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20th January 2018, 12:42 AM
#11
Re: gully gully man

Originally Posted by
Marian Gray
Good thread cappy

Couple of wall tapestries with similar, small barrel around 18''high sealed and the token watch which worked for years. What did you guys bring back that can be mentioned

I bought a very similar thing Marian it's a very light tan camel hide writing case embossed with an oasis and camels,
I got it from a bum boat at Suez 1956 shortly befoe the canal was closed it's still as good as new. JFC
Last edited by Doc Vernon; 20th January 2018 at 05:06 AM.
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20th January 2018, 04:55 AM
#12
Re: gully gully man
I have a photo album, but no bandages, a writing case made of good leather and a Philshave electric razor that cost me one pound.
I used the shaver up to about 1984 and it still works, but makes a noise like you would not believe.
But the Gilly, Gilly man who made things disappear would be of good use today, he could start with our state gov.


Happy daze John in Oz.
Life is too short to blend in.
John Strange R737787
World Traveller

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20th January 2018, 05:02 PM
#13
Re: gully gully man

Originally Posted by
Marian Gray
Good thread cappy

. What did you guys bring back that can be mentioned

Hi Marion, I have two of those albums. One with an Indian face, the other with a map of the world.
Still as good as the day I bought them.
Last edited by Doc Vernon; 20th January 2018 at 07:34 PM.
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20th January 2018, 05:09 PM
#14
Re: gully gully man

Originally Posted by
j.sabourn
The camel I brought back marian The only good thing out of the Suez was the fairway buoy on your way out. Cheers JWS.
Hi John, They used to hold a watch to your ear and click their nails together. Sounded like a watch ticking. Get back to the ship and open the back. Surprise surprise, no insides.
First trip got caught.
Placed some money in the hand of the Gully Gully man. After some chant he told me to hold my hand out to take back the money. I got a handful of toilet paper.
Thank goodness unused.
Last edited by Doc Vernon; 20th January 2018 at 07:35 PM.
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20th January 2018, 05:14 PM
#15
Re: gully gully man

Originally Posted by
Lewis McColl
The Gilly Gilly man was the highlight of the Suez Canalnumber of times I nearly ended up like Van Gough lol, but his patter was good fun.
Lewis, remember him well.
He could sometime guess where you were from before you opened your mouth, and talk to you in you dialect.
Amazing guy.
Last edited by Doc Vernon; 20th January 2018 at 07:35 PM.
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21st January 2018, 01:50 AM
#16
Re: gully gully man
#15... Probably where the saying came from when ships were passing in the Bitter Lakes, have you the Gully Gully man on board, which over time became have you any Geordies on board, which received the standard answer, No we”ve been fumigated. There must have been quite a few Gully Gully men around ( the same as Geordies). When you consider the number of ships in the convoys. See no one has used the Gully Gully man as a non de plume yet. JWS.
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21st January 2018, 10:49 AM
#17
Re: gully gully man
I was pantry boy on the Oregis when we called into Bone North Africa.I went ashore in the afternoon with the two asst.stwds. we had.nt got far up the road from the docks when this lad of about 10 years of age latched onto us.I think that he must've been an apprentice Gilly Gilly man as he was very good at slight of hand.He was walking along side of us and showing us this silver coin about the size of a 50pence piece.As we just got into town he thrust his hand into my pocket whilst holding the silver coin,taking his hand from my pocket his hand was empty.I put my hand into my pocket to return the coin to him,it was'nt there was it.The next performance he starts to scream the street down saying I had his money (I imagine thats what he was saying) a gang started to gather around us so we had no option but run right back to the ship.It was a bit like a hue & cry from Oliver Twist stop thief.I've never been so glad to get back into the docks,I think we were a bit scared of the Arabs when we were kids were'nt we.
Regards.
Jim.B.
CLARITATE DEXTRA
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21st January 2018, 11:13 AM
#18
Re: gully gully man

Originally Posted by
Jim Brady
,I think we were a bit scared of the Arabs when we were kids were'nt we.
Regards.
Jim.B.
Probably due to watching those Saturday morning movies Jim where the entrance fee was two pence or two empty clean jam jars, watching hordes of Arabs on horses chasing down the white damsel in distress only for her to be rescued in the nick of time by someone akin to Lawrence of Arabia
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21st January 2018, 09:03 PM
#19
Re: gully gully man
First tripper going through the canal. Starry-eyed in the big wide world, bought these figures and a small mat for my mum. He was wanting two quid I only had a five pound note, still waiting for my change!!! When mother died none of my sisters wanted them so I still have the figures.
Bill
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21st January 2018, 09:10 PM
#20
Re: gully gully man
Don't need the change now Bill,those would be worth Ten or more Times the value now! LOL
cHEERS
Capture Mummy.JPG
Last edited by Doc Vernon; 21st January 2018 at 09:16 PM.
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