Life on an Observation Post
Noel Tuohy
Interviewed for MAOHP - 09/10/2017
Reference Code: IE_MA_MAC_006_MAOHP_0046_F
Location(s): Shaqra
Length: 4.05
After two weeks at Shaqra Noel's platoon was moved further out from the Company Headquarters. The platoon was further broken down into a Platoon Headquarters at an Observation Post with a section each at two satellite Observation Posts. Noel speaks about facilities while on the posts and describes how their blue United Nations helmets doubled as wash hand basins to shave and do laundry. He describes taking 'birdie baths' using canvas basins and a face cloth. He explains that without electricity they had no refrigeration or light so they ate pack rations and used parafin tilly lamps for light. He speaks about writing letters home or getting old newspapers whenever anyone got off the post. He describes the chemical toilets used at larger observation posts and discusses encountering scorpions, snakes and mosquitoes.