In Brief.
A SUITCASE OF MONASTERIES
The above Fortress of Latrun in which I served for about two months In Nov 46 from the top I took the above Photo of Latrun Monastery across the Ayalon Valley. I was then sent on duty to the Carmelite Monastery in Haifa Port, this was the home of the Coventry 'White Friars' sent on guard the Shipping complex with about eight other soldiers of my unit. A building of five Levels, Barclays bank had the first two floors the third floor we had, the fourth and fifth floors were the shipping office for the whole of the Mediterranean Sea.
Here I came face to face with a terrorist suit-case bomb. I came too with a great ringing in my ear and a voice saying in my ear if you can hear me then clench my fist. I clenched his hand, do not move a muscle, don't try to talk, you have been in a explosion, do you understand, I clenched his hand, right I am sending you to Hospital, your eyes are bandaged there may be glass in them, so do not'try to blink, ad I was out, I heard voices, a nurse was saying 'you lucky sod' apart from cuts and bruises, you have no injuries, unless you have some shock, doctors visited, confirmed I was ok, the cuts and bruises would heal, and I was out again. two MP tecs visited me for what info I could give, then the Padre visited, we are going to take you to Latrun Monastery for peace and Quiet for a few days.
Dressed in blue suit, white shirt and red tie I was duly delivered to the Monastery. Here a monk met me and the padre in the Monastery guest room, the padre spoke a few words to him and was gone, the monk led me to a cell,all white a small bed bedside lamp a desk a disturbing crucifix on the white washed stone wall. When I woke I was still a little woozy and so much silence and I lay on the bed and was out again. when i woke a feeling of unspeakable loneliness suddenly hit me. This was a benedictine monastery. After three days the padre took me back to my unit.