The Aden Emergency1963 - 1967

The Aden Emergency1963 - 1967The Aden Emergency, also known as the Radfan Uprising, was an insurgency against the Occupying Forces of the former British Empire in the Protectorate of South Arabia, which now forms part of Yemen. The uprising began on 14th October 1963 with the throwing of a grenade at British High Commissioner Sir Kennedy Trevaskis, which took place as he arrived at Khormaksar Airport to catch a London-bound flight. The grenade killed a woman and injured fifty other people. On that day, a state of emergency was declared in Aden.

The Emergency DevelopsAnti-British guerrilla groups with varying political objectives began to coalesce into two larger, rival organisations: first the Egyptian-supported National Liberation Front (NLF) and then the Front for the Liberation of Occupied South Yemen (FLOSY), who attacked each other as well as the British.

Between 1963 and 1967 the NLF and FLOSY waged a continuous campaign against British forces in Aden, relying largely on grenade attacks mainly focused on killing off-duty British officers and policemen. By 1965, the RAF station RAF Khormaksar was operating nine squadrons. These included transport units with helicopters and a number of Hawker Hunter fighter bomber aircraft.

1st Battalion Lancashire Regiment(Prince of Wales's Volunteers)The 1st Battalion Lancashire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Volunteers) (PWV) were deployed in South Arabia from January to October 1967. Local St Helens soldiers served in Aden among the ranks of the 1st Battalion Lancashire Regiment (PWV). They arrive at Radfan Camp in January 1967 and were immediately drawn into action.

The pictures on this banner show The Lancashire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Volunteers) in January 1967, leaving Catterick Camp (Yorkshire), arriving in Aden, and settling into Radfan Camp.

The Aden Mutiny and The Battle of CraterThe pictures on this banner show some of the first operations that the Regiment carried out as part of their Internal Security duties in Aden.

Aden street riotsOn 19–20 January 1967, the NLF provoked street riots in Aden. After the Aden police lost control, British High Commissioner Sir Richard Turnbull deployed British troops to crush the riots. As soon as the NLF riots were crushed, pro-FLOSY rioters took to the streets. Fighting between British forces and pro-guerrilla rioters lasted into February. British forces had opened fire 40 times, and during that period there were 60 grenade and shooting attacks against British forces, including the destruction of an Aden Airways Douglas DC-3, which was bombed in mid-air, killing all the people on board.

The Aden MutinyThe Aden Mutiny began 20th of June 1967 when Arab soldiers at the main South Arabian Army (SSA) base near the town of Sheikh Othman mutinied and burnt down their barracks. A lorry containing men of the Royal Corps of Transport was returning to barracks having just completed weapons training on the local ranges. As the lorry passed the SAA camp they came under heavy machine gun fire from the SAA troops. Eight of the Royal Corps of Transport were killed in this unprovoked attack. The SAA then directed their fire into Radfan Camp, killing 2nd Lieutenant Angus Young, Platoon Commander of 10 Platoon, C Company, the 1st Battalion Lancashire Regiment. By the end of the day, the Mutineers had killed 22 British soldiers and shot down a military helicopter.

Battle of CraterFollowing the mutiny, all British forces were withdrawn from Crater, while Royal Marines of 45 Commando took up sniping positions on the high ground and killed 10 armed Arab fighters. However, Crater remained occupied by an estimated 400 Arab fighters. NLF and FLOSY fighters then took to the streets and engaged in gun battles, while arson, looting, and murder was also common. British forces blocked off the two main entrances to Crater. They came under sniper fire from an Ottoman fort on Sira Island, but the snipers were silenced by a shell from an armoured car. Order was restored in July 1967, when the 1st Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders entered Crater and managed to occupy the entire district overnight with no casualties.

Al-MansuraThe mutiny of South Arabian Federal Army and Police units resulted in a reorganisation which gave the 1st Battalion Lancashire Regiment responsibility for the extremely hostile Al Mansoura where FLOSSY and NFL Prisoners were held in Gaol. Whilst there the battalion, which had an exceptionally high proportion of young eighteen year old soldiers, earned considerable praise for its handling of the situation. Gradually the terrorist activity developed into a battle between opposing factions to decide which was to rule after the British evacuation.

On the night of the 19th May 1967 Corporal Sanderson was in command of a patrol in Al-Mansura. He heard distant shots being fired which he correctly deduced were terrorist firing at the Al-Mansura Prison. Corporal Sanderson re-briefed his patrol and with considerable speed and despatch they moved into a position at the rear of the terrorist firing point without making the enemy aware of their presence.

Immediately, two men approach from the direction of the enemy firing point. Quietly and skilfully he and his patrol lay low until the men were in the trap. Corporal Sanderson then exposed himself and gave the normal and correct challenge. He was immediately fired upon by one of the men who turned and ran. Corporal Sanderson calmly and deliberately gave a fire order and one man was shot dead. The other immediately surrendered.

“Corporal Sanderson’s actions and skilful handling of his patrol undoubtedly eliminated two extremely dangerous terrorists in an area where one mistake may have resulted in the death or injury of innocent persons. To ensure he had the right men Corporal Sanderson deliberately exposed himself to the enemy and their fire. In this action Corporal Sanderson displayed outstanding professional skill and a complete disregard for his personal safety without which the operation could not have been successful. ”(London Gazette, 23rd January 1968)

As a result of his bravery, Corporal Robert John Sanderson wasawarded a Military Medal.

The pictures on this banner show the operations that The Lancashire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Volunteers) carried out in the Al-Mansura district and at the prison up in Al-Mansura district

Outstanding Bravery and WithdrawalOn 8th September 1967, 1st Battalion The Lancashire Regiment (PWV) Rifle Platoon Commander Lieutenant Cleary carried out a routine patrol in the Al-Mansuraarea in order to ensure that the main route was kept clear of interference from terrorist snipers.

At 0900 hours the Platoon came under fierce fire from terrorists as they investigated a sighting of a potential rooftop sniper. Two soldiers were wounded and the patrol’s radio put out of action. Attempts were made by the terrorists to cut the patrol off as it pulled back to the safety of the main road and the cover of supporting armoured cars.

By a series of signals and careful control of his fire, Lieutenant Cleary was able to guide the armoured cars to his most heavily pressed group of men looking after the casualties. Having seen them safely away he then consolidated his position in order to exercise greater control. The armoured cars returned to the position and under very heavy fire from all sides the patrol was finally withdrawn at approximately 1240 hours after a battle lasting nearly two and a half hours against a numerically superior and well equipped enemy. The terrorists suffered six killed and seven wounded.

“Lieutenant Cleary showed outstanding bravery in his complete disregard for his own safety, and by his quick reactions undoubtedly saved further casualties amongst his own men.”(Supplement to the London Gazette, 23rd January 1968)

As a result of his actions, Lieutenant David John Cleary was awarded a Military Cross.

WithdrawalThe Lancashire Regiment (PWV) left Aden at the beginning of October just seven weeks before the final withdrawal; having amassed more operational awards than any other unit in the colony – a DSO, two MCs and three MMs, as well as six Mentions in Despatches and an MBE. The last British forces in Aden withdrew on 30 November 1967. Following the British departure, the NLF managed to seize power, and established the independent People's Republic of South Yemen.

After Aden“After we returned to Catterick, Lieutenant Colonel Peter Downwood Commanding Officer of the Lancashire Regiment PWV called the soldiers of the 1st Battalion on parade and gave each of us a tiny tin of maroon paint and a brush. We were told to paint our ‘58 pattern green’ belts maroon. The 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment had asked Her Majesty the Queen to grant the 1st Battalion The Lancashire Regiment (PWV) the honour to wear the same colour stable belt because of our outstanding work alongside them in South Arabia. The maroon belt is still worn today by the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment.” Paul Pennington (Private 1st Battalion Lancashire Regiment PWV in South Arabia 1967)

In 1968, The Lancashire Regiment PWV received the Freedom of St Helensand marched through the Town Centre with Fixed Bayonets. They took part in parades all over Lancashire and used to perform a display of their work in ‘Aden’; a display that was shown at the very first “Sherdley Show” in 1968.

References from J. E. Peterson, British Counter-Insurgency Campaigns and Iraq. August 2009Jonathan Walker, Aden Insurgency: The Savage War in Yeman 1962-67. September 2011John Downham, The Regiments Post-War A Lancashire Infantry Museum Narrative History. 2019

The pictures on this banner show the every day patrol experiences of the 1st BattalionThe Lancashire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Volunteers) in Aden