In 1945 I was a somewhat disillusioned pharmaceutical apprentice in Ireland, contemplating emigration. I had investigated possibilities in the USA, South Africa, Canada and even France, but lack of money was the problem.
One day in 1946 I saw an advertisement in a magazine by the British Crown Agents for the Colonies, offering 20 pounds per month all found, to join the Palestine police.
Now my father was an avid reader, principally of nonfiction. Two books in particular fascinated me, "Behind God's Back" about primitive life in Africa and "In The Footsteps of The Master", the story of Christ's travels in Palestine.
The opportunity to visit the Middle East at Her Majesty's expense, and to be paid more than I was already earning while doing so, was enough to convince me. I applied, was invited to London for an interview, was accepted after a medical and signed a contract with the Crown Agents for the Colonies to join the Palestine Police on arrival in Palestine.
I left Dublin in January 1947, and traveled to Palestine via Holyhead, Dover, Calais, Toulon and Port Said. Between Calais and Port Said we were under military jurisdiction.
In Port Said a Palestine Police Officer met us and told us we were no longer under military control. What a difference this proved! We were now treated like people, not numbers. Our luggage was brought to the station by "Cooks Men"; we did not have to lift a hand.