Battle of the Crater (Aden)

The Battle of the Crater or Operation Stirling Castle was an encounter during the Aden Emergency. Following the ambush of British troops by the Arab Armed Police the Crater district in Aden was abandoned by British troops. The British decided to enter the Crater and retrieve the bodies of British soldiers.[1]

Battle of the Crater
Part of Aden Emergency
Date July 1967 Location Aden, Aden Protectorate Result British victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom	NLF FLOSY
Commanders and leaders
Lt. Col. Colin Campbell Mitchell Maj. Ian Mackay Maj. Tony Shewan	Unknown
Units involved
45 Commando Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Queen's Dragoon Guards Royal Northumberland Fusiliers 60th Squadron, Royal Engineers 47th Light Artillery Regiment 15th Signal Regiment 60th Transport Squadron	unknown
Strength
unknown 1 helicopter	400
Casualties and losses
none	11 killed

The Battle

The operation began on 3 July 1967 under the name Operation Stirling Castle and resulted in the Crater being successfully reoccupied. Lt-Col Colin "Mad Mitch" Mitchell is reported to have ordered the regimental pipe band to march down the main street, whilst playing. The sound of the pipes and drums caused the insurgents to surrender. British troops remained there until the end of the Emergency.[2][3][4]

References

1. Wilson, Derek. "British troops grow bitter as anarchy spreads in Aden." Sunday Times [London, England] 2 July 1967: 6. The Sunday Times Digital Archive. Web. 18 Apr. 2014.
2. National Army Museum - Aden Exhibit Archived 2013-07-03 at WebCite accessed 3 November 2013
3. Jim Keys, "Operation Stirling Castle", History Herald 21 November 2012 accessed 3 November 2013
4. Humphry, Derek. "How Mitch's tactics fanned Aden row." Sunday Times [London, England] 21 July 1968: 3. The Sunday Times Digital Archive. Web. 18 Apr. 2014.

External links

• Operation Stirling Castle at Britains Small Wars
• The Aden Emergency at Remembering Scotland at War