ADEN 1955-1967

British Ground Forces Aden 1955-67
v.1.0 March 17, 2002

Graham Watson

Before 1955 there were no British military units stationed in Aden except 65 Wing Troop Royal Signals, which supported RAF squadrons, stationed in the Protectorate. Between 1958 and 1964 a small garrison, which was the equivalent of an understrength brigade, was established in Aden. After the outbreak of the Radfan War in 1964, and after the British decision to withdraw from the area by 1967, forces were built up in an attempt to provide a more stable and secure country prior to the hand-over of power in October 1967. British ground forces were not only supported by air and naval forces but also but locally enlisted troops such as the Aden Protectorate Levies [information on which is to found in a recent book by Cliff Lord and David Birtles].

Battalion on duty from 1955=

7.55-1^st Bn Seaforth Highlanders [from Egypt]

10.55-1^st Bn Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry [from Kenya]

4.56-1^st Bn Gloucestershire Regiment [from Kenya]

9.56-1^st Bn Cameron Highlanders [from Korea]

3.58-1^st Bn The Buffs

1.59-1^st Bn Northamptonshire Regiment

1.60-1^st Bn Royal Highland Fusiliers

1.61-1^st Bn Queen’s Regiment

2.62-1^st Bn King’s Own Scottish Borderers

2.64-1^st Bn 1^st East Anglian Regiment

A second battalion was added in 1958-

6.58-1^st Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry

9.58-1^st Bn Prince of Wales’s Own Regiment

.59-1st Bn Royal Warwickshire Regiment

4.60-45 RM Commando

In addition, the following battalions were stationed for brief periods-

1^st Bn Durham Light Infantry, 11.56-2.57

1^st Bn Royal Lincolnshire Regiment, 8.58 only

One armoured recce sqn was deployed to the Protectorate. In succession that squadron was drawn from The Life Guards, 15/19 Hussars, 13/18 Hussars, Royal Dragoons, 11^th Hussars, Queens Royal Irish Hussars, 9/12 Lancers and 4^th Royal Tank Regiment between 1955 and 1964.

One tank squadron was deployed for training-the unit was from Queens Own Hussars, 17/21 Lancers, 3^rd Carabiniers and the Royal Scots Greys.

One battery of field artillery was deployed from 1955: initially from 14 Field Regiment 1955-1960 and then from 3^rd Field Regiment RHA.

This was supplemented in 1958 by a battery from 33 Para Field Regiment.

At the outbreak of the Radfan War, the Aden Brigade consisted of-

Squadron, 16/5 Lancers,

Battery, 3^rd RHA

1/1 East Anglian [which was retitled 1^st Bn Royal Anglian Regt in 12/64]

45 RM Commando

This force was built up with the following additions-

3/64- 1^st Bn Kings Own Scottish Borderers

A Sqn, 22 SAS Regiment

B Coy, 3^rd Bn Parachute Regiment [from Bahrain]

D Sqn, 4^th Royal Tank Regiment

5/64-HQ 39 Infantry Brigade [ex UK]

C Coy, 3 Para

45 Field Regiment RA [ex Far East]

6/64-1^st Bn Royal Scots vice 1 KOSB

7/64-rest of 3 Para from Bahrain

10/64 HQ 24 Infantry Brigade [ex Kenya] vice HQ 39 Brigade

10^th Hussars vice 4 RTR

19 Light Regiment RA vice 3RHA

2^nd Bn Coldstream Guards

2/65-4^th Bn Royal Anglian Regiment vice 1 Royal Scots

Between 1964 and 1967 the garrison was divided between the Aden Brigade and 24 Brigade-

Aden Brigade-

5 Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards

12/65-1^st Royal Tank Regiment

1^st Bn Royal Sussex Regiment [ex Malta]

8/65-1^st Bn Coldstream Guards [ex Libya]

4/66-1^st Bn Somerset & Cornwall Light Infantry

10/66-3^rd Bn Royal Anglian Regiment

5/67-1^st Bn Parachute Regiment

45 RM Commando

added 1/67-1^st Bn South Wales Borderers

added 6/67-1^st Bn Prince of Wales’s Own Regiment

added 6/67-Sqn, 5^th Royal Tank Regiment (as infantry)

plus single companies from 1 Gloucestershire, 1 R Irish Fusiliers,

1 Loyals and 1 Border during 1966-67]

24 Infantry Brigade- [until 8/67]

10^th Royal Hussars

8/65-4^th/7^th Dragoon Guards

9/66-1^st Queens Dragoon Guards

19^th Light Regiment RA

8/65-1^st Field Regiment RHA

6/67-47^th Light Regiment RA

2^nd Bn Coldstream Guards

8/65-1^st Bn Welsh Guards

10/66-1^st Bn Irish Guards

1^st Bn Royal Anglian Regiment

8/65-1^st Bn Prince of Wales’s Own Regiment

8/66-1^st Bn Royal Northumberland Fusiliers

6/67-1^st Bn Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders

4^th Bn Royal Anglian Regiment

8/65-1^st Bn Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

6/66-1^st Bn Cameronians

2/67-1^st Bn Lancashire Regiment

Added 10/67 to cover final withdrawal-

42 RM Commando [from Singapore]

ROYAL ENGINEERS-

Individual field squadrons were deployed to Aden on a temporary basis. From 1963, they were 3 Field Sqn, 12 Field Sqn, 15 Field Support Sqn, 32 Field Sqn, 48 Field Sqn, 6 Field Support Sqn, 24 Field Sqn, 60 Field Sqn, 20 Field Sqn, 34 Field Sqn, 30 Field Sqn and 50 Field Sqn. In addition 57 Port Sqn was deployed and transferred to the RCT in 1965.

ROYAL SIGNALS

In 1959, 65 Wing Troop was expanded to become 222 Signal Sqn.

In 1960 it was joined by 254 Signal Sqn which was expanded to become 15 Signal Regiment in 1965. 39 Brigade Signal Sqn and 24 Signal Brigade Sqn served their respective brigades.

ROYAL ARMY SERVICE CORPS [1965-RCT]

2 Company –for Aden Brigade

16 Air Despatch Company

60 Company –for 24 Brigade

90 Company –for Middle East Command

ARMY AIR CORPS

653 squadron, which controlled-

8 Flight

15 Flight

16 Flight

plus air troops and air platoons attached to armoured regiments and infantry battalions.

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