One night, when I was Duty Officer, I heard the roof guard shout: "Who goes there, halt or I shoot". He said this about five times so I decided to investigate. I slipped out a side door and approached the gate on the outside fence. The guard was still shouting his instructions. I saw a very uncomfortable British Army Officer standing in the glare of the searchlight.

I shouted to the guard in Arabic that it was OK, and then asked him in English to cover me as I approached the gate. The only English the guard knew was, 'who goes there,' etc. That was why he could not understand the Officer's reply that he wished to speak to whoever was in charge. My remarks to the guard in English, were for the benefit of the person at the gate. (We were warned it was possible for terrorists, speaking perfect English, to pass themselves off as Army or Police personnel).

Approaching the gate it was obvious the officer was in a very nervous state. He told me he was never so pleased to see anybody, he expected the roof guard to shoot at him any minute. He had a platoon of soldiers with him and they were lost. His identification seemed genuine, but to be sure, I pointed to four solders and told them to come forward and show proof of identity.

Believe me a terrorist could possibly imitate an Oxford accent but nobody could articulate like a British ''Tommy'' only a British Tommy. I asked them to wait a moment for me to get permission to invite them in and soon they were in our dining hall enjoying a good feast of bacon, eggs and sausages with plenty of toast and, of course tea.

They were soon on their way having been pointed in the right direction. I quoted the above as it was the only incident to occur in my six months tour of duty.