Posted by David Prichard on Tue 11 Aug 2020 07:30:05 EDT
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 15:37:15 EDT
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 14:19:21 EDT
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 18:01:17 EDT
TOMS’ brother was also in the Corps at that time, another ex-coal miner.
Posted by David Prichard on Mon 03 Aug 2020 13:10:15 EDT
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 13:08:46 EDT
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 13:04:55 EDT
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 05:29:24 EDT
Should read Green Beret!
Posted by David Prichard on Sun 02 Aug 2020 13:22:09 EDT
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 13:21:13 EDT