1941 Diary of a World War Two (WWII) Pilot Officer for the Royal Air Force Serving on the Middle East Command in Cairo, Egypt

On offer is a wonderful personal record of a Royal Air Force officer serving in North Africa during the first half of WWII. This diary belonged to Pilot Officer W.K. Walker, RAF. Walker was born in Killay, Swansea, Wales. Unfortunately research has not turned up any additional information on Walker. 

The diary covers the year 1941 with most of the entries in the first 8 months of the year. Walker was commissioned as a Pilot Officer, the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force. When his diary begins, he is beginning a leave. A day later, Jan 2, he receives a wire informing him that his father had passed away. After the funeral, he returns to his base and a week later received instructions to prepare to ship out overseas.

His destination is Cairo, home to the Royal Air Force’s Middle East Command. As he waits to begin his journey, he reports that his hometown Swansea was the target of a bad air raid. (Jan 17). He receives 7 days leave to return home. He returns from leave on Jan 26 kitted out for the middle east (Jan 27).

Granted another 13 day leave, he returns home again. While home, he records another bad air raid (bombs very close on Feb 19). He returns to base to complete final preparations and once again receives a pass to go home. While home, Swansea again is heavily bombed. He notes that a friend of his was injured in the bombing. On March 20, Walker finally travels to Liverpool where he boards the Viceroy of India, bound for Cairo by way of Capetown, South Africa. On May 6, he arrives in Port Said, Egypt.

“PT at 0715 very hot sun with nice cool breeze. Sighted land 11:30 hr. Approached Freetown Harbour passing glorious palm groves, lagoons and gorgeous tropical coast with hills rising sharply to 3000’, covered with trees and small bungalows. Anchored about 1815. Native sampams (bumboats) came alongside trying to see fruit baskets etc.” [Apr 4]. 

“Watched troops disembark in lighters during this morning after dressing in all equipment…” [May 9].

For the next several months, attached to RAF Middle East Command, he carries out a variety of tasks, commenting on people he encounters and places he visits. As a Pilot Officer not assigned to an air crew, his duties were ground-based.

In addition to his daily entries, the diary contains a good deal of interesting handwritten memoranda by Walker and printed RAF information. Of interest as well is a silhouette chart of British / Allied and German aircraft for visual identification.

For anyone interested in the RAF in the Second World War or the Middle East Command, this is a fine record of a junior officer's experience at one of the RASF’s major command centres during WWII.

This small diary measures 2.75 inches by 4.75 inches and contains 92 pages plus extensive memoranda.. The cover is in good condition with evidence of wear along the edges and at the corners. The binding has been wrapped in a strip of tape to secure it. The pages are in good condition. The handwriting is very tight but fairly legible.