Battle of Crater

The Battle of Crater, also known by the British as Operation Stirling Castle, was a battle that took place in July 1967 during the Aden Emergency. After the mutiny of the Arab Armed Police and ambush of British troops by them, the Crater district in Aden was abandoned by British troops. The British then decided to enter Crater and retrieve the bodies of dead British soldiers.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.

The battle The operation began on 3 July 1967 with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders commanded by Lt-Col Colin Mitchell ("Mad Mitch") performing a night invasion of Crater, which he termed Operation Stirling Castle, after the Argylls’ regimental headquarters. The enemy was taken totally by surprise, and effective resistance ceased.National Army Museum – Aden Exhibit accessed 3 November 2013Jim Keys, "Operation Stirling Castle", History Herald 21 November 2012 accessed 3 November 2013Humphry, Derek. "How Mitch's tactics fanned Aden row." Sunday Times [London] 21 July 1968: 3. The Sunday Times Digital Archive. Web. 18 Apr. 2014. A particular sign of Mitchell’s confidence was his decision to order the pipe band to march down the main street of Crater, playing regimental tunes, for which the Pipe major was mentioned in despatches.Having Been a Soldier by Lt. Col. Colin Mitchell, (Hamish Hamilton, 1969), Chapter 11, pp. 179, 183. British troops remained in Crater until the end of the Emergency.

References

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