A WAR veteran has welcomed a new plaque to honour those who perished in the Suez Canal crisis.

Proud Montague “Monty” Murrell, 76, was filled with emotion as the granite plaque was unveiled at the Memorial Gardens, in Rettendon.

The gardens, in Main Road, were created by former RAF servicewoman Frances Theobald who has planted trees on her land within Whitehouse Farm, installed seating and put up more than 120 plaques to list fallen soldiers from many conflicts.

Mr Murrell, of Hartford End, Pitsea, who fought in the Suez conflict, said he was thrilled the crisis, which unfolded in Egypt in the Fifties, has been recognised.

Mr Murrell said: “Frances is a wonderful woman to do this for us. She raised all the money for the plaque herself.

“It bears the names of 400 men, women and chidren who died out there, not only through being shot, but because of the disease that ensued.

“I was there from 1954 until 1956. It was tough. My job was to try to protect the canal from the Eypytians. I was also posted to other parts of the Middle East. Once I drove over a landmine and overturned my jeep in Libya.

“You never think about the danger when you’re out there, you just get on with the job. Then after, when you’re safe and sound, you think, ‘blimey, that was close’.”

Monty joined the army at 18 and was enlisted to the Kings Royal Rifle Corps, rising to the rank of Coropral.

He was then thrust into the war in Egypt as the country fought with England, Israel and the US over control of the Suez Canal – the only direct water route between the Mediter-ranean and Indian Ocean.

Although serving in the Middle East was no picnic, Monty has the Suez Crisis to thank for bringing him together with his wife, Violet.

He recalled: “We were sitting around one day waiting to get back across the border to Egypt and I was next to this soldier chap who was writing reams of love letters to all these girls back home.

“I’d just recieved a “dear John” letter from a girl, so I was a bit down. I said to him “got any spare ones?” and he gave me Violet’s letters.

“I started writing to her, and eight months later we met and fell in love.”

The couple have been married for 52 years and have seven grandchildren.

Monty, who is chairman of the London and South East Suez Canal Veterans’ Assoc-iation, said it was tough recognising the enemy.

He recalled: “The hardest part was when they’d get little kids with rifles to disguise themselves as beggars, then start attacking us.

“I saw things that would make your stomach turn.

“I’m just so pleased the heroes of the conflict are being recognised, here in Rettendon at least.”