On 14 July 1967, my platoon of the Sa’ka (Egyptian Commando Forces) was positioned west of the Suez Canal, approximately one and a half kilometers behind El Ferdan Bridge. Throughout the previous night and the entire day, we had been deepening our trenches in anticipation of an enemy attack. A tank was positioned several meters behind
I was assigned to travel as a military adviser to the Libyan Special Forces in Benghazi and Tripoli, to train them in everything related to parachute jumping, heavy drops, and unarmed combat techniques, as well as to translate all publications related to imported military equipment, devices, and gear from English into Arabic, and to supervise
At the end of the Second World War in 1945, following the surrender of Germany and Japan, we were living in a ground-floor apartment on Hammouda Street, just a few meters from the southwestern outer wall of Abdeen Palace. This was due to the lack of available accommodation in my grandfather’s building at 24 Mostafa Kamel Street in
It is well known that mastering the art of translation requires several years of university study in order to properly command this responsible craft. I went through two amusing experiences during my military career that I will never forget.
The first occurred because, owing to my background as the son of a British mother, I had full
When we reach our eighth decade, the memories of life begin to awaken and return—memories from the journey of life that have long been veiled by forgetfulness despite their importance and weight in shaping one’s character. Praise be to God, I have lived a life full of events and have experienced moments and encounters of
