Questions to Once A Marine.

[Nomad]

Some questions I have recieved through the Once A Marine Site, Which I thought this arena could provide some suitable first hand answers they are...

(1) Was there ever a medal issued for Aden - I cannot imagine any reason for not issuing a gong for the Aden tour - everywhere seemed
to be the sharp end - with the Radfan, Dhala ( at the top end ) being just as open to assault as Little Aden ( ' by the sea ' ). Not to mention where the sand got to !

(2) What is the ' Commando ' medal ?
In addition what is the criteria for allocation ?

[Mutley]

Nomad,

Early on in my career, I served with several who had Bars to GSM for all the 'events' you refer to (I think there were 2 for Aden & 1 Radfan).

Commando Medal is awarded to an officer or marine who displays (I seem to recall - continuously throughout training) an outstanding degree of :
Leadership
Unselfishness
Cheerfulness
Courage & Determination
High professional standards

It is a presentation medal, recorded on service docs but not worn as an award or decoration.

[Yorkie Malone]

Aden Yes there was and Aden Yes there was.

ADEN was issued as SOUTH ARABIA and covered the whole of the forces and the whole of the time. Don't off the top of my head know when it started (or clasps being isseud) but it finished in November 1967 with 42 Cdo doing the rearguard letting all others go them getting on either Albion or Bulwalk to sail back to Singas.

RADFAN is again a clasp which is acually worth a lot of money as so few were issued. There was only 45 Cdo a Para regt (don't know which one) and a few others who got the Radfan Clasp. It only lasted a short period of time.

The best book on the subjuct is Four Five

Note they were only CLASPS on the GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL Which is thin green, purple, thin green.

A further point is also a Dhofar clasp for Sultan of Oman when that was taking place.

[Mike]

Yorkie, are you sure they are valuable? I've got'em both!
wheres the nearest pornbroker?
Joking alone, I believe the "Radfan Bar" was issued to all and sundry who were in that theartre between the May 64 and Jan 65 ( I may be wrong on one of the dates)
hope that helps you Nomad.
And a pretty pair they are too!

[Pilgrim Norway]

OK You lot - who got mine ?

All that yomping - with sand in every crevice ....
' Sharp end ' everywhere
Up and down country - Dhala - Ab Dimna (where we lost some friends in
X Troop to mortar fire ) - Habilayn and all points North...
and no gong at the end of it !

Served in Recce 45 in Aden both ' 64 and '65 - (1964 & 1965 that is )-
not 18 hundred and something....

Left the Corps on my return to the UK.....December '65
Lived in Norway since...yomping snow.

So - Who got mine ?
'Aye

[Andy O'Pray]

There was an Aden bar to the NGS.

Alan, you should check into your entitlement to a Radfan bar. The first foray into the area was by the FRA in January 1964, X company was attached to them for about 3 weeks. 45 cdo first moved into the Radfan proper on the night of 30 April/1 May 1964. Attached were B coy 3 Para who were supposed to drop that night. En route we learned that the SAS had been compromised at the DZ leaving two killed. The Para drop was called off and B coy had to come in by foot. I will not go into the history as you can read that elsewhere.

Albeit 45 cdo moved out several weeks later, marines were involved in the area up to March 67, when 5 troop Y coy were operating around Cap Badge. I don't know when the cut off date for the Radfan bar was. I was in 45 cdo from June 63 to June 64, but did not receive my bar until 66, by which time I was back on my second tour which came under South Arabia.

Sorry to burst your bubble Yorkie, but it was only us thick jebel hoppers who thought that we were the chosen few to receive a Radfan bar. The support people down in Aden who were loading the supplies to be sent up country to us, also received a Radfan bar.

Yours aye.

Andy

[Andy O'Pray]

Correction. The bar on the NGS which covered duties in Aden was the Arabian Peninsula.

[Pilgrim Norway]

G'day Mutley .... " Early on in my career " ? ....Now I know I'm a relic....

Thanks all - very interesting topic this one - never gave it a thought until
I saw the exchanges on this page ... I've been in Norway since '66....

Andy, Good advice - I looked up ' Records ' and found that the correct title is :- RM Historical Records Office - so ... Mutley was right all the time !

OK - now we find out who really got mine - As quite a few cracks were
around at the time it does 'nt surprise me to have fallen by the wayside.
( I was a ski instructor in Scotland season of '66 )

' Nice to have ' still applies though so I shall make enquiries....
Best,