Serving or Ex?                        Ex REME

What years did you serve?      1966 - 1994

Were did you serve?              All over, including a detachment to RAF Salalah Jan 69 - May 69

What was your favourite posting and why?        RAF Salalah 1969 - No Barber

Detached to Salalah from 1 Inf Workshop REME Sharjah.  Went down there to repair the floor boards of an RAF 10 Tonner.  The Station Fire Engine (a landrover) had been damaged by a mine and unable to motor,  Its` fire fighting kit was intact so they put it on the back of said 10 tonner.  The floorboards in the 10 tonner were rotten - hence my visit - yes they flew me down in an Argosy with floor boards just to fix it!

Anyway, the Postie [ Dave Gladwin ] down there was a grand man who went out of his way to look after me,  I was one of only 4 soldiers on the station at the tender age of 18.  Does anyone know who the postie was at that time?  This was early 1969 from Jan through to May (yes I took my time).   He may have been Airborne [ yes he was ] - not sure.

Cricket was played on a matted strip, 5 a-side soccer on the tennis courts, so we kept ourselves fit.   By invitation of the RE / DOE, we  could dine at the Indian Club, fantastic curries are well remembered as a large part of a well enjoyed brown-knees outpost.   We were looking forward to the Mess Christmas Draw, the local prevailing winds got up that week and finally subsided that very morning, leaving the outer mess accommodation several inches deep in “Dust” – many hands made light work and a great night was enjoyed by all.   Joe Brown and the bruvvers, complete with crumpet backing group, made a very welcome and brief appearance in May in the big hangar, no aircraft stayed on the ground for very long, between the rows of protective oil barrels.     Lt Col [later Brigadier / Controller PCS], Don London  flew in from Cyprus and carried out an FF 26 check of accounts, he had been my OC at Mill Hill for 3 years back in the 1960s.  Being in a permanent black-out state, all roads and paths were lined by white-painted stones to help guide walkers at night, safe transfer from the Wobbly Wheel all ranks club, or in our case Sgts Mess over to the Officers Mess can be and was - quite tricky, even in the moonlight!!   

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Those departing “ next month ” were dined out “ Maas Salaam ” during the previous month, so (along with several others) 8^th of June `72 was “ farewell ” for me.   The “Green Archer ” warning siren of possible attack, had been sounding on and off all day, those in the open would find their nearest bunker, those in a brick building – down on the floor against a wall, until the all-clear sounded.    Assuming planters order, starting traditionally with drinks at the bar, we had just finished our first course of soup – Green Archer!   Second course – Green Archer!   Sometime later three mortar rounds crashed very loudly onto the base, accompanied by violent blue / white flashes.   As a result of some injured servicemen being reported by the Press upon their repatriation firstly to Cyprus and then UK, RAF Salalah in Dhofar province was admitted by the MOD as being a “military scene”.   

With the FST (all RAMC during my tour) occupying the buildings to the side of the Sgts Mess accommodation, the starting of the genny for the cold store, indicated a death in our midst.   The Medic lads in the Mess were great company, when something happened - they were on call. “ Yimkin Airways” were subject to weather vagaries, “Any planes expected with mail today ? Yimkin (Maybe)”, off to the beach for a swim was cancelled when the aircraft was heard from wherever you were, back to work!

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Three of us (myself, Tony James & Harry Wylie) flew out together to Bahrain for a 9 month tour and on arrival at 261 PCCU ( OC Maj Gratwicke and 2 i/c Capt St Ruth - who was stationed at Sharjah) Tony James learnt that he was going to Masirah and Harry Wylie to Salalah.   I used to see them almost fortnightly - myself, Sgt Malcolm Hill and Sgt John Bailey used to share the routes which also included Majunga monthly and Kuwait frequently.  Muscat town occasionally.  The Bahrain – Sharjah - Masirah - Salalah - Masirah - Bahrain courier schedule was twice weekly, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The reason I recall travelling with Tony & Harry was that, although I was the senior Sgt by at least 10 months, Maj Dunkeld on our farewell interview (I staged at HPCCD from BAOR) took exception to the jacket I was wearing.   A lightweight three colour (american brand) three quarter check jacket with a zip up the front.  He said to me haven’t you got a proper jacket (the other two were dressed in suits!!)  I replied I thought this was suitable for flying in and he replied, he decided what was suitable, looked at Tony James and said you are I/C Party.    All of us had a good laugh about as we left the building!     I just about recall Sam McNally arriving in Bahrain as I was due to depart for BAOR where I met with Tony & Harry again.

Sultan Said bin Taimur was exiled to BRIGHTON after the rebels came into Salalah town and captured the palace and he flew with his entourage on a RAF Britannia from Masirah to UK,  after arriving at Masirah from Salalah on an Argosy.    I was a courier at Masirah [ July 1970 ] when the incident took place (from Bahrain). There were often incidents at Salalah  during 1970/71.  His son Quaboos bin Said  took over as Sultan, he had previously served as a Major in The Cameronians.

In 1974

the RE Det, was known as DOE Salalah with an RE Major (?), 2 Staff Sgts and five or six L/Cpls and Sprs. – the DOE also had a large Indian civilian artisan contingent of approx 100.

The RA unit was a Det of 94 Locating Regt RA (from Celle) with a Maj Det Cmdr, a WO2, four or five S/Sgts & Sgts etc.

SOAF had increased its helicopter flight to include Bell Hueys; quite a number as I can recall; the jets were Hawk trainers converted to operational role. (Similar to those that the Red Arrows used then).

The RAF Helicopter flight was there with 4 Sgts and a WO plus officer pilots.

Every day life was very much dictated by incoming flights for mail etc, there seemed  to be no formal pattern and when word went out, usually Radio 219 ‘flight incoming’ everybody required (including a postie) rounded up transport and went out to meet it and did what was necessary to sort and distribute the mail straight away, no matter what time!  

The RAF was predominant on the base, the leader being a Wing Commander Gilliat who was my boss in Salalah and very much a gentleman.  There was a Det of 94 Loc Regt RA commanded by a Major who also liked to think he was my boss!   Also the RAF Regt who manned the Hedgehogs.  A small group of RE’s led by a Clerk of Works WO2 and a few NCO’s  acted as a DOE unit and employed quite a number of Indian civilian labour and looked after the infrastructure of the base and all the energy facilities etc (including the important swimming pool).  Down the road in UAG (Camp) was based the SAS contingent;  also before I forget one of the most important units 55 FST RAMC. This unit was positioned just behind my Twynham living accommodation and could get very busy with helicopters if there was a push up in the Jebel.

During my time there 94 Loc Regt RA was withdrawn and went back to Celle in Germany.   It was at this time that I procured a set of wheels for the postal unit.  I was good friends with the QM of 94 Regt and as their vehicles were going to be desert dumped,  I demanded a ‘Gizit’ , a form of recognised trading of goods in Salalah.  I got the Land Rover albeit a bit battered, the RE lads serviced it and supplied the fuel and the post office bike was redundant.  No more waiting for a lift out to the aircraft pan!

The RAF Regt was also withdrawn. This was replaced (I say that loosely) by a contingent of the Iranian Army.  At that time the Shah was in power and everything they had was of American military origin and we thought the Yanks had invaded.  Among other things they took over camp perimeter security and it was not healthy to be loitering near the perimeter fence after dark!  The RA Regt procedure, after having a contact on the Thermal Radar system was to put up a Paralume and see what’s out there,  normally a dog or camel.  The Iranians would put out 2 or 3 mortar rounds and then see what they had got in the morning!!

I also saw the arrival of the first Hawker Hunter Jets given as a gift from the King of Jordan.  I think these were initially flown by Jordanian pilots and then by SOAF. 

On the whole, camp life in Salalah was pretty good, a very good social life in the mess and Wobbly Wheel Club. As the only other REs on the base beside the DOE contingent, we were granted membership of the Indian Club.  If you were into curry this membership was invaluable and a curry in their mess hall was a great way to start the weekend.  If we had a visiting officer from 275, for the price of a bottle of whisky, a curry would be laid on for several people.  

My tour of duty was only for four months (the new period of a tour) but the RAF was still doing nine which didn’t go down too well when somebody already there, could still be there when I left!!  Then again, Germany to the RAF was still an overseas tour so you cannot have it both ways. 

 I left Salalah in May 75 and look back on this ‘experience’ as one not to be missed and still talk about it today.

Having been a Gulf courier through Salalah weekly back in the 1960s from 261, then Chief Clerk of 275 at Cyprus earlier in the 70s, I finally arrived in January 1977 to actually do my tour.

It was very evident that the RAF were soon to depart.   The Mess dining out evening in March concluded with the erection of the Sgts Mess headstone, which Brian has a photo of.

An amusing moment occurred when some old rifles disappeared from the Mess walls, we were asked if any suspicious parcels had been handed in, we surrendered the same and they were once more put on display, all kept “within house” but an RAOC Sgt was never left alone again with brown paper and string!    To keep the accommodation for a few more months, all the remaining Cpls were offered rooms, a most unusual event.   Cash to bank became a chore, transfer now to the RE Field Sqn, thank goodness that we still had some independent transport.

I also recall a visit from a very large and hairy Camel Spider, somehow it got into my room, the FST captured and then preserved it.   I always made sure I had something rolled up, to close the gap at the bottom of my door, after that little scare!!

It was a bit of a tear jerker watching the last RAF Personnel leaving and the Hercules doing a low level fly past. The only regulars left behind were 2 Posties, 2 RAOC Butchers and the RAF FST. There was also half a Sqn of REs a couple of miles down the road.  

All the other non Omanis were either seconded on twice our pay, or contract soldiers (mercenaries) who were on four times our pay.

Although a ceasefire had been implemented, a couple of daily unclassified sitreps that I retained dated June 1977, indicate regular skirmishes.   With a distribution to 35 addressees, amongst them: 11 Fd Sqn RE, Bde Wksp, UAG Hosp, 55 FST, BATT (SAS of course) - indicates that a wide military presence beyond SOAF, remained there.  The second of these on the 9th June, noted 3 minor casualties and small arms damage of vehicles during the previous night.