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 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.

Argylls in Korea - Korea - 1950-1957
Medal Ribbon

From 1949, the Argylls were stationed in Hong Kong. In June 1950, I was lucky enough, along with two other Argylls, to have our names drawn from a hat to sail with the Navy to Kure...... read more.

Medal Ribbon

Having left Berlin at the end of the tour, my first posting and where I joined the East Anglian Brigade in 1965. Posted back to the U.K. to Tidworth, which I found pretty boring, I was very excited a few months later to be off to see some action in Aden.... read more.

RAF Flying in Oman - Oman - 1969-1976
Medal Ribbon

he main RAF base in Oman was Salalah, a heavily defended, packed sand air strip from which Skymasters and Skyvans operated under the guardianship of RAF Regiment gunners in defensive positions called hedgehogs.... read more.

Op Granby - Gulf War - 1990-1991
Medal Ribbon

During Operation Granby, (AKA Desert Storm), the Support helicopter force, middle East, (SHFME), comprised Chinooks and Pumas of the RAF, Ground attack lynx and Gazelle of the AAC and twelve Seakings of the Royal Navy made into two 6 helicopter squadrons, 845 and 848, (846 was on the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship, Argus sailing in the Arabian Gulf as a hospital ship).... read more.

Medal Ribbon

It's May 1967 and I'm 18 years old and serving in 16 Squadron, RAF Regiment, patrolling around Aden from RAF Khormaksar. The Flight Commander asked for volunteers to go on detachment 'up country' and seeing as there were over a hundred incidents a day in Aden... read more.

Medal Ribbon

When the Cabinet mission arrived in Delhi in March, it had three members, Cripps, A.V. Alexander and Pethick-Lawrence.... 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.