The 11 Hussars earned the nickname ‘The Cherrypickers’ during the Peninsular War after being forced to take cover in a Cherry Orchard’ and wear a badge-less beret in two shades of red.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 25 Sep 2020 14:41:18 BST
We would patrol the plateau at the top of the Jebel Jihaf Massif visiting 4 local militia Forts. The Forts were Shima, As-arir Hiab and Khana. In1958 rebels besieged the Fort at As-arir trapping the the British Political Officer (Advisor to the local Emir) they had come across from The Yemen for that purpose. Major Bill Boucher-Myers of the East Lancs seconded to the Aden Protectorate Levies led a fighting patrol up the Jebel (Mountain) taking four hours hammered the rebels and saved the day! He was a Commando Officer in WW2 under Lord Lovat getting a MiD after Dieppe. He was awarded an immediate DSO for this action!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Wed 16 Sep 2020 22:37:47 BST
Dhala Camp - me goin g on overnight Sentry Duty carrying my beloved \Bren. You can see from the wet tentage that there had been a downpour. Always welcome cleared the air.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 04 Sep 2020 10:05:56 BST
Dhala Convoy en route to Yemen Border. This is Tom Pennington from Nottingham he was on his second Commission (tour), the Ferret in the background is from the 11 Hussars (Cherrypickers).
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 04 Sep 2020 10:04:10 BST
I only remember this lad as ‘Biscuit’ as he came from Reading the biscuit Capital of the UK.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 04 Sep 2020 08:54:12 BST
Dhala Camp Taff Davies with Unit Sign it was even more battered than that at Little Aden!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 04 Sep 2020 08:52:40 BST
Dhala Camp Sentry Duty, these were only mounted at night.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 04 Sep 2020 08:51:28 BST
Dhala Convoy, this is Jim Bowie, I do not know if that is his real first name but I think he was a Geordie.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 04 Sep 2020 08:49:17 BST
Unit Sign outside 45 Commando RM Guardroom in. Little Aden showing signs of wear!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 04 Sep 2020 08:44:51 BST
Kuwait (1961) this is Tony ‘Mad Mara’ Thompson, ex-miner from Durham. His nickname was arrived at as he was crackers, he always insisted he was NOT a Geordie but was a Durham Lad! He was a cracking Signaller and one of my mates from Recruit Training in 723(CS) Squad RM, we ran the 30 Miler Pass Out together came in at 6 Hours 17 minutes, there were two 3-Tonners at finish the first left dead on 7 hours (Time Allowed) and the other remained for the failures!
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 04 Sep 2020 08:41:23 BST
Dhala Camp Taff Davies filling rifle magazine pre-patrol, he had 100 round Bandolier slung over shoulder (just in case).
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 04 Sep 2020 08:36:20 BST
Dhala Camp Taff Davies on Sentry Duty with Bren (loaded), Dhala Town is in background.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 04 Sep 2020 08:34:28 BST
Dhala Camp near old Yemen Border, this is Mick Davidson (ex-RN) holding 7.62mm Bren Gun together with Adeni Camp Worker we nick-named Elvis, he was very popular with the Marines, and when 45 left in 1967 they had a whip-around so left him with some money to survive on.
Posted by PrichardDavid R L on Fri 04 Sep 2020 08:32:46 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
