With tribute to:

Martin Spirit

James Paul

Co-written by:

David Carter

Britain's Small Wars

The preservation of British Military History

Launched, Sunday 11th November 2018. Dedicated and paying tribute to veterans who have served in small conflicts since World War Two. This is an unofficial website with no ties to the Ministry of Defence. We would also like to pay a special tribute to Martin Spirit. For more information please read the About BSW page.

Latest updates

Last updated: Feb 10, 2019

The Aden Withdrawal November 1967 - Aden - 1964-1967

In 1966 whilst onboard H.M. Submarine Auriga, I spent a most enjoyable stay in Aden stopping there enroute for a long commission based on Singapore. From my diary of that time, I note that we arrived at 1340 on Sunday the 20th February when the weather was 85f... read more.

Last updated: Feb 10, 2019

The Ever Readies Aden 1965 - Aden - 1964-1967

I became involved in the British Army's operations in Aden as a member of the Territorial Army; I was not a regular soldier. I had originally joined the services as a boy seaman in the Royal Navy, aged 15, in 1951.... read more.

Last updated: Feb 10, 2019

Tales from Aden 1955 to 1957 - Aden - 1964-1967

I remember when we were in Aden in 66 Rifle Squadron and we used to go up country when the natives got restless. One time we were going up with a convoy of supplies and we came under fire.... read more.

Last updated: Feb 10, 2019

RASC in Aden and the Radfan - Aden - 1964-1967

I was posted to Aden from Aldershot in Feb 1964 after basic training as a driver in the RASC, at Yeovil, & Aldershot. I was so excited to be going to a place like Aden and not Germany... read more.

Some of the Featured

Medal Ribbon

On the 21st of February 1946, mutiny broke out on board the Royal Indian Navy sloop, H.M.I.S. Hindustan. The 2nd Battalion of the Black watch was called from their barracks in Karachi to deal with this mutiny on Manora Island.... read more.

Medal Ribbon

Having left Berlin at the end of the tour, my first posting and where I joined the East Anglian Brigade in 1965. Posted back to the U.K. to Tidworth, which I found pretty boring, I was very excited a few months later to be off to see some action in Aden.... read more.

Medal Ribbon

In 1955 there was a revolt against the ruler, Imam Ahmad, and some princes and army officers involved in the failed coup were caught in Aden by the British Forces, along with the Aden police, and had to be returned to face trial.... read more.

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The war in Europe was over and we were stationed in the Syrian orphanage just outside Jerusalem. Having got through six years of wartime service without seeing any active service due to an injury to my feet... read more.

Silent Valley - Aden - 1964-1967
Medal Ribbon

The 1st Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers flew into Aden's Khormaksar airfield in September 1966. The Battalion was arriving in Aden to relieve the East Yorkshire Regiment, whose area of responsibility had been Crater.... read more.

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Within a few days, following the allied initiation of retaliation, we were now getting into the routine of what was happening. The air raid sirens would sound with a deafening and ear piercing tone and it was on with your chemical suits, now a lot quicker then before... read more.

Medal Ribbon

Within seven days of the UN resolution on the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait the British government announced the deployment of a squadron each of Tornado F.Mk 3 and Jaguar GR.Mk 1A aircraft to the region.... read more.

Medal Ribbon

The South Arabian Army (SAA) had come into existence with the combining of the Federal Army and the Federal Guard. The SAA numbered about 15,000 troops with it's own artillery, armour and engineers.... read more.