Once considered so important it was said that Aden would be held for as long as Britain remained great, the withdrawal of troops from Yemen, 50 years ago this month, marked the closing of another chapter on Britain’s colonial rule.
Following the Suez Canal crisis and the loss of more than 90 servicemen in then Southern Arabia, former soldiers deployed in Aden have said it was like ‘the sun going down on the British Empire.’
Now with a hit BBC series, The Last Post, portraying the last days of British rule in Aden, real soldiers who were deployed there give an insight into what it was like serving in a region ravaged by gunfire, bombings and revolts.
With a hit BBC series, The Last Post, portraying the last days of British rule in Aden, real soldiers who were deployed there give an insight into what it was like serving in a region ravaged by gunfire, bombings and revolts (soldiers patrolling the Radfan Mountains)
Aden, a port town in modern day Yemen, had once been a crucial anti-piracy station protecting lucrative shipping routes to British controlled India.
When Pan-Arab nationalism spread in the Fifties and Sixties, the National Liberation Army formed to oust Britain from of one of its few remaining footholds in the Middle East.
Thanks more to economic failings than military, Labour Prime minister Harold Wilson announced Britain would be pulling out of Aden in 1967, sparking widespread jubilation across the region.
Following heated fighting between warring factions and increased anti-British sentiment, elite soldiers from the Parachute Regiment were called in to cover the withdrawal of the troops from the South Arabian Peninsula.
While the BBC drama depicts Captain Nick Page readying himself to leave Aden to be replaced by a young and untried Captain Joe Martin, in real life Lieutenant Colonel Roger Jones, stepped into the fray to quell the insurgency.
Now 86, the then Major and the Support Company Commander for 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment, saw the conflict up close.
The TV version: While the BBC drama depicts Captain Nick Page readying himself to leave Aden to be replaced by a young and untried Captain Joe Martin (pictured right), in real life Lieutenant Colonel Roger Jones, stepped into the fray to quell the insurgency
Thanks more to economic failings than military, Labour Prime minister Harold Wilson announced Britain would be pulling out of Aden in 1967, sparking widespread jubilation across the region (left TV’s Major Harry Markham, right a Para on patrol)
Following heated fighting between warring factions and increased anti-British sentiment, elite soldiers from the Parachute Regiment were called in to cover the withdrawal of the troops from the South Arabian Peninsula (Member of B Company, 1 PARA, Radfan Camp, Aden, 1967)
Telling his story to MailOnline, the retired soldier said: ‘My Battalion, based in Radfan Camp, assumed responsibility for Area North, which included the main trouble spots of Al Mansura and Sheik Othman, as well as the vital points of RAF Khormaksar and the Aden Prison.
‘Pre-tour training, and thorough reconnaissance on arrival enabled the Battalion to meet the operational needs immediately.’
The training was much needed as their first serious test came in under a week.
Intelligence reports on May 31 predicted a strike the following day designed to strike at the heart of paratrooper morale.
Jones explained that the Commanding Officer established eight observation posts dominating the heart of Sheik Othman with its main thoroughfares, police station and mosque.
Sergeant Alex Baxter in the BBC version (left) compared to real life soldiers on patrol around Radfan (right)
Lance Corporal Tony Armstrong jumping into action from The Last Post (left) while genuine soldiers enjoy a more peaceful afternoon inside camp
Telling his story to MailOnline, retired soldier Roger Jones said: ‘My Battalion assumed responsibility for Area North, which included the main trouble spots of Al Mansura and Sheik Othman, as well as the vital points of RAF Khormaksar and the Aden Prison’ (Down time in Radfan Camp where privates are playing cards using ammunition as poker chips)
In the early hours of the morning, a grenade attack outside the main mosque signalled the start of hostilities.
All observation posts came under sustained fire from close range, pinning the Paras down, Roger explained. It was a dire situation for the well-trained soldiers, who kept their nerve nonetheless.
But just before midday, the Paras were given their window of opportunity to strike back.
The main mosque broadcast instructions to the Arab gunmen to move positions, giving the men some respite and a chance to regroup.
In the early hours of the morning, a grenade attack outside the main mosque signalled the start of hostilities. All observation posts came under sustained fire from close range, pinning the Paras down, Roger explained. It was a dire situation for the well-trained soldiers, who kept their nerve nonetheless (a Paratrooper relaxed while carrying a bandolier with hundreds of rounds)
But just before midday, the Paras were given their window of opportunity to strike back. The main mosque broadcast instructions to the Arab gunmen to move positions, giving the men some respite and a chance to regroup (a Paratrooper conducting a stop and search, 1967)
This forced the gunmen to move back 300 yards. By the end of the day, 1 Para closely supported by C Squadron, Queens Dragoon Guards had established supremacy over Area North, which it maintained until relieved by the South Arabian Army four months later
‘This was the turning point of this battle,’ says Roger.
‘The company commander took advantage of the pause to bring down heavy harassing fire on all known and potential positions.
‘This forced the gunmen to move back 300 yards. By the end of the day, 1 Para closely supported by C Squadron, Queens Dragoon Guards had established supremacy over Area North, which it maintained until relieved by the South Arabian Army four months later.’
The day became to be known among soldiers within the Battalion, as ‘The Glorious First of June’
The day became to be known among soldiers within the Battalion, as ‘The Glorious First of June’. The hot and humid conditions in Aden proved demanding for even the toughest of soldiers
Soldiers repairing Radio Mast at Fort Walsh, Aden, 1967, their red flag waving, surrounded by sandbags to shield themselves from enemy sniper fire
Cpl Tom Speakman (Royal Signals) and Pte Kevin Bacon in 1967 under the searing Arabian sun
Not all battles proved so glorious however.
On June 18 1967, 18-year-old John McIntosh from Nairn in Scotland came under fire while on patrol in Al Qahira, along with his 1 Para comrades.
Though the patrol took cover and returned fire, Kalashnikov rounds from a second position found their mark, killing the young private.
As was protocol for the time, he was buried where he fell, remaining there to this day in Aden’s Silent Valley.
Stuart Hepton, a private in Roger Jones’ anti-tank platoon recalls how the announcement of Britain’s withdrawal buoyed opposing forces already fiercely against British boots on the ground.
Members of 1 PARA at Beech Road Checkpoint, Aden, 1967
‘We were completely compromised by the government telling the world we’d be leaving in a few months time. If you wanted to drop someone in it, that was the way to do it!
‘Their actions put everyone’s lives at risk, but there you are you have to cope with it.’
But amid the gun fights, check points and constant patrols, the soldiers also had to cope with the mundanities of everyday life in Aden.
‘It was 45 to 50 degrees centigrade heat and we went out there with no acclimatization,’ explained Stuart.
‘We went into Radfan camp which had little blast walls around each tent.
‘We had a bed, a mattress, a mosquito net and a little sheet – that was our sleeping accommodation. We put our suitcases under the bed and we kept our webbing on our person the whole time.
‘We usually carried three magazines of twenty rounds, a bandolier of 50 rounds and also two or three 200-round belts of GPMG ammunition – in case things got hairy’ explained Stuart Hepton (other Para soldiers aiming a machine gun)
‘We kept our water containers, these large canvas jugs attached to tent poles so we could have plenty of water whenever we needed it.
‘Our daily routine was to get up at half five, wash and shave, we wore our webbing with our ammunition water, dressing and few rations.
We usually carried three magazines of twenty rounds, a bandolier of 50 rounds and also two or three 200-round belts of GPMG ammunition – in case things got hairy
‘We kept our ID cards in our left breast pocket, we’d go to the armoury, withdraw our weapons, clean them and draw our ammunition.
‘We usually carried three magazines, of twenty rounds, a bandolier of 50 rounds and also two or three 200 round belts of GPMG ammunition – in case things got hairy.’
1 Para was part of a reactive unit that would speed to any crisis at any time, prepared for combat. Meaning despite the long hours of nothingness, Stuart could be called at a moment’s notice to defend his fellow soldier.
1 Para was part of a reactive unit that would speed to any crisis at any time, prepared for combat. Meaning despite the long hours of nothingness, Stuart could be called at a moment’s notice to defend his fellow soldier
For their part, Britain dropped more than 3,000 heavy bombs and more than 2,500 rockets in a bid to pacify the guerrilla insurgency who used the Radfan Mountains for cover
He explained: ‘Our daily routine would be use on either Quick Reaction Force (QRF) – ready to go anyway and do anything – where we would be stood by waiting to jump into our trucks should anything happen.
‘Our trucks were called pigs because that’s what they looked like from the front. You just got on this tube of metal with a few doors and seats and you trundled off to wherever the action was.’
Every solider is Aden could tell you about their near misses and brushes with death and Stuart is no different.
Observing from the fortified police station he came under fire from anti-tank ‘Blindicide’ missiles, exploding right beneath his feet.
Luckily, the Royal Engineer-built fortification did its job, protecting him from serious harm.
British Army, Navy and Air Force troops were deployed to Radfan to stabilise the region – though losses were still heavily felt
Things had become increasingly frantic in 1963 when, with an increasingly volatile region and warring political factions, a state of emergency was declared after a grenade attack on the High Commissioner of Aden, Sir Kennedy Trevaskis, killed one and wounded 50 others
The situation for Stuart and Roger was fraught, but it had been a long time coming for Britain.
With British Army, Navy and Air Force troops deployed, the young soldier Private McIntosh’s death was one of more than 90 British servicemen killed during the Aden emergency.
The humiliation of the Suez crisis still fresh in Britain’s psyche, losing Aden would be seen as a disaster for a nation coming to terms with its diminished role on the world stage.
Things had become increasingly frantic in 1963 when, with an increasingly volatile region and warring political factions, a state of emergency was declared after a grenade attack on the High Commissioner of Aden, Sir Kennedy Trevaskis, killed one and wounded 50 others.
British Army, Navy and Air Force troops were deployed to Radfan to stabilise the region – though losses were still heavily felt.
With British Army, Navy and Air Force troops deployed, the young soldier Private McIntosh’s death was one of more than 90 British servicemen killed during the Aden emergency
145 Battery, 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery firing from the flight deck of HMS Albion, Aden, 1967
Such was the intense animosity felt towards the British in some quarters that when two SAS soldiers were killed in battle their heads were paraded across the border in celebration.
For their part, Britain dropped more than 3,000 heavy bombs and more than 2,500 rockets in a bid to pacify the guerrilla insurgency who used the Radfan Mountains for cover.
Once fresh boots were on the ground, aggressive patrolling was introduced covering the main thoroughfares in the volatile Sheik Othman and Al Mansura districts. Proscribed zones were established and British losses reduced.
Distinguishable by their maroon berets, Paras were considered the best soldiers the army and much needed to stem the warring factions who were taking aim at British helmets daily.
Once fresh boots were on the ground, aggressive patrolling was introduced covering the main thoroughfares in the volatile Sheik Othman and Al Mansura districts. Proscribed zones were established and British losses reduced (Paratroopers in Tented Camp, Aden, 1967)
Distinguishable by their maroon berets, Paras were considered the best soldiers the army and much needed to stem the warring factions who were taking aim at British helmets daily
With withdrawal on the way and British losses reduced thanks to successful ground operations, by 1967 soldiers received word that they were to be relieved of their duty.
There was considered enough indication that the NLF had the popular support to control an independent Yemen, so Britain’s role in the handover of the land seemed ready.
On 24 September, 1 Para was relieved in their forward positions by the South Arabian Army, and the task of the British Forces changed – it was now to cover the evacuation of the base preparing to hand over responsibility to the future Yemeni government.
On 27 November, 1 Para marched out of Radfan Camp with heads held high. Led by the Corps of Drums, they marched down the main runway, and flew home to UK.
For their part, Britain dropped more than 3,000 heavy bombs and more than 2,500 rockets in a bid to pacify the guerrilla insurgency who used the Radfan Mountains for cover.
While the BBC series (pictured) has received rave reviews, nothing can truly match the real drama that the Parachute Regiment faced in modern day Yemen. It was the end 128 years of colonial rule and also the end of a unique tour, which is too often forgotten by the British public, but not by those who served in the searing heat of the Aden emergency
For their part, Britain dropped more than 3,000 heavy bombs and more than 2,500 rockets in a bid to pacify the guerrilla insurgency who used the Radfan Mountains for cover. Member of 1 PARA ‘D’ Company at Checkpoint Golf, Aden, 1967
Led by the Corps of Drums, they marched down the main runway, and flew home to UK.
Stuart said: ‘We were there to ensure a peaceful hand over of Aden and give the people the chance to have their own government and make a good go of it. And that’s what we did – we succeeded in our task’
While the BBC series has received rave reviews, nothing can truly match the real drama that the Parachute Regiment faced in modern day Yemen.
It was the end 128 years of colonial rule and also the end of a unique tour, which is too often forgotten by the British public, but not by those who served in the searing heat of the Aden emergency.