Aqaba, Egypt

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Jim Costello's Memories

This panoramic view is made up from pics sent in by Maurice Taylor

Memories from Jim Costello re the panoramic view above

A treasure trove of memories have come flooding back. I suppose to us older sweats, especially the MMG lads, it's on par with Carter shining his torch into Tutankhamen's tomb. Well, maybe that's a bit over the top, but y'know what I mean. I think the panaromic view of Aquaba is fantastic.

Maurice, I assume you're standing in Sup Coy area and when filming starts the camera is pointing due East. If so, those distant tents would be Bn HQ and A Coy. The hills behind would be where RSM Price made the guardroom prisoners erect our regimental crest high up in the hills. These are the same hills where T.E.Lawrence camped before he led the attack on the Turkish forces in WW1. In the foreground, would that large tent be SP Coy HQ?

The camera then shows a distant open space which I think is the football field (see my photos) then into view comes the "out of bounds" village of Aqaba with Sup Coy tents in the foreground. Then as it pans due South, you catch a glimpse of the distant hills of Saudi Arabia, (the border is only about 25 miles from Aqaba) before the land dips into the Gulf of Aqaba.

The you pan across the Gulf where lurked a shark nick-named "Aqaba Joe", or so the myth went. Then the first distant land seen, is the Eastern coast of Egypt's Sinai desert. We get a fine view of the coast of the Sinai as it occupies most of the background until the Gulf ends.

In the foreground are Sup Coy tents. I can't remember what those two things that look like penny-farthing cycles were supposed to do. And just above that solitary motor bike, isn't that our little parade ground? I guess the next big tent is the dining tent and the first white building is the N.A.A.F.I. with memories of McCormick singing, "Daddy's Little Girl."

The far views are now of Palestine/Israel with Elat somewhere there. Are those distant tents the position of our forward Coy, C or D?

The last distant view leads to the start of the Jordan Valley, to Petra, Amman, Sodom, Masada and Bethlehem. Maurice, I don't know what you were standing on to get your height for the filming. The only thing I can think of is there was a bit of a tall steel structure near the ammo dump. Maybe it was that.

I really enjoyed your film. Fifty years just rolled back to another age with great memories. The bad ones, if any, have long been forgotten.

Where else in the world can you see four countries while standing in one spot.

Aqaba means four in old Arabic, or so I'm told. Maybe one of the Arabic speaking visitors to our site can verify that..

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Gun Boat Diplomacy

HMS Euryalus and others support 1LF in the Middle East 1951 - 1952

When 1 LF landed in Egypt in 1950 the Middle East was in turmoil. Amongst the many flash points the Egyptians were planning to abrogate the Suez Canal Treaty; the Iranians wanted to nationalize the Anglo Iranian oil fields and the Jews in their newly established state of Israel had designs on the deep water port of Aqaba to give them access to the Red Sea.

To safeguard British interests some 80000 service personnel were stationed in the Canal Zone and these had the backing of the Mediterranean fleet based in Malta.

The first ship to give us direct support was HMS Loch Lomond when she came to stay for three days in the Gulf of Aqaba where we had the sea on our left, the Jews to our front, the mountains behind and the waterless deserts of Jordan to our right. With no heavy weapons to support us it was important that the opposition knew that should they decide to invade the might of the Royal Navy was close at hand. She was a Frigate on patrol from her base in Malta. She had recently been taken out of mothballs and commissioned into the Med Fleet. Her visit not only showed the flag but also provided an enjoyable diversion for both the crew and our Battalion. We had many competitions; shooting, sports, film shows etc and of course all washed down with gallons of Stella.

God Bless the Andrew she stayed in the bay long enough to be repainted apparently they are not allowed to do this in Valletta harbor as it lowers the prestige of the Royal Navy

A few weeks later our very own HMS Euryalus a cruiser bristling with weapons paid us a visit. It was a great occasion to be reunited on Gallipoli Day with the direct successor of the ship that carried the Battalion to Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 for the Lancashire Landing. As all Lancashire Fusiliers know we have always maintained the closest association and friendship with Her Majesty's ships of that name in commission. The Commanding Officers bugler carries a Silver Bugle presented by the 5th HMS Euryalus and of course the Ship's Bell of the 4th HMS Euryalus is with the Battalion and is struck every half-hour between Reveille and Lights Out. The partying and sports went on for days whilst across the Danert wire our Jewish friends were once again reminded of the might of the Royal Navy

We next saw HMS Euryalus on the 12th July 1951 when she passed through the Suez Canal on her way South to relieve HMS Mauritius in the Shatt El Arab as the Persian situation was rapidly deteriorating. The Battalion turned out in force to wave to her as she passed down and we had two hours with then when she tied up to let the North bound convoy through. Bands playing and flags waving. It was a happy day. A week or so later A Coy HQ and a strong platoon flew from RAF Fayid to Basra and joined the ship they were to be the first ashore should the balloon go up. The rest of the Battalion's vehicles and weapons were also loaded on to aircraft at Fayid and ships in Suez.

The A Coy contingent were on board for Minden Day so the OC Major T P Shaw contacted the regimental contractor Shaab Din back in Egypt and ordered 100 roses for the Fusiliers to wear in their berets. Surprise, surprise when a bum boat approached the ship and was given permission to come alongside with roses for Major Shaw. He found himself to be the recipient of 100 bottles of Rose's Lime Juice which caused more than a few laughs that day. This event later featured in a Rose's Lime Juice advert.

Our last contact with HMS Euryalus was on 22nd September 1951 when she passed through the Canal heading for Turkey and back to Malta to prepare herself as an escort ship for the King and Queens visit to Australia. The A Coy contingent return by air from Basra

The last occasion I can remember that the Royal Navy came to our aid was at the height of the rioting in Ismailia. We all had a big surprise when HMS Chequers steamed into Lake Timsah and dropped anchor. I don't think there was a thing she could really have done at the time but amazing the effect on the morale of the local population was considerable. It really was great in those far off days to know we had a splendid Royal Navy who like ourselves were always ready for a scrap.

Maurice Taylor

From Joe Eastwood

I can throw a little light on the Abadan venture.
In July 1951, HMS Euryalus was sailing through the Suez Canal bound for Abadan to relieve HMS Mauritius.

Euryalus stopped for a short time at El Ballah which enabled a large party including the band from the 1st Bn LFs to travel in trucks on the 12th July to visit her.

During this time, The CO and the Captain discussed the possibility of a small party from the Bn reinforcing the Marines who were aboard at that time.

A few days later permission had been granted and at 1130 hrs Wednesday the 19th July 1951 a composite group commanded by Major T P Shaw (OC A Company )flew in Hastings aircraft from Fayid to Bahrein.

The party was 43 strong, including the whole of Number 3 Platoon A Coy commanded by 2nd Lt N H Leadsom.

They landed at Bahrein Island at 1800 hrs the same day and went by lorry to the Naval Barracks where they stayed the night.

The following day they marched to the jetty and boarded the Euryalus,sailing for Abadan at 1030 hrs the same day.

The A Coy contingent were on board for Minden Day so the OC Major T P Shaw contacted the regimental contractor Shaab Din back in Egypt and ordered 100 roses for the Fusiliers to wear in their berets. Surprise, surprise when a bum boat approached the ship and was given permission to come alongside with roses for Major Shaw. He found himself to be the recipient of 100 bottles of Rose's Lime Juice which caused more than a few laughs that day. This event later featured in a Rose's Lime Juice advert.

Two months later,on the 14th September 1951, having had the experience of a lifetime, the detachment returned to the BN, travelling by Landing craft to Harmaq ,then by lorry to Shaiba, before a final flight in 3 Valetta aircraft to Fayid.

These were the lucky people:-

Major T P Shaw,2nd Lt N H Leadsom, Sgt J Murphy,Cpls H Broadley,A Carr,K Haslam,T Howe,A Walmsley and H Wilson ( our Tug ) L/Cpls F Miller,R Miller, N Norris, R Pounder, H Rimmington. Fusiliers J Ainsworth,K Baxendale,A Benns, D Buckle, C Connerton, G Ellis, N Fitton, S Halliday, C Hillman, T Hobson, R Kay, J Keane, F Kennedy, J Mitten, R Moore, T Nyland, J Pugh, R Sayers, T Shackleton, F Starkey (Ringo Starr's Uncle )J Turner, W Walmsley, F Walters, H Burns.

Reinforced by:-

Cpl J Ball (our Johny Ball )L/CVpl ( Jock ) Callaghan, Fusiliers R Bill, J Byrne, L Clarke, J Clarkeson, E Peake, N Clarkeson, R Clynes, A Corbishley, K Diggle, J Foxall, G McFarlane, K Pickup.

Joe Eastwood 2nd Nov 2010