The Royal Dragoons in Egypt 1950-1954

This Modern history of the Royals (Royal Horse Guards, 1st Dragoons) who were in Egypt during the "Emergency" 1951-1954 comes from a book entitled: "The Story of the Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards, 1st Dragoons)" by Major J N P Watson. Published in Great Britain in 1993, by Leo Cooper Leo Cooper

Many had scarcely occupied their tents at Fayid before they found themselves out on a series of exercises: 'Sandpiper', 'Desert Lark' and 'Sand Grouse'. A commentator from 'C' Squadron was to remark that, "Since the advent of conscription in 1946 some 600 National Service soldiers had become Royals. Some of these men will have been with us for as long as 20 months, others for varying reasons have served a much shorter time. Today there are just under 300 NationalService soldiers in the Regiment, all of whom have served or are serving their apprenticeship in 'C' Squadron, The Training Squadron”. It was not long before 'C' converted to a Sabre Squadron and just in the nick of time, for there was something more urgent in the air than training, with the Egyptian Government declaring their Treaty with Great Britain 'Null and Void', and their Army on a war footing also encouraging guerrilla activity.

From the 15th October 1951 and for the next four months the regiment was employed on internal security duties. With its strong traditions, pride and high ideals, The Royals, a superbly trained Armoured Car Regiment, was tailor made for the job. 'A' and 'B' Squadrons (respectively Major K.F. Timbrell and Major G.T. Armitage) were despatched in turn to Ismailia to assist in riot control, while 'C' Squadron (Major E.T. Greaves) now with two Sabre troops formed, went to support the force blocking the path of the Egyptian Army along the Cairo Suez Road. In mid-November all married families were hurried into the confines of their guarded unit camps while this hazardous state of affairs prevailed.

To relate a series of typical incidents; on the night of 17th December 1951 after a bomb was thrown, killing a Military Police Officer and destroying his jeep, and heavy fire was at the same moment directed on the security forces by members of the Egyptian Police, an 'A' Squadron troop was ordered to rescue the  wrecked vehicle and report on the situation.  Heavy firing was directed at the troop until silenced by besa and 2 pounder directed against the Caracol.  The jeep was then recovered and, after an exchange of fire, the troop withdrew.  Another Troop was sent out to rescue an RAF convoy which was under fire along the Tel-el-Kebir Road.  A short encounter ensued using 2 pounder and besa and the convoy was escorted to safety.  During this encounter the fitters were on route to assist and passing through Ismailia, fire was directed at them from a mosque. This was returned from two Bren guns, which silenced the sniper completely. Damage to the buildings testify to their accuracy.

Major Timbrell, during a recce around Ismailia, came across a large crowd of Egyptians setting fire to a three-tonner.  He charged the crowd in his Land Rover, and put them to flight.  On 13th Jan there was an organized attack on HQ BTE (British Troops Egypt) and the Squadron was called out and fired besas for some period before quiet was restored. One of the most thankless tasks was that of 'Line Patrols' which consisted of touring and scanning the cable routes, endeavouring to prevent the Egyptians digging them up, partly to sell them, and partly to interfere with Canal Zone communications.

Less mundane were search operations. On 15th January a 'B' Squadron Troop co-operating with a Battalion of the Foot Guards (3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards) came under fire during a village search near Tel-el-Kebir, but the operation resulted in only one Royals casualty, a Daimler Armoured Car driver slightly wounded, in contrast to the capture and disarming of 140 Egyptian police, including a Police Major General who had unwisely chosen that day to came from Cairo to inspect the unit.  A Queens Commendation (for bravery under fire) went to a 'B' Squadron man, Trooper Hesketh of 3 Troop.

On the 19th January another 'B' Squadron Troop accounted for three Egyptians who exploded a bomb concealed in a street barrow on a bridge, and later in the afternoon, says the report, "An armoured car was damaged by a bomb thrown from the Convent in which Sister Anthony had been murdered by an Egyptian just previously".  In the search operation that followed twelve Egyptian terrorists were killed or captured.  All the Egyptian Police were then disarmed in 'Operation Eagle'.   Referring to the devotion of the Royals Regimental Headquarters, signals troop and REME Light Aid Detachment, a Chronicler stated that "only by working long hours and frequently at night was it possible to keep all Squadrons on the road".  The Regiment at times was split from Suez to Port Said. With Squadrons under Command of two separate Divisions, the Colonel had to cover a large area.

January 1952 was a critical time to change Commanding Officers, but that is when it happened.  Lt Col Heathcoat-Amory MC had Commanded the regiment since 1949, and ended his tour in the middle of that critical Egyptian Winter of 1951-1952.  "Everything the regiment has undertaken whilst under his command has been crowned with success, not least our operations in the Canal Zone" was part of the Royals' farewell message to him. Lt Col Desmond Fitzpatrick succeeded him in September 1953, due to his promotion.  Lt Col Paddy Massey assumed Command of the Regiment.

With the Egyptian dissidents mostly cowed and the Security Forces very much in control Colonel Fitzpatrick had set about re-forming  'D' Squadron by diverting troops from the other three, and although internal security precautions were maintained with routine road blocks and anti-sabotage patrols, training now became the Regiments' first business, time was well filled too.

Having handed over their accommodation and their responsibilities to The Life Guards in Egypt in early 1954, The Royals' embarked once again in the Empire Ken, this time for home and leave straight off the boat.

For acknowledgements etc. please see: 'Dragoons and Grenadiers Supplement'.

Jock Marrs and Richard Wooller

One thing that stands out in both extracts is that during the time-frame mentioned, the Suez Canal Zone was perhaps one of the most dangerous places for any British Serviceman to be posted to, no matter what rank or unit. From the end of 1951 until 1954, terrorists trained by the Egyptian Army, and in most cases parading as policemen, deliberately went out of their way to maim and kill British servicemen and civilians.  Despite this danger and harassment the members of both these Regiments, and indeed all those servicemen serving in the Canal Zone, carried out their assigned duties in the best traditions of the British Armed Forces.

This Website apologises for having to reduce in length excerpts from both books describing Active Service of both Regiments. Lack of space and the tremendous amount of information regarding unit active engagements at the present time being worked on, limits the length of each historical report. From what we have gleaned from these two books we wouldn't hesitate recommending them to any ex member of either Regiment or to anyone else who is a Modern Military History buff.

Aye, Jock Marrs

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