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

In May 1967, HMS Victorious was coming to the end of the Far East foreign leg of a general service commission. We were looking forward to heading west from the Singapore area to rendezvous with HMS Hermes in the area of Gan.... read more.

The Dhofar - Oman - 1969-1976
Medal Ribbon

By July 1970, the province of Dhofar in western Oman was almost entirely in the hands of Communist-backed rebels belonging to the Popular Front for the Liberation of the Occupied Arabian Gulf (PFLOAG).... read more.

Last to leave - Palestine - 1945-1948
Medal Ribbon

At about 0400 hrs, on the 30th of June 1948, Z Day, the first of the rearguard units began to withdraw from Haifa dockyard, 2 company, 1st Coldstream Guards, through the No 10 gate, 2 company, Grenadier Guards, from No 1 gate... read more.

Medal Ribbon

The Background to the Korean conflict stretches back to the division of the korean peninsular at the end of World War Two.... read more.

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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.

The Marines in Korea - Korea - 1950-1957
Medal Ribbon

The Royal marines began their work in Korea, when, at the Request of the UN Naval Force Command, the Admiralty had called for volunteers, and Lt E.G.D.... read more.

Medal Ribbon

Eyewitness account of Private Edward Worley of the attack by the I.Z.L. (Igrun Zveie Leumi) on the Syrian Orphanage, Schneller, Jerusalem.... read more.

Medal Ribbon

At last, Korea began to loom over the horizon, and a very daunting sight it was - dark mysterious islands rising sheer from the sea with dark mountains stretching into the distant horizon.... read more.