Along with Michael Fairweather, we had just left boy service with the Infantry Junior Leaders Battalion (IJLB), at Oswestry, when we reported to the depot of The East Anglian Brigade, in Bury St Edmunds, for duty.  Our posting was to be Aden, where the Battalion was already stationed, as the move of the main party had been completed by 26th January 1964, leaving from Felixstowe and already taking part in operational duties.  Our departure was to be on the maiden voyage of the LSL Sir Lancelot, a flat bottomed vessel, and would take two weeks to arrive, leaving on 8th June 1964, travelling through the Bay of Biscay (now that was exciting) on to Malta, where we were permitted to visit the island for a few hours before continuing on to Port Said, Egypt, and then onto Aden.  Each day we had to undertake acclimatization drill on the helicopter deck and remain on deck apart from meals for most of the day.  The journey wasn't without its mishaps, as it was the maiden journey and there was the odd break down but nothing too serious.

Our Regiment was on a permanent tour of duty and this was to be our base  until leaving on 24 October 1965, when the temperature was 120F degrees in the shade!  Only about half of our time was actually spent in the Waterloo Barracks with the balance spent up-country.  Even when we had returned to barracks we were consumed with I. S. duties in and around Aden.  There was the occasion when 7 Platoon was occupying the Sheik Othman Police Station. Patrols were sent out of the station and Sgt. John Smith (7 Pl. Sgt.) was hit in the face with a rocket launcher during an attack, removing part of his jaw, whilst Pte. Elba-Porter (signaller) suffered injuries and still managed to maintain communications with a replacement radio, whilst Pte. Kent rendered first aid to the platoon sergeant and saved his life.

Cordon and searches was a regular feature of our role looking for  weaponry. One of the not so pleasant memories I have of a cordon and search is when the Aden policewomen strip-searched the local village women, and  all before breakfast, in front of us!
Initially, our work day was 7 am until 12 noon due to the over bearing heat; a wet heat, necessitating drinking two gallons of water a day, taking salt tablets and paludrin (anti-malaria) tablets on a daily basis.

Whilst we were in Aden, the Regiment amalgamated from the 1st East Anglian Regiment to The Royal Anglian Regiment, the first regiment of the British Army to become one of the larger new regiments.  The difference in cap badge sizes was significant.

Duties in Crater were numerous as were the roads leading into and out of the capital. During the evenings, curfews after 6 pm were a regular feature, though the locals did try it on to sell their soft drinks.  We always managed to get ice cold drinks free of charge, for all the patrol to turn a blind eye. We would have found it hard to justify any other action apart from when we knew trouble was afoot.

The Battalion had been involved from the early days when the fighting had  been fierce and media reports at home were almost a daily feature.  Many a parent worried for their son's future with injuries being reported regularly on television.

My first trip to the Radfan was to Monk's Field, living under camouflage netting for about 8 weeks or so. It was during this time that a monsoon broke filling a wadi, rough dimensions 100 feet across and 60 feet deep, within  30 minutes, washing amphibious vehicles down stream. Scary, especially for those out on patrol who were sending up very signals and were marooned on a hillock.  Weapons were lost and vehicles were in a right state. As for those, including me, in Monk's Field camp, the only real shelter we had was our mess tins and these became somewhat dented by the enormous hailstones.  It had to be seen to be believed.

Our next move was to Table Top. We moved out of Monk's Field after dark and walked throughout the night to take over the duties from the resident unit already at Table Top, which if I remember correctly, the unit was the Grenadier Guards.  It was here that each night, regularly at 6 pm that we came under fire, so much so that you could set your watch by the event.

Each day one of our duties was to clear the makeshift runway for landmines and then the roads leading into and out of the venue, which was shared with an artillery unit.  A frequent sight to be seen would be when the RAF Hunters would make their strikes on the mountainsides.

When the hostilities had receded, it was decided to send medical patrols around to the local villages, and it was now that our people needed to be strong, especially when we saw children with gangrene limbs.

This position was close to the Yemen border, with a makeshift airstrip for transport planes to land on, and potholes caused some anxious moments.  Mostly this camp was used for training purposes by us and had a small shop just outside of the gate, which was regularly shot up at nights. 

I will always remember the journey to the camp as it was by 3-tonner truck, especially going up the Laurabena Pass. Steep drops and stupid Arabs speeding down in the other direction; they were mad. Apart from seeing the many vehicles that simply hadn't made the journey,  even some of our own vehicles had mechanical problems.

Thumier was the camp most only passed through since it was the main base serving all units as the Headquarters.  In some cases, it was really only a halfway camp, as travel through the wadis wasn't easy and took a long time, because there were no roads as such.

When I was on Camel's Hump, I had the pleasure of performing as the Battalion relay station as 7 Platoon signaller.  I was the only sub-station in touch with all others so, it was "through me" as they say.

This town holds many memories for me, not all good, and was often referred to as the golden mile. The cafés were OK but the Supply Depot was amongst the back streets. Fresh bread was nice when on guard duties but the exposure to attack was another story also, sadly, Maala was also known as the cemetery where many British soldiers were laid to rest.  Maala, was home for many families and it was here that I met with a young lady socially. We were going for a trip out one afternoon, on the back of an open-top sports car, and as I got in, the seam of my trousers leg broke almost to my crotch. The girl just said, "Mum will fix it", so whilst repairs were made I was sitting in dad's dressing gown - embarrassed.

This is the town where most of the passengers from the ships came to break their journey and to spend and it was frequently a cause of amusement for many a serving soldier in Aden.  Bargaining was how goods were purchased and tourists were rather short on skills. As for the soldier, we would name our price and then tell the tourist, "I wouldn't pay that", and walk away, with anxious stallholders eager to be rid of us so that they could make exorbitant profits - we knew we would get our price even if we did go back later.