarters for interrogation.

I was ''volunteered'' as a guard on this trip. It was somewhat pathetic to see the concern and false congenial behavior of this group who were not sure what to expect no matter how much I tried to assure them they had nothing to fear. Hitler's shadow was long.

When we arrived at our destination I assisted as best as I could in getting them off the truck, as there was no ladder. A soldier, observing some of the very attractive ladies I was assisting, felt a compelling urge to do his duty. This worked well as we alternated our task until I billeted the second last person, As I turned back to the truck, the soldier said ''All yours mate'' and walked away. On looking up I could see an extremely large lady, and I mean large, put up her hands and launch herself at me. I succeeded in more or less breaking her fall and my back at the same time. Nobody was hurt so all was well. Anyway, it was in a few days, when my back recovered.

^* A terrorist is hard to define. It all depends on one's outlook. Certainly anybody who is determined to kill or injure me is a terrorist to me. On the other hand they could be considered a patriot to others. Who, more than the Irish can understand this?

It is said that Palestine was promised three times, once by God and twice by Britain. The Jews claim that God promised them a home in Palestine. Lord Balfour, on behalf of Britain, promised a Jewish National Home in Palestine and Lawrence of Arabia promised the Arabs Palestine if they sided with the British against the Germans in the First World War.

The despicable treatment of the Jews in Germany accelerated their needs in Palestine. On the other hand, the Arabs could only see their homeland being taken away from them in retribution for the persecutionof the Jews in the West that was not of their making.

In 1917 the British took on the Mandate of Palestine, an impossible situation, which they later had cause to regret.

The Jewish Agency for Palestine was the official body to negotiate matters concerning the Jews and their aspirations for a Jewish homeland. They unofficially supported and armed the ''Haganah'' who were initially a non-violent group and were training for the day the Jewish State would be declared. They were confident it would be sooner rather than later.

On the other hand there were at least two groups, the Irgun Zvai le'ummi, commanded by Manachem Began, and another called Stern Group, commanded by Yitzhak Shamir, who were considered by most to be terrorists. They certainly carried out terrorists acts, such as blowing up the civilian wing of the King Davld Hotel, killing civilians, and kidnapping two Army Sergeants, hanging theit booby trapped bodies to a tree. These two groups refused to co-operate with the Jewish Agency even when independence was declared and, in fact, were known to blackmail Jewish shopkeepers for money to support their actions