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   Helicopter landing in front of the Prince of Wales School - early 1950s

  
Photogallery
Helicopter landing in front of the Prince of Wales School - early 1950s

Helicopter landing in front of the Prince of Wales School - early 1950s

Photo supplied by Jim Dow

Webmaster asked why the helicopter might have been visiting the School:

Responses:
  • Antony Williamson (Grigg 1956-1959) writes:
    The 'chopper' is a Bristol Sycamore of the Royal Air Force, employed on casualty evacuation duties during the Mau Mau Emergency. Wounded personnel of the British Army were evacuated to the British Military Hospital, almost adjacent to the school in Sclaters Road. I recall a very dramatic night landing by a Sycamore in 1956, probably the last ever air evacuation to the BMH. The landing ground was on the rugby pitch at the extreme end of the playing fields in front of the School, where Jim's photo was taken. There was a windsock there for many years after the Emergency period, but no more landings took place.
    It was on a weekend night, and we were headed to the hall for the 'flicks' when the Sycamore made its appearance. Every lad in the place headed for the rugby pitch as the chopper came in low down the main drive, landing lights ablaze. Somehow the pilot managed to find a spot free of rubbernecking boys, the casualty was taken off and loaded into a waiting military ambulance and life returned to normal.

    Casualties from the KAR and Police were taken to Nyeri, where the primary school sanitorium had been taken over by the security forces as a military hospital. Among its patients was Waruhiu Itote, otherwise known as General China, in 1954.

    I remember the Sycamore bringing in a casualty to Nyeri (I was at the Primary School) in 1954...an askari of the KAR had been gored by a rhino and actually died in the aircraft. Much panic from the teachers when the bloodied stretcher was removed from the 'chopper' in front of 200 primary kids!

    Those who wish to follow up the RAF's role in the Emergency are referred to two excellent articles in the November and December 1997 issues of Aeroplane Monthly magazine.