Regimental Histories - Year 1960-1985 - Brockbank - Page 0038
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A Short History of the 9I/I/‘121h Lancers was moved there at once, equipped with Saladins and placed in support of the Federal Army Battalion commanded by Lt- Col WB Thomas 080 MC (later to be the commander of 12 Infantry Brigade Group in Osnabruck with the Regiment under command). The country was reminiscent of the North West Frontier of India and tall, barren hills enclosed the barbwire-surrounded camp. Escorting infantry patrols was one task for the Troop, searching for mines, camp defence and showing the flag were others. The local tribesmcn were not above having a put at the British and alertness paid. Kipling would have understood — “The flying bullet down the Pass, That whistles clear all flesh is grass". Mukeiras, much further from Aden and perched 3,000 feet above the escarpment of the Thirra pass, was the destination of 3 Troop (Lt George). The camp was in a more fertile area than Dhala but liable to severe flooding. It was only 2 miles from the Yemen border, Supply was practically all by air. At the third troop station at Ataq in the north, I Troop (Lt Stephenson) was encamped in a gravel desert surrounded by Bedouin tribes. This Troop had hardly settled down before an urgent order was received to drive north with a Federal Battalion [0 the Beihan valley where Yemeni aircraft were machine»gunning. (The District Officer here - Mr Joe Nash — had served with the 12th Lancers in Malaya and was very helpful). The Saladin troop from Dhala was rapidly recalled to Aden and flown up as reinforcement with an artillery Air Defence Troop flown in from Hong Kong. 2 Troop (Lt Homby) was also flown up to Ataq to fill the gap. Later on when 5 Troop (Zi’Lt Norman) was at Ataq it was called out to assist the Federal Battalion break up an inter» tribal squabble. Escorting the political agent into the middle of the fray 2,Lt Norman, with bullets flying) helped to restore order without incurring any casualties. Skirmishing and fire- fights along the frontier continued in the area and when C Squa- dron were on this station in June 1963 an interesting little battle developed. 5 Troop (Lt Peto) was pushed forward to Negd Murd and ordered to engage Darb with suppressive fire to silence the heavy mortars, machine guns and field guns that had been firing from there. Those of the Troop not engaged 36 |
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