Aden Emergency
Kormaksar Airfield & Crater Protectorate, Aden March - September 1967 |
60 Field Squadron, 36 Engineer Regiment took over the building of Airstrips from 5004 Squadron RAF, stationed in Aden at Khormaksar then Radfan. Starting in March in Little Aden then onto Aden. 3 troop were attached to the Paras in Sheik Othman, 1 Troop were up country on the Dhala road and 2 troop were attached to the Argyl and Sutherland Highlanders in Crater. Sapper Terry F Allchin of 1 Troop was killed by a booby-trap in Habilyn on 4th June 1967.
The Aden Mutiny began on the night of 19th June 1967. By the end of next day 22 British soldiers lay dead and Crater was in the hands of 500 armed Arab terrorists and the Arab Police. Order was eventually restored by the British, mainly due to the efforts of the 1st Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and the support of 1 Troop, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel "Mad Mitch" Mitchell. He led a force that reoccupied and held the town of Crater after 15 days accompanied by regimental bagpipers playing "Scotland the Brave."
Sappers from 60 Field Squadron worked closely alongside the Argylls helping to improve the Jocks' positions, fix plumbing, mend elevators and solved many other problems that came along. Mitchell later said "In Aden the infantry for once stole the glory but this should never be allowed to obscure the part played by all the other arms and corps and, of course, the other two services."
60 Field Squadron Royal Engineers handed over to 50 Field Squadron Royal Engineers in September 1967.
The Aden Mutiny began on the night of 19th June 1967. By the end of next day 22 British soldiers lay dead and Crater was in the hands of 500 armed Arab terrorists and the Arab Police. Order was eventually restored by the British, mainly due to the efforts of the 1st Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and the support of 1 Troop, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel "Mad Mitch" Mitchell. He led a force that reoccupied and held the town of Crater after 15 days accompanied by regimental bagpipers playing "Scotland the Brave."
Sappers from 60 Field Squadron worked closely alongside the Argylls helping to improve the Jocks' positions, fix plumbing, mend elevators and solved many other problems that came along. Mitchell later said "In Aden the infantry for once stole the glory but this should never be allowed to obscure the part played by all the other arms and corps and, of course, the other two services."
60 Field Squadron Royal Engineers handed over to 50 Field Squadron Royal Engineers in September 1967.