The Capture of

Communication between Britain and India was With this successful action, Britain gained its first exceedingly slow in the nineteenth century, as new territory under Queen Victoria. Aden was ships were required to travel via the Cape of annexed as part of the Bombay Presidency. It also Good Hope. In order to shorten the time that marked the beginning of a permanent military despatches could be passed between Bombay garrison. In May 1840 that garrison consisted of: and London, various overland routes were tried. 2 Battalion Artillery One of these was the Alexandria to Suez pony- Golundauze Battalion express. Consequently the Red Sea route became Engineer Corps popular and a need arose for a refueling station. HM 6th Regiment Aden was considered as it is situated about half- Bombay European Regiment way between Suez and Bombay, and possessed 10th Regiment Native Infantry an excellent sheltered port. 16th Regiment Native Infantry Negotiations were conducted between Commander Haines, Political Agent of the During the first few years following the capture Bombay Government, and the Sultan of Lahej, of Aden there were several attempts by the Arabs the owner of Aden, for the port and environs. to recapture it. On each occasion the military An agreement was made, but when it came to garrison, with the help of the Red Sea Squadron executing that agreement the Sultan’s son refused. of the Indian Navy, succeeded in repulsing the At this time a Madras ship, the Duria Dowlat, attacking tribesmen. under British colours, was wrecked near Aden, In 1858 a force composed of two or three compa- and the survivors were mistreated and the cargo nies of 57th Regiment, a wing of the 29th Bombay plundered by local Arabs. This, and the insults Infantry and a detachment from the Hon. Company’s that had been heaped upon Haines and Britain Ship Elphinstone, defeated an Arab force at Sheikh by the Lahej Sultan were enough to cause the Othman. Britain was now secure in Aden although, Bombay Government to send some ships of the a few further military actions did take place. Honourable East Indies Company Navy to take The first of these was the Expedition to Shugra the “Rock” of Aden by force. in December 1865, when trouble was experienced The ships sent were the Honourable East Indies with the Fadhli tribe. The tribe had plundered a Company’s sloop of war Coote, schooner Mahi, and caravan within gunshot of the Aden fortifications. barque Anne Crichton. Two Royal Navy vessels and A detachment of 300 men of the 101st troop transports were despatched from India to with a field force commanded by Colonel Wooll- join Commander Haines. They were HMS Volage, combe, C.B., Royal Artillery, attacked Bir and Asala, HM Brig Cruiser and the transports Lowjee Family destroying the latter. They returned to Aden on 9 and Ernaad, which arrived on 16 January 1839. January 1866. Another expedition under the same The troops on board were: The Bombay Euro- commander was sent to Shugra on 14 March to pean Regiment; 24th Regiment Bombay Native destroy the town and forts, which was the prin- Infantry; 4th Company of the 1st Battalion Artil- cipal stronghold of the Fadhli tribe. The Fadhli had lery; and 6th Company (Golundauze) Artillery. captured a dhow under British protection, massa- Ten garrison guns were included for the defence cred the crew, and sold the cargo. The British of the port. believed the Fadhli needed to be taught a lesson and After a naval bombardment had silenced the a detachment of artillery, with two field pieces, and Arab guns Aden was captured on 19 January 1839. three companies of the 109th Infantry Regiment

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and some sappers were despatched by HMS Lyra A few years later, in 1873, a force of British and Victoria. The seamen and marines from the Lyra, and Indian infantry with three guns marched to about 40 in number, worked with the artillery. The Al Hauta (Lahej) to protect the Sultan against the town was destroyed on 15 March and the troops Turks who had invaded his territory. After nego- were back in Aden the following day. tiations the Turkish troops were withdrawn.

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1st Infantry Turkish troops based at Lahej during the First World command of the regiment, it was officially desig- War posed a serious threat to the port of Aden, and nated the 1st Yemen Infantry. While recruiting took a Movable Column of British and Indian troops was place, there was an Arab Labour Corps, which was employed in harassing the Turkish force. Captain mainly composed of men from the hinterland, who M.C. Lake (later Lieutenant Colonel Lake, C.M.G., had knowledge of the Turkish military occupation OBE) of the 101st Grenadiers organized a band of of their villages. They had come to Aden in the tribal irregulars for skirmishing and intelligence hopes of finding better conditions and more profit- gathering in 1915. They patrolled the area of land able work under the British flag. On the disband- between Sheikh Othman and the Turkish garrison ment of the Labour Corps, some of the best men in Lahej with great success, perhaps because they were selected for the 1st Yemen Infantry. At first, were more suited to the environment than the other two companies were recruited of approximately Allied forces in the area. This irregular tribal band 400 men, later increased to four companies, and was regularized as the 1st Yemen Infantry in 1918, finally reduced to three in 1922. Over 1,000 names although partially raised in 1917 under the title of appear on the medal roll for the British War and the Arab Legion. On Major M.C. Lake assuming Victory medals. The unit was based at Sheikh

1 Yemen Infantry, Aden, 1921 (David Birtles)

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Officers and British N.C.O’s of the 1st Yemen Infantry, c.1920. The officer commanding, Captain M.C Lake appears in the second row, second from left. The tall officer in the centre is Lt. Pearce, later Captain, Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment. The R.S.M appears on the far left of the front row (Bill Cranston)

Othman in the vacated Aden Troop accommoda- bandolier, while officers wore a Sam Browne. All tion. Colonel Meinhertzhagen inspected the force Arabs and British Warrant Officers and Senior in 1923 and reported that their military value was Non-Commissioned Officers wore full-length nil. As a consequence of his report, the unit was puttees. disbanded in 1925. In 1900 the Bombay Sappers and Miners included a British officers and men wore a solar topee with service company in Aden. It appears that this service a diamond flash on the left-hand side with the company was replaced by a fortress company in 1902 words YEMEN 1st INFANTRY, in white, in three as no further reference to it in Aden is mentioned tiers. Brass metal shoulder titles with the same in Sandes’ The Indian Sappers and Miners. By 1903 words as the topee flash were also worn. Arab the Fortress Company was renamed 23 (Fortress) soldiers and officers wore their own distinctive Company, 3rd Sappers and Miners and was located khaki pagri with a plain coloured flash on the in Aden. 23rd (Fortress) Company, Royal Bombay left-hand side. All ranks wore a khaki tunic and Sappers and Miners, as it became known in 1921, shorts, with a leather belt. Soldiers wore a leather remained in Aden until disbanded in 1928. 45 (Aden) Rifles An infantry unit known as the Aden Rifles was notification number 1588 of 1916. With an establish- formed on 1 January 1917, by Army Department ment of one Reserve Company, this unit was recon-

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stituted as an Indian Defence Force unit, with the way along the barrels their slings falling symmetri- designation of 45 (Aden) Rifles from 1 April 1917. cally behind a scroll across the butts – at about 30 This volunteer force was raised from the local popu- degrees upwards on each side – inscribed ADEN lation and a small number of British officers, for the RIFLES. Voided throughout, the badge is brass and defence of Aden during the First World War. Officers has lugs. of the Company were Major Harold Berridge OBE 410 Rifleman S.O. Whitley, 45th Aden Rifles, who raised the unit and was attached to RE, Major Indian Defence Force, was awarded Mentioned James Bett Grey, who became the Commandant, in Despatches (Aden Field Force G.G.O. 1747, Captain Henry Zoro Roycroft, Lt. Cyril Eric Leman, dated 27 August 1920). His MID was awarded Lt. Stanley Nicholas Day, Lt. Thomas Williamson for showing great coolness, courage and devotion McLachlan, 2/Lt Eric Randal and Supernumerary to duty under fire when driving the steam roller Captain Edward Merle Duggan. With the general during the construction of the Robat Road. Though demobilization and down-scaling of forces in the under shell fire every day while at this work he , the company was disestablished never withdrew his roller out of range even when in 1920. Although some sources indicate the unit the machine was hit by shrapnel. existed until 1934, this was probably on paper only. In 1904, Harold Berridge went to Aden as Chief The IDF became Auxiliary Force India in 1920. Engineer to the Aden Port Trust, a position he Little is known about the Aden Rifles both histori- retained until his retirement in 1924. In 1917 he cally or about the badges and insignia worn. In was commissioned into the Indian Defence Force recent years a few artifacts have surfaced and these as a Major, and Commandant of 45th Aden Rifles. include a fine caste, white metal, two tiered curved From 1918 to 1920 he served as Garrison Engi- title 67 ADEN RIFLES, but to date the author can neer and Deputy Assistant Director of Railways find no evidence to the unit ever being formed with with the Aden Field Force. He was mentioned in that number. The solar topee flash had the words despatches twice and appointed Companion of ADEN RIFLES in white on a black over red diago- the Order of the Indian Empire (CIE) and Officer nally intersected rectangle. The Aden Rifles had a of the Order of the (OBE) in the headdress badge described as a delicate die cast, 1919 Indian War Honours. He relinquished in the shape of a pear/tear drop, 40mm x 28mm. his commission in September 1920, but was Within the “outer perimeter”, rifles, crossed half permitted to retain his rank. 90 Company R.A.S.C./90 Squadron R.C.T. Raised on 1 December 1957, in Aden, this unit the various other units in the Aden Garrison. The was largely composed of locally enlisted staff. The unit was retitled 90 Squadron R.C.T in 1965. With role of the unit was to supply staff cars and admin- the run-down of British Troops in Aden due to the istrative vehicles for Command and withdrawal the unit moved to Sharjah. 653 Squadron Army Air Corps 653 Squadron AAC provided aviation support copters and 4 or 5 ‘Air Troops’ or ‘Air Platoons’. British Troops in Aden during the Emergency. Each of these comprised of three Augusta/West- The Squadron was initially equipped with nine land Sioux-Bell 47G helicopters. A very effective fixed-wing Auster and Beaver aircraft and two Workshop was also a part of the unit. These came Scout helicopters and provided air reconnaissance, under command of 3 Wing AAC for all servicing re-supply, liaison and artillery fire direction. By and technical standards, but under the command 1966, the Squadron was re-titled No.3 Wing AAC, of individual military combat units when required but still used the official crest of 653 Squadron. for service. 3 Wing AAC was based at Falaise It comprised of No. 15 Flight AAC with seven Camp’s airfield, near Little Aden, but for the last DH-C 2 Beavers, No. 8 Flight AAC and No. 13 six months of 1967, moved to Khormaksar until Flight AAC, each with six Westland Scout Heli- the final withdrawal.

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1401 (Aden) Company, Pioneer Corps In 1940, two Pioneer Corps companies were for 1401–1419 Companies. Major Kell was later raised in Aden to provide labour for the Somali- replaced by Captain D.N. Seton of The Welch land Campaign. Tasks involved road maintenance, Regiment. airfield construction and port operation. Gener- The company sailed from Aden on 14 March ally pioneer companies were of no fixed size, but 1941. Troops disembarked from their transport at usually were between 100 and 500 men. Although Berbera two days later in small boats. They formed independent and self-sufficient, the companies up on the foreshore at the rear of the infantry, and were clustered into groups for administrative then moved up to Berbera town in field formation. purposes. Most foreign companies were unarmed. The sight of so many troops advancing on the On 2 November 1940 British staff arrived at town, even though the pioneers were unarmed, Tawahi to raise 1401 (Aden) Company. By the was enough for the Italian garrison to put up only end of January 1941 the total strength of locally minimal resistance before quickly decamping. recruited men was 574. Because of the good Berbera was soon captured, and the company response to recruiting, the officer commanding, commenced construction of a road to the pier, and Major J.V.L. Kell of the South Staffordshire Regi- provided working parties to unload lighters. After ment, decided to raise another company, 1402 this successful campaign, the company returned to (Aden) Company. Major Kell was then appointed Aden on 16 April 1941, and disbanded on 21 May. to command the Group, which was responsible The uniform was simply khaki shorts and shirts. 1402 (Aden) Company, Pioneer Corps The company was formed on 1 February 0435 hrs on 16 March. At daybreak the company 1941, from the surplus of 1401 Company, and remained on board the troop transport Chak- was commanded by Captain S.H.J. Harrison, dina to assist with unloading cargo which was Royal Sussex Regiment. Initially 100 men were required for the attack. Later, the company was employed with the RAF at the aerodrome in employed in leveling ground for an aerodrome Aden. On 14 March 1941 the unit embarked at and also worked on the pier road and various Aden for Berbera, with 1 British officer, 3 British other duties for the Engineers and Ordnance other ranks, 1 Arab officer and 185 Arab other Corps. After this successful tour in , ranks. Bombardment of the town of Berbera by the company returned to Aden on 14 April, and the Aden Striking Force commenced at about was disbanded there a week later. 1422 (Sultan Saleh’s Hadramaut) Company, Pioneer Corps On 27 March 1943 Captain D.N. Seton, of The unit was employed on road construction. Once Welch Regiment, was instructed to form a new the work was completed, the unit returned to pioneer company in Aden. A number of British Aden on 3 December 1943. Three days later other ranks from the Aden Protectorate Levies they embarked for the island of Socotra to were selected and posted to the unit. Two Arab relieve 2004 Company, where the company subalterns also joined the force, which consisted was involved with unloading petrol and road of six sections of 25 men. On 17 July 1943, the construction until the end of January 1944. It company arrived by ship at the port of Mukalla is believed that the unit was disbanded shortly in the Eastern Aden Protectorate, where the after the work was completed. Aden Air Raid Precautions (ARP) The ARP organization existed in Aden during the lapel badge with the title ADEN. Second World War. Members had their own ARP

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Aden Defence Light Section, Indian Submarine Corps In 1899, Major A.M. Stuart, RE, began developing Aden. Affiliation with the 3rd Bombay Sappers a system of electric light defence for the Indian and Miners took place in 1910. In 1912 the Indian ports. As a consequence of his efforts a section Submarine Corps was abolished and the units consisting of 1 British officer, 2 Mechanists and were known as Defence Light Sections. The Aden 6 other ranks (RE), with 4 Indian mechanics, Defence Light Section was amalgamated into 23 was authorized for the maintenance of the elec- (Fortress) Company in 1927. The company was tric defence lights, telegraphs and telephones at disbanded in 1928. Aden Home Guard The Aden Home Guard was in existence from Capt R C Bailey 1942 to 1944, with non-European as well as Euro- Lt W L Osborne OBE pean companies. Three discarded RAF armored Lt F W Rant cars were reconditioned by the Civil Government Lt S G Smith for the Home Guard. Lt M D A de Clermont Defence Medal was awarded to: Lt D J Allen (later Captain) CSM P J Harper (later RSM) Major J R Kynaston OBE CQMS A J Peters Capt A J Borland OBE Sgt J J Colabawalla

Aden Labour Corps The medal roll for the Aden Labour Corps in the 1402 Aden Pioneer Companies. The Aden Labour First World War, reference WO 329/2368*, indi- Corps Ordinance 1940 was amended so that part of cates that the total number of recipients of the the Corps could serve outside the Colony. During 1914–1918 British War Medal was approximately 1940 the Corps came under the Air Ministry but 942. It consisted of a Jamadar, 7 Havildars, 1 later in 1940 the Army took responsibility. Acting Havildar, 16 Naik’s, 25 Lance Naiks, Head The Corps consisted of the following ranks: Clerk, Clerk, 4 Sweeper, 1 Tailor, 2 Servants, 1 Commandant and British officers Ward Orderly, 1 Private Servant. The others are Mulazim described as Labourers. Havildar A shortage of labour within the Colony and Mukaddam Protectorate gave rise to the establishment of the Assistant Mukaddam Aden Labour Corps during the Second World War. Private or Enlisted Follower The units raised were the Aden Pioneer Corps, Uniform; pair khaki shorts, khaki shirt, 1 1422 Hadhramaut Pioneer Company, 1401 and aqu’al, 1 imama,

Aden Police Shurtat Adn Troops of Aden Police existed as early as 1857. By Aden. The existence of one British and one Indian 1928 the Aden Police were under the control of infantry battalion was of sufficient moral effect a Deputy Superintendent of the Bombay Provin- to prevent any trouble, as the battalions could be cial Police Department. Their task was conven- used to support the Aden Police. tional policing within the metropolitan area of With the change of responsibility for defence

*First World War, (WO 329/2368)

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from Army to RAF, both battalions of infantry were removed, which consequently necessitated an improvement in the organization of the existing police force. In addition, the police force needed to be brought up to strength, as well requiring a certain amount of reorganization. It was soon realized that a force of armed police was necessary to furnish the moral support previously provided by the army battalions. Accordingly, the Government of India and the Government of Bombay tasked two police officers from the Indian Police Service to proceed to Aden, study the reorganization of the Civil Police, and examine the scheme for the recruitment of armed police. Reports submitted in July 1928 recom- mended that the force should be organized as a whole under a District Superintendent of Police and an Assistant Superintendent. This would replace the Assistant Resident in charge of the Police, and the Deputy Superintendent in immediate charge. The majority of the proposals were accepted, and the establishment was set at 2 British officers, 14 inspec- tors, 4 Jamadars (a rank which may be described as the Indian equivalent of Assistant Sub-Inspector), 200 Armed Police, 292 constables and 13 clerks. The Government of India regarded the local recruitment of the Armed Police as an experi- ment. Pending their local recruitment and training, it was decided to employ an interim force of 115 Armed Police recruited from India, and men from the earlier disbanded Aden Troop. This force was not to be withdrawn until it was clear that the locally raised Armed Police were fully efficient and capable of carrying out the duties entrusted to them. The Interim Police came into being on 9 January 1929, followed by the recruitment and training of the Permanent Armed Police, and the reorganization of the Civil Police. The Superinten- dent of Police was a British officer of the Indian Police Service. He had sole charge of the Aden Police Force, Armed and Unarmed, and control of the detachment of the Armed Police in Perim Island and the Kamaran Islands. His uniform was that of the Indian Police. Accommodation for the Interim Force was at the infantry barracks in Crater, Aden. The Interim Force proved its worth and lasted until December 1931. That same year Aden Armed Police circa 1937 with AP monogram on pagri. Belt the newly formed Armed Police replaced the Aden buckle has ADEN ARMED POLICE and the number. ADEN ARMED is curved and below is the policeman’s number and a Protectorate Levies platoon at Kamaran. There straight POLICE below that were disturbances in Crater between Arabs and

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Aden Armed Police marching with fixed bayonets, c.1937. Note the Indian influence, represented by the style of headdress. Aden was a dependency of the Indian Government until 1937, when it became a crown colony (David Birtles)

Jews in 1932 which lasted several days, and the Police Section; Traffic Section; Marine Police Armed Police were called out to patrol the streets, Section; Prison Department; Criminal Investiga- and to restore law and order. tion Department; Special Branch; Police Band; Fire When Aden became a Crown Colony in 1937, Brigade. The Aden Police became a part of the the Aden Police retained responsibility for the South Arabian Police on 1 June 1967. Colony and the islands of Perim and Kamaran. The uniform issue for the Police during the The Colonial Reports’ Annual of 1938 lists the 1930s was as follows: following Unarmed Police: 232 Aden Land and 1 pair of putties, 2 pairs shorts, 2 shirts, 1 pair Sheikh Othman Foot Police, 12 Perim Land Police, chaplis, 1 monogram A.P., 1 Fez cap, 1 baton 13 Sheikh Othman Mounted Police and 62 Aden with hook, 1 whistle, 1 belt and buckle plate. Harbour Police. In Aden there were 141 Armed The Armed Police were also issued with black Police, in addition to 33 on Perim Island, and 31 boots. at Kamaran. The Armed Police also provided mili- tary guards at Government House and manned Later that decade the uniform was to change road blocks when necessary. They were armed and included: with .303 Lee Enfield rifles, and in later years, 1 kullah, 1 pagri, 2 shirts, 2 pairs shorts, 1 pair 9mm Sterling sub-machine gun. putties, 1 pair chaplis and 1 durrie. Equipment During the Second World War, a Tempo- consisted of 1 water bottle with carrier, 1 rary Additional Constabulary was added to the haversack, 1 belt, 1 buckle plate, 1 bandolier Service. After the War the Civil Police grew in size, leather, 1 pouch, 1 frog. and included the following sections: Uniformed

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