Corporal Shellard RM was an Assault Engineer (AE) forming part of a Support Troop. He finished as a QMS (WO2) and then joined the Prison Service where he worked until retiring. Sadly he a Crossed the Bar some time back but I have an occasional pint with two of his nephews. A cracking Man and Royal Marine.
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 31 Aug 2020 19:47:59 BST
The Jebel Jihaf .
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 31 Aug 2020 18:43:10 BST
The Camp was wholly tented, protected by dry-stone walls and barbed wire and armed Sentries. The high ground in the background was the Jebel Jihaf (7920 feet) we used to patrol up to, and along the plateau attop.
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 31 Aug 2020 18:41:41 BST
The small neat houses near the Beach housed BP families with their Lido in clear view, this was protected by anti-shark nets. We were allowed access to beach and swimming. I swam out to the raft in the Lido many times! We were under orders to be on best behaviour when there (or else!).
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 31 Aug 2020 18:35:47 BST
The BP Refinery is away to the left. The building in between housed the 11 Hussars (Cherry pickers) and 45 Commando RM .
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 31 Aug 2020 18:31:30 BST
This is a RN Wessex “Whirlwind” operating from a Commando Carrier off shore, given the date it was probable HMS “Bulwark” the ability to ‘lift’ any significant weight being badly affected by the heat and altitude at Dhala.
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 31 Aug 2020 18:27:38 BST
When 45 was stationed at Dhala supplies came up the Dhala Road from Aden the Capital and negotiated the Khiriba Pass so that the high ground overlooking that Pass was always picquetted to ensure safety. These Marines look very relaxed, no weapons to hand so perhaps there was no immediate threat.
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 31 Aug 2020 18:22:54 BST
The left hand man in this group was a Squad mate name Skinner, may have been a Signaller when this was taken. We were in 723 (CS) Squad RM.
Posted by David Prichard on Fri 28 Aug 2020 23:53:18 BST
He was a a Sergeant in the FNG who acted as armed Militia or Police and
carried .303” SMLE Rifles (Short Magazine Lee Enfield)
Posted by David Prichard on Fri 21 Aug 2020 01:14:21 BST
I mentioned the Aden Protecterate Levies in my first comment. They had a large camp near us andhad been originally raised, trained and Officered by the RAF Regiment to standard British military standards. They were Adenis and as smart as paint. On occasion we were carrying out a joint patrol with them in the Dhala area near the border with The Yemen we were fired on and a 3” Mortar Team of the APL swung into action near me, it was textbook, straight out of a training manual soon putting bombs down on suspect locations. I watched In total admiration, there was no more unfriendly fire needless to say. All small guys built like Japanese wrestling snakes.
Posted by David Prichard on Fri 21 Aug 2020 01:09:37 BST
We are wearing the SV Commando sole boots mentioned elsewhere
Posted by David Prichard on Fri 21 Aug 2020 00:44:07 BST
The crippler was we were paid 6s 8p per week Kit Upkeep Allowance (KUA) and we had to buy new boots ourselves. These only lasted two or three patrols. They were known as SV Boots (Service Viulcanised) the original Commando sole and they were expensive. They would be sent up from Little Aden by convoy, you signed a chit and the full price was docked from Pay
Posted by David Prichard on Wed 19 Aug 2020 18:02:23 BST
The guy just in view left was Scouse Griffith’s (722(CS) Kings Squad RM. The tall guy centrally was a Jock, name may have been Ferguson, good egg! The others are then”newbies” who were to relieve so we could go home to Blighty! Note bandolier of 100 rounds on tall Marine in centre (worn around waist)
Posted by David Prichard on Wed 19 Aug 2020 08:21:36 BST
The 32 round magazine fitted the 7.62mm SLR but an old Penny had to placed over the loading tray as the tray would be damaged when the last round was fired when the rifle working parts came forward.
Posted by David Prichard on Fri 14 Aug 2020 13:08:42 BST
This time of day is early morning and the misty area in the background is The Yemen with their border Town being Qataba.,We were informed there were Russian made APCs there.
Posted by David Prichard on Fri 14 Aug 2020 13:04:55 BST
Should have put 360 degrees (or 6400 mils)!
Posted by David Prichard on Tue 11 Aug 2020 12:30:05 BST
We were on Water Patrol, collecting bowsers full for the Camp, we were very close to the old border with the Yemen at a place called Awabba. We were ‘loaded for bear for’ this being a Country where every adult male carried a loaded rifle with the .303” Lee Enfield being most commonly seen.
This was either the SMLE or the newer Number 4 model.
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 10 Aug 2020 20:37:15 BST
Magazine on .303” Bren held 28 rounds, these were rimmed rounds , the 7.62mm Bren used rimless rounds.
Posted by David Prichard on Wed 05 Aug 2020 19:19:21 BST
This should be seen together with 2 Section loading before patrol, I was
Section Bren Gunner.
Posted by David Prichard on Tue 04 Aug 2020 23:01:17 BST
TOMS’ brother was also in the Corps at that time, another ex-coal miner.
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 03 Aug 2020 18:10:15 BST
In those days every Marine had a dhobi bucket, pussers scrubbing brush and dhobi powder in brown Trip Flare tin, it kept the powder dry, my tin is in the garage now!
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 03 Aug 2020 18:08:46 BST
On patrol we would routinely see large groups of these Baboons scampering across a Country, there would be hundreds!
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 03 Aug 2020 18:04:55 BST
We would visit the Forts to top,up,on water, grab some ‘gophers’ as they were supplied with British Rat Packs, have a chat before moving on. They brought supplies up by donkey. The FNG were amongst the first to start firing at us, they did not realise when we went so did their jobs/cash. When Members of the Aden Veterans visited everywhere they went they were stopped and asked if the British were ever coming back! Look at the place now, a murderous shambles. What people may not know is that the Port and a Town was a British Colony to protect access to the Suez Canal and as a RN Base to command the West Indian Ocean. Once you left Aden you went into Tribal Areas ruled by Sheikhs, and similar who had a British Political Officer to advise. We patrolled to keep the Peace. Later the British had no use for Aden, the massive Oil Tankers could not use the Suez Canal anyway and had to go around Cape of Good Hope, the Empire was gone, Aden was redundant.
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 03 Aug 2020 10:29:24 BST
Should read Green Beret!
Posted by David Prichard on Sun 02 Aug 2020 18:22:09 BST
This was a text-book .3” Mortar position located at the south end of Dhala Camp which provided Defensive Fire (DF SOS) in all directions.
Posted by David Prichard on Sun 02 Aug 2020 18:21:13 BST
