Description
Object description
British officer served with 22nd Special Air Service Regt in Dhofar, Oman, 1971-1972
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of period as officer with Special Air Service in GB, 1969-1971: background to and reasons for enlistment in British Army, 1965; initial disappointment at military service; reasons for joining Special Air Service; image of Special Air Service; initial training exercise, 1/1969; pattern of training and interrogation exercises; character of regiment; use of officers' first names; attitude of unit personnel towards officers and question of respect; coping with use of live firing in training; giving orders under fire. Recollections of operations as officer with 22nd Special Air Service Regt in Dhofar Province, Oman, 1971-1972: reaction to initial experience of being under fire; question of mistakes made under fire.
REEL 2 Continues: arrival in Oman, 4/1971; pattern of service in Oman; description of Oman and Dhofar Province; character of Adoo and situation in Oman; influence of Vietnam War on conflict; aim to win hearts and minds; reasons for presence in Oman; opinion of and training of local Surrendered Enemy Personnel; attitude to working with Firqas; problems of operating with Firqas; language difficulties; uniform worn; aim of operations in Jebel.
REEL 3 Continues: conditions in Jebel; effect of war on local villages; character of Operation Jaguar, 10/1971; nature of contact with main force of insurgents during Operation Jaguar, 10/1971; difficulty observing insurgents; wounding and continuing with action; evacuation by helicopter and hospitalisation; question of nature of courage; opinion of insurgents; camaraderie in unit.
REEL 4 Continues: skills available in unit; degree of danger; question of risk taking; question of image of Special Air Service to insurgents; opinion of use of Special Air Service in Northern Ireland; attitude to having to return to 4th Bn Royal Anglian Regt at end of tour; attitude to serving with Special Air Service in Oman; work in Oman after end of war from 1975.