Aden & Radfan - South Arabia 1957-1967

The South Arabian Army (SAA) had come into existence with the combining of the Federal Army and the Federal Guard.
The SAA numbered about 15,000 troops with it's own artillery, armour and engineers. It had been commanded by British officers up
until 1967 when, because of the imminent British withdrawal, Arab officers replaced the British officers.

Within the ranks of the SAA there were large elements of FLOSY and NLF supporters. During 1967 the British Government was
not entirely sure where the SAA loyalties lay. In June of 1967 Nasser's Egyptian Army took a terrible beating from the Israeli Army
 during the Six Day War. This Arab defeat strained relations between the Arabs and the British in Aden because the Arabs
thought that Britain, along with the United States, had aided Israel. The United States certainly had aided Israel.

The Aden Mutiny began on the night of the 19th of June 1967. Men of The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers were enjoying the film
"The Battle of the Bulge" at the cinema when shots were heard. the Fusiliers immediately returned to their barracks at Waterloo Lines
and deployed to guard the married quarters. Next morning Arab soldiers based at Lake Lines mutinied and burnt down their barracks.
This mutiny had started because three Arab colonels had been suspended and also because of tribal rivalries with in the SAA.

A three-ton truck containing men of 60 Sqn, was returning to Normandy Lines. These troops had just completed weapons training
 on the local ranges. As the lorry passed the SAA camp they came under heavy machine gun fire from the SAA troops. Eight of the
Royal Corps of Transport were killed in this unprovoked attack. The SAA now directed their fire into Radfan Camp killing a British officer,
2nd Lieutenant Young of the 1st Battalion Lancashire Regiment. Also two policemen and a public works employee were killed.

C Company the 1st Battalion King's Own Royal Border Regiment under the command of Major David Miller was ordered to put down the
mutiny using minimum force. C Company set off for Champion Lines accompanied by a troop of the Queens Dragoon Guards in support.
As the first British truck entered Champion Lines it came under machine gun fire. One British soldier was killed and 8 wounded.
The British NCOs ordered their troops to keep their cool. Even though they could see the bodies of British soldiers lying on the ground,
they remained calm. Major Miller sent 10 Platoon to release the officers still hiding in the guardroom.

Davis's had been unable to inform Major Moncur that he was under fire, because his radio operator had left the Pig with him and
most likely killed shortly after the firing started. Moncur was concerned about Davis's patrol, as he had not heard from them since they
entered Crater. On hearing the shots and fearing that Davis was in trouble, Moncur and his escort, Sgt. Maj. Pete Hore, Fusilier Hoult
and Fusilier John Story and two others, jumped into the Majors Land Rover and headed in to Crater up the Queen Arwa road.
Major Bryan Malcolm, OC "D" Company of the Argylls, along with Pte. Moores and Hunter followed close behind in another Land Rover.
The two Land Rovers drove up the Queen Arwa road not realizing they were driving into a treacherous ambush.

As the two Land Rovers drove past the Arab Police Barracks, the trap was sprung. Without warning the police opened fire
with a well planed murderous cross fire. The Land Rovers pulled up and those men who had not already been hit leapt out to fire back.
But there was no cover for them and the massacre was soon over. Only one British soldier managed to survive.
Fusilier John Storey managed to race across the road to the cover of the flats opposite the Police Barracks without being hit.
As he looked back he saw that all the others had been killed apart from one soldier, who was still firing at the Police. Fusilier Storey
watched with horror, as the last soldier was machine-gunned down. Later, Storey was unable to identify this man.

By the end of the day 22 British soldiers lay dead and Crater was in the hands
of an estimated 500-armed Arab terrorists and the Arab Police.

Royal Engineers

Sapper G G. Lowe

04.09.1963

Sapper H T. Spalding

04.09.1963

Lt M R. Handfield-Jones

01.06.1964

Lt M. R. Handfield-Jones P/459267.
Funeral Silent Valley

Sapper D Asquith

12.07.1964

S/Sgt L Bourne

05.10.1964

S/Sgt Bourne Aden

22815071 S/Sgt Les Bourne was injured in a Ferret Scout Car by a land mine and was repatriated to the United Kingdom

Les died on the 05/10/64 in the British Military Hospital
He rests at Tidworth Military Cemetery
He was 24 years old 1940 to 1964

L/Cpl R. Smith

14.08.1965

Sapper D. A. Adams

29.08.1965

Sapper M. Baldwin

 20.01.1966

Sapper R. Commins

27.01.1966

Cpl D W. Price

30.05.1967

L/Cpl J. W. Ince

30.05.1967

Sapper T. F. Allchin

04.06.1967

Sapper Terry. F. Allchin

He went in as a boy entrant in 1959, then went to Deverell Barracks in Ripon, it later became Claro barracks, he was with 2 troop 12fld Sqn and also 48 fld Sqn, 38 Engineers Regt. He went to Aden whilst there in 63-64, then he went to Maidstone, 36 Engineers Regt, we lived at Chattenden for a while and then got a married quarter at Dargets Wood, where I was when he was killed, I did settle in Kent for the next 12 years, but now I live near Leicester.

On the photo opposite he has a mate on his shoulders, If anyone has any information about Terry could you please contact me, it would be good if I could find out who the mate was.

I have been able to catch up with a couple of lads that were in Aden with him, but that's all, he had a mate nick-named Wilf, real name Wilfred Waller, he was best man at our wedding, he was Terry's best mate, they went through boy service together, and then were at Ripon, also another lad, an Irish lad nick-named Paddy (aren't they all?) his name was Lesley Dean. 

Last October I went back to Maidstone with our Daughter Steph and my youngest son from my new marriage, it was good to go back after 24 years and I could show Steph where she was born and where we lived.

If you can help Terry's wife (Rose) to find out more about her husband then please email her... Click here

Royal Artillery

Gnr D E. Howsego

02.03.1963

Bombardier M T. Chapman

10.10.1964

Bombardier J F R. Anstey

03.07.1965

Gnr A G. Mowatt

09.07.1965

Major G A. Adamson

18.11.1965

Capt C Jefferson

17.08.1967

Royal Horse Artillery

Gnr S F A. Bartley

Sgt B C. Dunkley

Gnr R J. Hughes

28.04.1966

Bombardier T. Dane

09.06.1966

Gnr V M. Mitchell

14.06.1966

Gnr J E. Cain

Capt J A. Fleming

Major J T D. Sharpe

Royal Sussex Regiment

Pte D G. Batchelor 

12.08.1965

Royal Army Service Corps

Cpl L. Dean

Sgt S Aiston

Dvr I M. Smith

Cpl J. McGowe

07.05.1965

Dvr Da-Silva

01.10.1967

S/Sgt E Butler

20.06.1967

Dvr N G. Fraser

20.06.1967

Sgt R Geall

20.06.1967

Dvr R M. Goldworthy

20.06.1967

Dvr R A. Morley

20.06.1967

Dvr F. Pouton

20.06.1967

Dvr J. Tevendale

20.06.1967

Royal Northumberland Fusiliers

Fus W M. Crombie

2nd Lt J A H. Davies

WO2 P M. Hoare

Fus G T. Hoult

Fusilier Hoult

L/Cpl T Liddell

Major J W. Moncur

Fus C T. Smith

Fus L. Stewart

Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

Pte J. Hunter

Major B A E. Malcolm

Pte J F Moores

Pte W C. Orr

Cpl J G. Scott

Royal Army Ordnance Corps

Major M N. Linfoot

 25.04.1964

L/Cpl E Armstrong

L/Cpl H Savage

Pte R J. Clay

Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

Cftn R C. McFadyen 

S/Sgt R M. Collins

Cpl C. Asher 

L/Cpl G. Stansfield 

Royal Army Pay Corps

Cpl G P. Murphy 

Sgt C J. Atfield 

Kings Own Scottish Borderers

Pte C Thompson 

Lt G A. Wood

Pte J. Turnbull 

Pte W. Wallace

Queens Own Cameron Highlanders

Cpl W. Burnett 

Pte H. McKenzie 

The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

Rfn C McLaren 

22.04.1967

The Parachute Regiment

Pte J. Deere 

Capt E B. Jewkes 

Pte M F. Davis 

Pte P R A. Sheppard 

Pte H R. Alexander

Pte R. Gray

Pte C. Carver

Pte J. McIntosh

Pte B. Quinn

131 Parachute Engineer Squadron

WO2 John F Lonergan

12.04.1965

WO2 John F Lonergan

About 0015 hrs on Monday 12 April 1965 dissidents using machine guns firing on fixed lines, together with rifles and hand held rocket launchers, attacked the tented camp at Al-Milah, which is situated about 50 miles from Aden in the Radfan Mountains. The enemy were firing from a nearby ridge. The incoming fire was considerable and prolonged and concentrated on the Officers' and Sergeants' lines. During a lengthy exchange of fire by 300 and 24 Squadrons the enemy were driven off.

Army Air Corps

Cpl C T. Gibb (REME)

Lt D A. Morgan

S/Sgt J F. Baulcomb

East Anglian Regiment

2nd Lt R P. Barclay

Pte B T. Fox

Pte B T. Garth

Pte W F. Fraser

16th / 5th The Queens Royal Lancers

Cpl C H. Mepstead

31.07.1966

CPL G.H. MEPSTEAD was killed on 31st July 1966. George was an acting Sgt at the time of his death
and the following is an excerpt from our Regimental Magazine for 1966:

"It is with the deepest regret that we have to announce the death on 31st July 1966 of Cpl George Mepstead.
He was killed in a terrorist attack in Aden while serving a six month tour on the staff of the Military Corrective Establishment there.
George joined the Regiment in 1949 in Egypt and served in Barce, Tripoli and Germany until being demobbed in Sennelager in 1954,
He rejoined the army and returned to the Regiment in Osnabruck in 1960."

Alan Kidgell Chairman, Band Branch 16th/5th Lancers OCA

Royal Anglian Regiment

Pte C. Rodgers

Cpl J E. Herbert

Cpl Herbert

Pte J R. Shopland

South Wales Borderers

Pte J B. Barry

Pte M H. Jones

Irish Guards

Gdsmn E Bell

30.01.1967

Gdsmn W J. Coleman

Gdsmn P J. Corry

Gdsmn A S. Cornett

Gdsmn T. Bell

L/Cpl M J. Frear

Sgt Thomas Patrick Thunder

Sgt E J. Fitzpatrick

Grenadier Guards

C/Sgt D A. Halsey

22.07.1965

Coldstream Guards

Gdsmn D G. Millard

Gdsmn A. Edge

Gdsmn M. Reynolds

Gdsmn P D. Tennant

Royal Corps of Signals

Signalman J. Hannah

02.02.1963

Signalman R B. Leech

Cpl G. Slater

Signalman G. Collins

Signalman M S. Mileson

L/Cpl D J. Beet

Special Air Service

Why not visit our cemetery which is a living tribute to the memory of those members who gave their lives in the finest of traditions.
MAY THEIR SACRIFICES 
NEVER BE FORGOTTEN

Please click here

Tpr J. Hollingsworth

Tpr M R. Lambert

Tpr M P. Lawlor

Tpr G F Lles

L/Cpl A G E G. Brown

Royal Air Force

Sqn Ldr C R S. DALY

15 February 1957

A personal story from:
EX CPL GEORGE BAGNALL-
I SERVED IN THE ADEN PROTECTORATE LEVIES (ARMOURED CAR Sqn JAN 1957 TO JUNE 1958. 
IN FEB 1957, WE WERE ON AN OPERATION TO RECOVER WEAPONS BEING USED BY REBEL TRIBESMEN AT A PLACE CALLED BIR - FUKUM.

IN CHARGE OF OUR UNIT WAS A COLONEL (ARMY) & IN CHARGE OF "A" COY OF ARAB (APL INFANTRY) WAS
SQUADRON LEADER C R S. DALY. RAF REGT. AFTER A STRATEGY TALK I WAS ORDERED TO TAKE Sqn Ldr Daly & HIS BATMAN BACK TO HIS COY, ON OUR WAY WE RAN INTO A GROUP OF REBELS (THE SQN LDR & HIS MAN WERE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE FERRET. IN THE FOLLOWING EXCHANGES OF GUN FIRE THE Sqn Ldr TOOK A STRAY SHOT IN HIS HEAD & WAS KILLED INSTANTLY. 

I BELIEVE HE WAS BURIED AT THE MILITARY CEMETERY IN ADEN HE WAS AGED 52) GEORGE BAGNALL

SAC. J.  McGouran

29. 06 1964

Sgt. J.A. Whitehead

30.10. 1964

Fl/Lt. K.W. Woodcock

30.10. 1964

Fl/ Lt Smith W.S. 

30. 10. 1964

SAC. H. Murdoch

28. 11. 1964

Sgt. J. Oliver

14. 07. 1965

LAC. P.F. Smitten

26. 11. 1965

SAC. S.C. Papadopoullo

15. 12. 1965

Cpl. D. Hayler

17. 02. 1966

SAC. M.A. Carlton

18. 03. 1966

Flt/Sgt. C.A.J. Watson 

30. 04. 1966

Fly/Off. R.C. Shenton

29. 05. 1966

Sgt. R.C. Hatton

21. 07. 1966

Cpl. D.W. Gerry 

21. 11. 1966

SAC. P. Higgins

22. 11. 1966

Sgt Jones E.W. 

04. 12. 1966

WO. A.T.G King 

21. 12.1966

SAC. J. T. Whittle

04. 06. 1967

SAC. F.C. Evans 

19. 08. 1967

Sgt. B.G.W. Hughes 

19. 08. 1967

Sgt. S.B. McKinlay

01. 09. 1967

Miss Gillian Sidey

23. 12. 1964

Miss Gillian Sidey Daughter of Air Commodore Ernest Sidey, Chief Medical Officer, she was killed in a grenade attack on a children's party.

Lancashire Regiment (Prince of Wales Volunteers)

Pte C. E. Roberts

Pte J A. Riddiford

                                17.07.1967

Cpl J R. Blenkharn

Prince of Wales Own Regiment
of Yorkshire

L/Cpl B. Foley

Pte F W. Langrick

L/Cpl T J. Holmes

L/Cpl L T. Roberts

The Royal Scots

Pte J. Bonnes

31.10.1964

Kings Own Royal Border Regiment

Pte A. Ferguson

Cpl A E. Brown

Army Catering Corps

L/Cpl B. Denton

Cpl N. Goldie

Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry

Capt R C. Edwards

Pte L E. Oakley

Major P F. Gooch

Cpl L W R. Collings

09.09.1966

Cpl Collings grave, silent valley Aden, 1966, one of 3 losses of SCLI during that posting.

Link to SCLI new website

5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards

Major T S K. Goschen

22.11.1966

Royal Army Medical Corps

Cpl S B. Hardwick

09.09.1966

4th / 7th Royal Dragoon Guards

Tpr B. Little

12.01.1964

Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Major A. J. Monk

11.05.1964

10th Royal Hussars

2nd Lt L A G. Scott

25.04.1965

Royal Pioneer Corps

Pte A W. Storer

Pte M P. Swift

The Staffordshire Regiment

Major M J. Pearman

10.09.1965

Royal Tank Regiment

Capt D.E.N. Robertson-Fox

15.01.1966

Royal Marines

Marine J. Pettigrew

27.01.1961

Bugler P. A. T. Baker

Marine K. Tuck

Marine G. A. Poyzer

L/Cpl. R. Jeffery

Marine R. C. Swindell

Marine R. Hydes

Marine D. M. Wilson

Sgt. D. J. Arnold

07.08.1964

Marine K. W. Whitaker

Marine D.A. Muir

Marine D. Esseen

Marine A. J. Dunn.

Marine D. J. Calway

2/Lt. D.A. Moir 

Cpl. E. McGrath

Want to contact an ex RM who served in Aden ---> Andy O'Pray. <--- Andy now lives in Comox, BC, Canada.

Why not have a look at this excellent website "The role of 45 Commando"
45 Royal Marine Commando served in Aden from 23rd April 1960 until November 1967 and the advance party arrived
on the 10th of March 1960. Click here to find out more

We are please to include the Mother of "John Wilkes" ... Mrs Ruth Wilkes, to the list of fallen in Aden. She was killed on the evening of 28th February 1967, by a terrorist bomb planted at a party being held in one of the flats in the Maalla Straight. She was laid to rest in Silent Valley Cemetery. Mrs Wilkes was the wife of Major Keith Wilkes, OC Intelligence Corps, Aden ...

Mrs Ruth Wilkes