RAF KHORMAKSAR
Here comes some views of Tarshyne Beach which was about the only place that we could have a swim in anything like reasonable safety. From a personal point of view, it was often too bloody hot to go near the beach but you could get a cold beer and a sandwich there.
The view facing west. Incidentally, one of my mates drank too many beers one day at Tarshyne and fell asleep in a deck chair for three hours. He was incinerated when he woke up and he swears that he shed 13 layers of skin in the process of a painful recovery.
I've borrowed a digital converter to use on a box of slides that I had believed long lost till recently. First up, if a bit dark, the Jungle Bar price list from the Officers' Mess:
Then, an approaching sandstorm one afternoon in June 1967:
Then, an approaching sandstorm one afternoon in June 1967:
On the left can be seen the anchor point and cable for the shark net. It was alleged that there were more holes in the shark net than there are holes in a Swiss cheese but I don't actually remember anyone being bitten.
Finally, here is a shot of Tarshyne from seaward. We were on our way back to the Marine Craft Unit at Khormaksar after a dinghy drill. I was never keen to get in the waters around Aden and I always reckoned that it was infinitely preferable to run from the RSL to the dinghy than it was to swim.
On the left can be seen the anchor point and cable for the shark net. It was alleged that there were more holes in the shark net than there are holes in a Swiss cheese but I don't actually remember anyone being bitten.
An older friend told me of the occasion at Tarshyne when he had cut his foot on some coral but manfully carried on going in and out of the water. Up to, but not including, the point when a small boy came up to him and said, "My mother says that you'd better
off out of the water." On being asked why, the small boy apparently replied, "Because my mother says that you'll attract all the bleeding sharks!"
Jack
An older friend told me of the occasion at Tarshyne when he had cut his foot on some coral but manfully carried on going in and out of the water. Up to, but not including, the point when a small boy came up to him and said, "My mother says that you'd better
off out of the water." On being asked why, the small boy apparently replied, "Because my mother says that you'll attract all the bleeding sharks!"Jack
I assume you chaps have already seen this vid, which might bring back a few memories. I post it in total ignorance, as always;
http://youtu.be/Ks-ymRuo_Z8
This offers some footage, no sound ;
http://youtu.be/D4DFyr-iRmE
Smudge
http://youtu.be/Ks-ymRuo_Z8
This offers some footage, no sound ;
http://youtu.be/D4DFyr-iRmE
Smudge
On the left can be seen the anchor point and cable for the shark net. It was alleged that there were more holes in the shark net than there are holes in a Swiss cheese but I don't actually remember anyone being bitten.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
I arrived in May '67, and I was told a woman had lost a leg to a shark a few weeks previously. I gave up on Tarshyne for two reasons. 1. I swam out to the shark net one day, with a face mask. The net only went down about three feet. 2. The bus, full of officers, took the same route at the same time every day. Not long after I stopped going, it was attacked. I believe the only casualty was the driver, who stopped a bullet somewhere not too serious. Could have been a lot worse.
Tarshyne
JW411
Thanks for the lovely pictures of Tarshyne.
I was at there in 1962/3 and when not flying would go on my air-conditioned Lambretta scooter to Tarshyne. For me it was wonderful to 'cool off' in the sea and meet my girlfriend there. Very evocative.
The shark net was taken out in the summer to prevent damage from the waves. When the waves were surfable I would spend hours trying to catch suitable waves from about 50 yds out along with 3 or 4 others. We saw fins once, they turned out to be dolphins, but it was a rapid swim towards the shore and involved a change of trunks. We were soon back in, working on the totally unproven theory that sharks don't like to swim in the surf, of course forgetting that our legs were dangling in the clear water beyond. In retrospect, it was a stupid thing to do and we were lucky to get away with it.
My only problem was wading out to sea and when at chest height, walked in to a Portuguese `Man of War. Intense pain, I could not see from the shock, and so put my back to the waves and headed for the shore and the hospital. The pain soon wore off, but I can see how different it could have been 50 yds further out.
Thanks for the lovely pictures of Tarshyne.
I was at there in 1962/3 and when not flying would go on my air-conditioned Lambretta scooter to Tarshyne. For me it was wonderful to 'cool off' in the sea and meet my girlfriend there. Very evocative.
The shark net was taken out in the summer to prevent damage from the waves. When the waves were surfable I would spend hours trying to catch suitable waves from about 50 yds out along with 3 or 4 others. We saw fins once, they turned out to be dolphins, but it was a rapid swim towards the shore and involved a change of trunks. We were soon back in, working on the totally unproven theory that sharks don't like to swim in the surf, of course forgetting that our legs were dangling in the clear water beyond. In retrospect, it was a stupid thing to do and we were lucky to get away with it.
My only problem was wading out to sea and when at chest height, walked in to a Portuguese `Man of War. Intense pain, I could not see from the shock, and so put my back to the waves and headed for the shore and the hospital. The pain soon wore off, but I can see how different it could have been 50 yds further out.
Last edited by DeanoP; 7th Nov 2015 at 23:19.
JW411 - I had a similar experience as your friend on Tarshyne beach after falling asleep after a 24 hour stint on duty. Fortunately someone woke me after about an hour but I was in agony for days. I have had an aversion to strong sunlight ever since and wouldnt give you tuppence for a two week holiday at Sharm el Sheikh!
ICM re your bar price list - I was telling someone recently that I used to buy 20 Rothmans for a shilling (5p) in Aden and they didnt believe me. There's the proof! I've just Googled the current price - £9.50 in Tescos! I make that a 19,000% increase.
ICM re your bar price list - I was telling someone recently that I used to buy 20 Rothmans for a shilling (5p) in Aden and they didnt believe me. There's the proof! I've just Googled the current price - £9.50 in Tescos! I make that a 19,000% increase.
ICM re your bar price list - I was telling someone recently that I used to buy 20 Rothmans for a shilling (5p) in Aden and they didnt believe me. There's the proof! I've just Googled the current price - £9.50 in Tescos! I make that a 19,000% increase.
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A great link, Smudge! I think it must have been filmed early in 1965 as when I got to Aden (actually Bir Fuqqum better known as Little Aden) later in the year the Belvederes had gone. No sign of the slit trenches at Dhala either.
Could I ask is Tarshyne, what we called 'Elephant Bay', we were there either 61/62 or 62/63 and the photos look familiar.
As an aside, I was at the open day with my dad who had gone from RAF Eastleigh to RAF Khormaksar with 8 Sqn and saw the accident of the 8 Squadron FGA.9 XE607 on 30 March, 1962, sad day all round.
As an aside, I was at the open day with my dad who had gone from RAF Eastleigh to RAF Khormaksar with 8 Sqn and saw the accident of the 8 Squadron FGA.9 XE607 on 30 March, 1962, sad day all round.
Thanks Dougie M, I remember now, it is another bay that had a net to keep the sharks out, and of course the rock formation is a give away really, felt a tad safer in the Lido with the metal fence around it.