British Army in Aden | Crater Re-Taken | Lt. Colonel Colin "Mad Mitch" Mitchell | July 1967 

Colonel Mitchell, how we need men like you today.

The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders did a splendid job re-taking the Crater area of Aden but we should NEVER forget the reasons why they were called upon to do this job. The earlier regiment responsible for security was the Royal Northumberland Fusileers, the 'Geordies'. They had been ambushed in Crater, their bodies were mutilated and Crater was sealed off. Royal Marine snipers were positioned around the rim of the crater with orders to shoot anyone who tried to move. It took days before the Northumberland Regiments bodies could be extricated and placed into Chamber 13 of the Cold Store prior to burial in Cemetery Valley. I was one of the section responsible for this action. I could never have believed that one human being could inflict such horrendous suffering onto another human being such as those meted out to Major Moncur and otherrs. The only way this body was identified was by the label in his privately made army pattern boots. The sight of Major Moncurs' body has stayed with me from that day, and I am now aged 82. I write this as a dedication in rememberance of those other heroes, of the Royal Northumberland Fuslileers including their C.O Col. Blenkinsop who should never be forgotten.

Mitchell was a man of a different era.

Thank you for this video I am from aden . I saw my dead neighbor in this video major Mahmood aaish and I send this video to his family they thanking you very much

Lt Col Mitchell. A born and bred soldier with complete confidence in himself and his men.

As a learner of the English language, Mitchell's English is something that I would love to record on cd or any media to improve my listening comprehension and pronunciation skills. It sounds so articulate and sophisticated to my ears.

Mad Mitch was a short man, but every inch of him was a soldier.

I was an 8 year old kid and my younger brother was 3 at the time. My late father was a WO1 in the R.A.O.C at the time. Things got worse after this and we were all evacuated after a terrorist attack on the married quarters. I am 68 now but remember it like it was yesterday

I've met former soldiers who served under Lt.Col. Mitchell - apparently he was constrained by "unhelpful" politicans and more senior commanders who were "uncomfortable" with his robust and uncompromising approach to security operations etc. Seemingly what he said diplomatically in public and sanctioned in practice were far different. Notice that he wears the distinctive A&S.H. regimental capbadge rather than the then issued Highland Brigade version seen in the footage - that's a clear two finger salute to the establishment. No subsequent promotion as a result.

Also the Lancashire lads where with the Argyle regiment,I know that, my father was in the Lancashire regiment.

The world needs more of these fighting Scots🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

The Thin Red Line, great fighting men

Good community policing Argyll style

the gloves came off.

That man should've been awarded a Knighthood and promoted to Brigadier. In America we always recognize, award, and promote brilliant field leadershp. In the UK......the politicians and civil servants hike up their skirts and run.

I was there that day.

My dad fought in aden with the 1st battalion royal scots

Mad Mitch, Legend 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍

A great man

Love you Scots !

Dont forget the Jocks had a Company commander and other Jocks killed in the Ambush.They were a forward party who with some Northumberland Fusileers were were killed in an ambush by Arabs who were armed Police.

One day they sit at night looking at the moon, remembering their loved ones 😢🙏🌐🇮🇶🐦🐦

👍

. ARGYLL LAW. JOHN GALLAGHER

Great operations practice for northern Ireland

Shame on the Scotts for doing to others what the English did to them. They had no right to be there, calling natives terrorist when they were the ones doing the terrorising.

I am from Aden and I am one of the sons of those who fought you in Crater and I feel proud of that, our fathers bravely defended their homeland against you..

What were the British doing there in the first place. Doesn't look like Britain?

He described them as terrorists how funny the colonizer finds himself honest

What were we doing in someone else's country anyway? Oil and the Suez canal. That's always been the reason for our presence in the Middle East.

That was the time when men lived