Dave Prichard adds “2 Section on patrol on top of Jebel Jihaf (7920 feet) showing the flag. We are outside Shima FNG Fort. Left to Right:: Dave Prichard, Lez, Nobby Clarkson (back), Mick Davidson, Taff Davies, Dykey, Biscuit. The Arabs are FNG Men off duty, the guy in the cowboy hat was Ali the Interpreter, he had a small pistol in holster on left hip. There were four Forts on the Jebel , Shima, Hiab, As-Arir, and Khana. Jebel is Arab for Mountain. It was hard patrolling!”.
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...
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 17:37:47 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...
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
Recent comments
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...
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 17:37:47 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...
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