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

The Dianas - Oman - 1969-1976
Medal Ribbon

The Dianas were a series of defensive positions along the southern edge of the Jebel Massive in Oman between 1973 and 1975.... read more.

Medal Ribbon

Korean Veteran Ted Beckerley wrote about his horrific experiences of years in a prisoner of war camp in North Korea before his death. Ted, who came from Rushden died at the age of 78 on September 27, 1998... read more.

Farrar the Para - Radfan - 1964-1967
Medal Ribbon

In the spring of 1964, the sniping war waged in the hinterland of the South Arabian Federation flared up and the campaign that followed was reminiscent of the pre-war fighting on the North-West Frontier of India.... read more.

Medal Ribbon

45 Royal Marine Commando served in Aden from 23rd April 1960 until November 1967 and the advance party arrived on the 10th of March 1960. One of the first tasks of the advance party was to take over the camp in Little Aden from the British Petroleum Company.... read more.

The Hook - Korea - 1950-1957
Medal Ribbon

The 'Hook' is a crescent shaped ridge which was selected as a feature of tactical importance in the Commonwealth divisional sector of the united Nations line south of the 38th Parallel.... read more.

BATT in Oman - Oman - 1969-1976
Medal Ribbon

Two groups of SAS units operated in Oman, one based at Salalha on the coast and one in the desert.... read more.

Major K. Muir's VC - Korea - 1950-1957
Medal Ribbon

At approximately 09:00hrs small parties of the enemy started to infiltrate on the left flank, necessitating the reinforcing of the forward platoon... read more.

Medal Ribbon

A coup by the Irgun was made possible by the ban of the carrying of weapons for off duty personnel as the Irgun burst into the officers' club dragging away five officers, of whom three were of the 6th Airborne... read more.