Fifty years ago, when there was little news coverage of international events, the British army had a force in the Suez canal zone, by agreement with the Egyptian government.

The army's remit was to ensure general safety of the Suez canal, an important international trade lifeline.

The situation facing British troops in Suez was the same as that now facing coalition forces in Iraq.

In Egypt in 1951-54, the WAFD political party had abrogated the 1936 treaty and were calling for the British army to leave Egypt.

This led to the murder of civilians, ambushes, bombing and shooting of military personnel and targets.

The Bulak Nizan (auxiliary riot police) arrived in the canal zone from Cairo and were more of a hindrance than help.

They sided with WAFD and groups who were carrying out the daily terror campaign. Every day you had to be on constant alert. It was impossible to relax.

At night the terror groups would shoot into the tented camps. Canvas does not stop rifle bullets. It was almost more than 18-year-old soldiers could take.

We had grown up during the war years but handling butchered bodies after the ambushes was another thing.

We were confined to camp for long periods, only going out on armed patrols or escort duties. Later, when the position became a little easier, we were allowed to go to the army cinema.

It had to be in groups of at least four armed men, one of whom had to carry an automatic weapon, usually a Sten gun.

We were looking over our shoulders for Stalin who had designs on the Middle East oil fields.

There were 10,000 of us to stem the flow of millions of Russians, who by then had the atomic bomb.

Many British servicemen from all the services died in the canal zone and many more were wounded. Most were National Service men, others were professionals.

We were doing a horrible job, which we think deserves recognition, hence our campaign.

If this letter helps anyone understand the grievances we have harboured all these years, then it will have done its job.

The Suez medal, when it comes, will be a bonus for those of us still alive to receive it. If I get mine, I shall wear it with pride in memory of those men.

-R Truelove, Ex-Royal Sussex Regiment, Brighton