During the eight years, dozens of Captains commanded the trapped ships on the Great Bitter Lake between 1967 and 1975. If you have not read my book, yet, you probably do not know that it was Captain Benda, Master of the Lednice and LEDMELAGA, who was in charge the longest time - in total five stints of four months each.
The first three stints in 1968 and 1969. That was time of paradise on the ships. Increased salaries, practically no work except for the cooks. Daily sports and social activities. A great supply of foods from the ship holds, from vine to lobsters ans shark fins. Consumer good and Japanese electronics available basically free of charge.
In 1973, Egyptian army invaded Israel, but IDF stopped them and crossed the Suez canal. There was no supply to the ships, the paradise had changed to a hell.
One of the ships, the USS African Glen, was hit and sunk.
When Captain Benda returned to the GBL in 1974, the military situation wast different. The east bank of the Canal was in hands of the UN peacekeepers.
Before leaving the GBL, he produced two more stamps, showing the political situation during his stays.
When compared with the stamp production of other Captains, he produced very few stamp, but much more interesting ones. To the delight of stamp collectors, including those of ASFE. His linoprinted stamps are ranged very high, only after the prints by the exceptional artist Marian Kasprzyk, whom he met on the GBL in May 1968.
The goal of this article is not to persuade anybody the GBLA stamps could be used as postage, it was proven in the book and next picture is an example.
The goal is to remember the man, who put together the largest GBLA stamp collection ever formed, so far unknown to the general public.
Apropos,
the GBLA exhibit was presented at the Praga 1968, which was a World Stamp Exhibition.
