Radfan Campaign

Radfan Campaign
Part of Aden Emergency
Date14 October 1963[1]–May 1964
Location
Radfan
Result British victory[1]
Belligerents
NLF
FLOSY
Radfan tribesmen		 United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
Rajih Labouza †[1]
Ali Antar[1]		 Gen. John Cubbon
Units involved
Unknown  British Army
Royal Marines
Royal Air Force
Strength
Unknown 1,000+ troops
45 marines
Casualties and losses
4+ killed

The Radfan Campaign was a series of clashes that took place during the Aden Emergency from 14 October 1963[1]–May 1964. It took place in the mountainous Radfan region near the border with the Yemen Arab Republic. Local tribesmen connected with the NLF began raiding the road connecting Aden with the town of Dhale.

In January 1964, the local army sent three battalions supported by the RAF to restore order. Trouble flared up again, and in April, British ground troops were sent in; by May, they had taken the main rebel stronghold and the revolt had been suppressed. The NLF then switched its attention to Aden itself.[2]

The first British operation in January was known as "Nut cracker". The second one was "Cap Badge".[3]

Edwards patrol

The best-known action of the Campaign involved a patrol led by Captain Edwards on 29 April 1964, which came under attack. It led to the death of Edwards and another soldier, Sapper John Warburton.[4] They were beheaded and their heads displayed in the Yemeni Capital.[5][6][7]

British troops then attacked the area and succeeded in capturing rebel positions, although two more British soldiers were killed.[8][9]

The British went on to use tanks and jets in the fight.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Brehony 2013, p. 19.
  2. ^ Jim Keys, "Operation Stirling Castle", History Herald 21 November 2012 accessed 3 November 2013
  3. ^ "ADEN EMERGENCY PSYOP 1963-1967". Archived from the original on 2007-04-03.
  4. ^ Aden Insurgency: The Savage War in Yemen 1962-67 by Jonathan Walker, Pen and Sword, 2014 p 100-102 accessed 25 Feb 2015
  5. ^ "British Troops Flown To Aden". The Canberra Times. 4 May 1964. p. 1. Retrieved 8 November 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "U.S. Inquiries In 'Beheading'". The Canberra Times. 5 May 1964. p. 1. Retrieved 8 November 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "2 Soldiers' Beheading Confirmed". The Canberra Times. 16 May 1964. p. 5. Retrieved 8 November 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "BRITISH FORCES OVERRUN REBELS". The Canberra Times. 7 May 1964. p. 5. Retrieved 8 November 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "Britain Reinforcing Middle East Forces". The Canberra Times. 8 May 1964. p. 5. Retrieved 8 November 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "JETS, TANKS STRIKE IN ARABIA". The Canberra Times. 22 May 1964. p. 5. Retrieved 8 November 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
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