RAF KHORMAKSAR
KHORMAKSAR IN 1951
Herod, the shopping area you visited with your mother was the Crescent in Steamer Point, pictured above. In faroff days before air travel the liners and troopers would anchor in the inner harbour and passengers/tourists would go ashore by launch. Along the arcade on the right are the big shops of Cowasjee Dinshaw and Shilay Yehuda.
I've just found this very interesting thread and can offer a few more pictures of Aden/Khormaksar where my father was stationed in 1951/52. They have been posted before, but Photobucket demands $400 a year for hosting so I'm gradually reposting them. Aden was an unforgettable experience for a small boy, even though he had been to India already.
Like all Service families our journey began 12 weeks ahead with the inoculation parade. The queue of National Servicemen stretched all the way round RAF Binbrook’s SSQ, waiting for the jabs for yellow fever, smallpox, tetanus and the dreaded TABC, a cocktail against typhoid and typhus which laid out mother and myself with flu-like symptoms which lasted a week. On the previous day the medical orderlies were busy sterilising their big glass syringes and sharpening their needles on whetstones, for use-once needles hadn't been thought of yet.
The aerial photo was taken overhead the Officers' Married Quarters which were on the opposite side of the Sheikothman Road from us hoi polloi. The Kids were dissuaded from entering therein for reasons we could not understand, though looking back perhaps young Graham's insertion of Qty 4, Locust size 4", via the window of OMQ No. 27, Adjutant and Lady for the habitation of, might have had something to do with it.
Last edited by Geriaviator; 7th Oct 2017 at 16:42. Reason: add photo
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The "Native Compound" became the 69 Club, I lived in one of the low huts marked as NAAFI, there was a NAAFI shop between the Guards accomodation and teh barrack blocks though, isn't that the paper shop at bottom center ?, I was there in 62-64 so hasn't change much. Paul H 105 Sqn.
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Love the camel drawn vehicle in the photo. Anyone remember the Salim Ali Abdou Little Aden Bus Company? It needed to be a full length vehicle to get the full company name on!
The 69 club was much better than the NAFFI!!Great steaks!Incidentally for those not familier with the place the 69 club ,69 refers to B.F.P.O. 69 !!!!
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I arrived at RAF Khormaksar in March 1965 on a direct flight from Gatwick Airport. I believe the aircraft was a British United (?) Britannia. As an SAC Airframe Mechanic with absolutely no helicopter experience I was naturally assigned the Rotary Wing Support Section (or whatever it was called) and found myself taking care of a couple of bright yellow Whirlwinds and a handful of silver and white Belvederes. A little later, these were joined with a squadron of Wessex in European camouflage colours. They had been shipped-in on either HMS Albion or HMS Bulwark (I can never remember which).
I found the daily routine interesting and learned a lot by working on three different helicopter types simultaneously. But my off-duty times were also very interesting, I enjoyed exploring Aden (except Crater which was out-of-bounds to us) and found many interesting places. One location in particular still brings back happy memories. It was a small hotel in The Crescent (if I remember correctly) which had a small roof-top bar that was decorated in such a way that it wouldn't be out of place in an old Humphrey Bogart movie (think Rick's Bar on a smaller scale). Clearly it wasn't well known as there was never more than two or three customers present. But boy, did they make a fresh lime drink that was do die for.
On the camp I got a job as a part-time waiter at the Sergeants Mess, usually for bigger functions, and I would turn-up with my long black trousers, pristine white shirt and cummerbund in RAF-colours. The job was up-paid but of course that was immaterial as the tips more than made up for it. Plus it was something to do to stave-off the boredom and boozing that was so common.
Then someone found out that I was a baby-sitter on my previous station and that opened-up another way to beat the rather hum-drum social life. Baby-sitting is a great way to pass the time and earn some pocket money.
Towards the end of 1965 we learned that the Belvederes were to be transferred to 66 Squadron at RAF Seletar in Singapore. In due time they were flown on to either HMS Albion or HMS Bulwark (I can never remember which) and together with some ground-crew, set sail for Singapore. The remainder of the ground crew, myself included, flew to Singapore via Manama, Bahrain (Hastings to Manama then Comet to Changi).
A week or so prior to the Belvederes leaving Khormaksar, a handful of Wessex from 848 NAS arrived at our dispersal, but I really don't know their task or how long they stayed.
Looking back at my time at RAF Khormaksar I believe I rather enjoyed it, I found things to do that kept me from lying on my bed all day - as many did - and saw different aspects of daily life in this large base, and in Aden as a whole, that others hardly knew about.
I found the daily routine interesting and learned a lot by working on three different helicopter types simultaneously. But my off-duty times were also very interesting, I enjoyed exploring Aden (except Crater which was out-of-bounds to us) and found many interesting places. One location in particular still brings back happy memories. It was a small hotel in The Crescent (if I remember correctly) which had a small roof-top bar that was decorated in such a way that it wouldn't be out of place in an old Humphrey Bogart movie (think Rick's Bar on a smaller scale). Clearly it wasn't well known as there was never more than two or three customers present. But boy, did they make a fresh lime drink that was do die for.
On the camp I got a job as a part-time waiter at the Sergeants Mess, usually for bigger functions, and I would turn-up with my long black trousers, pristine white shirt and cummerbund in RAF-colours. The job was up-paid but of course that was immaterial as the tips more than made up for it. Plus it was something to do to stave-off the boredom and boozing that was so common.
Then someone found out that I was a baby-sitter on my previous station and that opened-up another way to beat the rather hum-drum social life. Baby-sitting is a great way to pass the time and earn some pocket money.
Towards the end of 1965 we learned that the Belvederes were to be transferred to 66 Squadron at RAF Seletar in Singapore. In due time they were flown on to either HMS Albion or HMS Bulwark (I can never remember which) and together with some ground-crew, set sail for Singapore. The remainder of the ground crew, myself included, flew to Singapore via Manama, Bahrain (Hastings to Manama then Comet to Changi).
A week or so prior to the Belvederes leaving Khormaksar, a handful of Wessex from 848 NAS arrived at our dispersal, but I really don't know their task or how long they stayed.
Looking back at my time at RAF Khormaksar I believe I rather enjoyed it, I found things to do that kept me from lying on my bed all day - as many did - and saw different aspects of daily life in this large base, and in Aden as a whole, that others hardly knew about.
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Guess the roof top terrace and bar was on top of the Rock Hotel, shirts and ties, supposedly out of bounds to airmen, oh no it wasn't !.
Saint Jack I remember that hotel in The Crescent well and although I don't ever recollect visiting the rooftop bar I agree the fresh lime squash was amazing!
I relented and watched the first episode of The Last Post on catch-up and continued with tonight's episode. Thus weeks puzzler was one of the NCOs ringing home from Aden to speak to his dad in Scotland. In 1965? I don't think so!
(I mean, did they have phones in Scotland in 1965?
)
I relented and watched the first episode of The Last Post on catch-up and continued with tonight's episode. Thus weeks puzzler was one of the NCOs ringing home from Aden to speak to his dad in Scotland. In 1965? I don't think so!
(I mean, did they have phones in Scotland in 1965?
)
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
TTN.
I think people have forgotten what it used to be like back in the sixties/seventies. I've not watched last night's episode yet, so can't comment on that. I never tried calling from Khormaksar back in '67, but I suspect it would be close to impossible, and would probably need authorisation from on high.
In 1974 I was stopping over in Townsville, Queensland, with a Hercules, and wanted to ring my wife back in UK. After contacting the "international operator", it was a wait of nearly thirty minutes before the call was connected.
I think people have forgotten what it used to be like back in the sixties/seventies. I've not watched last night's episode yet, so can't comment on that. I never tried calling from Khormaksar back in '67, but I suspect it would be close to impossible, and would probably need authorisation from on high.
In 1974 I was stopping over in Townsville, Queensland, with a Hercules, and wanted to ring my wife back in UK. After contacting the "international operator", it was a wait of nearly thirty minutes before the call was connected.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
On medals, he would not have qualified for the post 1962 GSM as he had only just arrived in theatre. TTN should remember at what point you were qualified and could thus put up the ribbon.
I stayed at the Rock Hotel in April 1958 when I was on Hastings, shuttling the Para Regiment from Nairobi to Aden, then we returned to Lyneham via Bahrain and Nicosia. These photos were taken from the balcony off my room.
Last edited by brakedwell; 9th Oct 2017 at 08:45.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Shot in South Africa explains one missing feature; the unrelenting heat. Those lily white bodies would have been baby pink in a few hours, everyone, not just the Sgt in episode 2, would have been drenched in sweat. The officers' uniforms would have been board stiff from starch.
Sunglasses would probably have been far more in evidence. The BP man in a shirt, tie and trousers would have been dressed colonial style not in evening rig. He would have been in KD shorts, long white socks, desert boots and a shirt. The latter probably white and short sleeved and maybe with a tie but more likely not.
Only there for one week in September but we would retreat to the Merryfield air con at the first opportunity and then neck down a couple of pints of squash. The groundcrew and eng offs were billeted in the Red Sea Hotel.
Down the pools at Tarshine (sic?) beach we needed flip flops to walk on the concrete pool surround. The intensity of the sun meant I could only swim in that part of one of the pools shaded with the brushwood umbrellas.
I recall many 'locals' would sleep on the verandas of the blocks and not indoors. The beautifully equipped barrack room in episode 2 was ott appearing to have a carpet and blankets on the beds.
PS:
Where would they have got that much ice to fill a bucket in 1960s?
PPS:
Who would trust an officer with a machine gun?
Sunglasses would probably have been far more in evidence. The BP man in a shirt, tie and trousers would have been dressed colonial style not in evening rig. He would have been in KD shorts, long white socks, desert boots and a shirt. The latter probably white and short sleeved and maybe with a tie but more likely not.
Only there for one week in September but we would retreat to the Merryfield air con at the first opportunity and then neck down a couple of pints of squash. The groundcrew and eng offs were billeted in the Red Sea Hotel.
Down the pools at Tarshine (sic?) beach we needed flip flops to walk on the concrete pool surround. The intensity of the sun meant I could only swim in that part of one of the pools shaded with the brushwood umbrellas.
I recall many 'locals' would sleep on the verandas of the blocks and not indoors. The beautifully equipped barrack room in episode 2 was ott appearing to have a carpet and blankets on the beds.
PS:
Where would they have got that much ice to fill a bucket in 1960s?
PPS:
Who would trust an officer with a machine gun?
Last edited by Pontius Navigator; 9th Oct 2017 at 10:39.
ISTR most of the wives made their own cotton dresses on bargain priced Brothers sewing machines purchased in the Crescent. Some looked good in them, a lot of them did not 
Episode 2 was over the top. I doubt the RMP would have been involved with an operation like that and I suspect air cover would have been standing by. Unless of course 8 Squadron were having a piss up in the Jungle Bar
Episode 2 was over the top. I doubt the RMP would have been involved with an operation like that and I suspect air cover would have been standing by. Unless of course 8 Squadron were having a piss up in the Jungle Bar
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Bedbugs.......!!
I was at Steamer Point living in the block on the hill with the longest walk back (and up!) from the airman's mess. I moved out of the rooms in this non air conditioned block on to the veranda to escape the bed bugs in the rooms. Horrendous bed bugs inside the rooms but none outside. The veranda was perfect. We had bed bugs despite the Middle East Pest Control Unit being only 100 yds down the road from the block!!
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Bedbugs.......!!
I was at Steamer Point 65/67 living in the block on the hill with the longest walk back (and up!) from the airman's mess. I moved out of the rooms in this non air conditioned block on to the veranda to escape the bed bugs! Horrendous bed bugs inside the rooms but none outside. The veranda was perfect. We had bed bugs despite the Middle East Pest Control Unit being only 100 yds down the road from the block!!
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Dundiggin, you can say that again 
I also recall seeing a fair number of officers who went native (PC?) and wore sarongs or whatever rather than PJs.
I also recall seeing a fair number of officers who went native (PC?) and wore sarongs or whatever rather than PJs.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
brakedwell, and doing the insertion in full daylight. I don't know what they did in those days but surely a night time insertion, layup, dawn recce to ensure they had the right target. I missed the point of having a 'stranger' RMP Sgt in the party.
Phone calls home when we were there in 1952 were virtually unheard of, would have cost a week's wages and had to be booked a week or so in advance, even then could take an hour or two to set up. Families used telegrams, welcome if a happy event was expected, dreaded when unexpected as it was usually bad news.
The Last Post gives a good idea of up-country Aden though no way would the Services have taken a civvy on patrol, still less a woman. A real-life patrol is pictured above; imagine the heat in the cab of the Bedford QL, with its engine between the seats. (As a 10-year-old in those innocent Fifties, Geriaviator cannot comment on the authenticity of the bedroom manoeuvres. All the mummies and daddies I knew were too exhausted for such gymnastics, though on second thoughts ...)
Khormaksar was normally quiet in the sweltering afternoons, adults taking to their charpoys, we Kids plotting mayhem around the swimming pool a mile away on the east of the airfield. Except for the afternoon when P/Off Gurd flew his Brigand between the group of three airmen's barrack blocks shown on the aerial pic above. The twin-Centaurus thunder awoke the Patch and most of Maala as well, while one of my father's airmen on the third floor said he had looked down on the top of the Brigand. We Kids thought it was terrific, the OC did not, and Dad said afterwards that the offending P/O had a further eight months added to his Aden posting. This was reckoned to be worse than the Glasshouse.
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Just finished watching Episode 1 on iPlayer ... I have no idea about the accuracy of the portrayal, but it certainly gives me a sensation of not wanting to be posted there back then. Singapore was much nicer.
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PN
"Trusting an officer with a machine gun". As Junior Officer of the Guard I was bo**ocked on my first duty for not wearing the "pin on" GSM on week one. Depending on currency one was offered the choice between the trusty rusty .38 revolver or the Sterling SMG. Being alone at night in an open top landie with a mesh cage over the top when checking the sangars out on the Sheikh Othman perimeter it was the Sterling every time.
"Trusting an officer with a machine gun". As Junior Officer of the Guard I was bo**ocked on my first duty for not wearing the "pin on" GSM on week one. Depending on currency one was offered the choice between the trusty rusty .38 revolver or the Sterling SMG. Being alone at night in an open top landie with a mesh cage over the top when checking the sangars out on the Sheikh Othman perimeter it was the Sterling every time.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
And probably MUCH more dangerous - Bughis Street!
I remember the shops down towards Steamer Point all with Union Jacks, British names, English welcome etc to get the cruise ship trade. And up at Crater doing their level best to kill you.
I remember one instance, reported in the UK press,when the soldiers were only allowed out when carrying their personal weapon. One squad in the paras had been challenged and responded that the 2 inch mortar was his personal weapon and he could fire it from the hip. It said they had no troubles in Crater.
Then there was the Battle of Crater:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Mitchell
Mitchell would have been of the same vintage as the RMP Major. The latter w
could most likely have seen war service and had rather more medals that he originally sported.
I remember the shops down towards Steamer Point all with Union Jacks, British names, English welcome etc to get the cruise ship trade. And up at Crater doing their level best to kill you.
I remember one instance, reported in the UK press,when the soldiers were only allowed out when carrying their personal weapon. One squad in the paras had been challenged and responded that the 2 inch mortar was his personal weapon and he could fire it from the hip. It said they had no troubles in Crater.
Then there was the Battle of Crater:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Mitchell
Mitchell would have been of the same vintage as the RMP Major. The latter w
could most likely have seen war service and had rather more medals that he originally sported.