Description
Object description
British officer served with 5th Bn Malay Regt in Federation of Malaya, 1952-1955; commanded Dhofar Bde, Sultan of Oman's Armed Forces in Oman, 1974-1977
Content description
REEL 1 Background in GB, 1930-1947: family; education. Aspects of enlistment and training with British Army in GB, 1947-1952: joining British Army, 1947; nature of training; opinion of British Army recruits and British Army, 1989; period as officer cadet with Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Camberley, 1948-1949; joining 1st Bn Northamptonshire Regt, 1949; training exercises; volunteering for secondment to Malay Regt. Recollections of operations as officer with 5th Bn Malay Regt in Federation of Malaya, 1952-1955: joining battalion, 8/1952; opinion of General Gerald Templer and Briggs' Plan resettlement programme; character of General Gerald Templer; opinion of Malay Regiment and Malay troops.
REEL 2 Continues: training Malay troops; how British personnel adjusted to Islam and Ramadan in Federation of Malaya and later Oman; question of Royal Air Force Avro Lincoln bombers missing insurgent targets; competition between different regiments and nationalities in Federation of Malaya: lack of contact with insurgents; opinion of Malay troops as fighting troops; accidental discharge of weapons; fan patroling; period as intelligence officer; use of local people and services in campaign; lessons learned from campaign. Recollections of operations commanding Dhofar Bde, Sultan of Oman's Armed Forces in Oman, 1974-1977: taking over command.
REEL 3 Continues: opinion of General Timothy Creasey; instructions for operations; historical background of Oman and the situation on arrival n 1974; restrictions on media covering the rebellion; organisation of Sultan of Oman's Armed Forces; role commanding Dhofar Bde; opinion of Jordanian forces; air force and naval command; opinion of local Firqas troops; opinion of Special Air Service; disagreements about running operations; opinion of Iranian units.
REEL 4 Continues: use of locals Dhofaris to recapture areas; importance of water; operations to recapture tribal areas; opinion of Firqas in battle; failure of action and subsequent low morale; plans for final assault, 10/1975; opinion of the benefit of the success of final assault.
REEL 5 Continues: opinion of General Timothy Creasey's running of the campaign; opinion of the rebellion.