The Dunn Family Arrives in Aden
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Arriving in Aden after a long journey, with my two children, we were both tired and excited. We were welcomed by an RAF Officer who came on the aircraft, after landing, he said, "Welcome to Aden, and you are welcome to it!" That should have told us something.
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The heat as we left the plane hit us like the heat from an oven, a change to when we left RAF Lyneham where we were held up while they de-iced the wings of the "Comet". Everyone met their husbands ,but we were left sat on our own, (I thought he's in for it when I see him) the same Officer who welcomed everyone came over to us, asked my husband's name, and put a message over the Tannoy.
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A worried-looking Ken finally arrived. He'd been earlier to meet the plane but was told it was going to be 2 hours overdue, so his friend who had given him a lift suggested going back to the Sgts. Mess to wait, and unknown to them the plane landed just short of an hour later.
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It was dark when we left for the short ride to Maalla, maybe it was just as well, as if I'd seen where we were going to live I might have gone straight back to England.
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On entering the block of flats, after practically stepping over a couple of goats in the entrance, we headed for the stairs, as our flat was on the second floor, the walls and stairs were old and grotty, but on entering the flat it was not too bad, old, but looked clean, with a balcony back and front. Ken told us not to look out the back until the next day, which made me curious, but as it was very late at night, we had a drink then we all went to bed.
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Next morning after a restless night we were woken up at some unearthly time by a loud wailing from a loud speaker. Janet and Colin, our children, 7yrs /5yrs scared out of their wits jumped into our bed. Turned out it was from the Mosquenext but one to the flats, when the prayers started. First thing I did of course was look out of the bedroom window, and wished I hadn't as we were level with the roofs of shacks opposite, across a narrow street, and a sort of eating place.
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On the flat tops of these buildings, makeshift beds, and Arabs just arising from sleep, filth and rubbish everywhere, goats and cows were wandering about, and to this day I can still see two little children , lying on the ground asleep in front of the "eating place" among all the dirt. Not to mention the beggars ....
I looked around, and thought, "how on earth are we going to live here?" On looking out from the front balcony, it overlooked Maalla high street, newer buildings on opposite side to us with shops underneath and good flats, which after breakfast we decided to have a look at. It was all very strange to us, and walking around in the oppressive heat it was very hard to believe it was Christmas Eve!!!
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After the Christmas holidays, the children went to their new school, mornings only they had the afternoons free. We spent most of our free time at the "Lido" in Steamer Point, swimming and sunbathing. It was where most of the Forces people in the area went to. We felt quite safe swimming in the sea, as a shark net was placed at a certain point in the water, so we had no worries on that score. At the far end of the bay, built on top of the rocks was where the Governor of Adenhad his house situated. It looked a beautiful house.
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Steamer Point was where the cruise ships docked, and at those times the local shops would be very busy with all the tourists. On such days prices were quickly increased.
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Living at Khormaksar in the married quarters was much nicer than living in Maalla, especially having air conditioning, as in Maalla we just had fans on the ceiling. One night we had a young chap come and baby-sit for us. After the children had gone to bed he turned the fan up higher to go faster, and almost got injured. A blade came loose and flew off, hitting the wall just above and behind his head. We came home to a very ashen- faced young lad.
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There were less 'crawlies' in the new flat, which we were pleased about, and none more so than little Colin. One morning in Maalla he was in the shower before going to school, and he liked to spread his fingers over the plughole and watch the water trickle through. Suddenly I heard him scream out. I ran into the bathroom and Colin was frozen to the spot, his hand over the plughole. He couldn't move. Two large feelers , were in between his fingers, then this very large brown cockroach, followed through. He was screaming again, and it sort of jumped around the bath. I got my 'flip flop' and was trying to hit it, and holding onto to Colin at the same time. Eventually I got it, and kept it to show Ken how big it was. Needless to say Colin never made it to school that morning.
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Ken worked on the Shackletons with 37 Squadron and sometimes had to go away with the aircraft. We didn't like being left on our own. The NAAFI shop was quite good and sold most things we needed. Traveling on the local buses was an education, old and rickety, no glass in windows; just as well as they were always packed and it would have been very smelly to say the least.
The camp cinema was open air, which was nice and if the film was boring as I could count the stars in the sky. Films changed twice a week, and we went most nights. The kids loved going with us.
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After being in Aden a year we went on a holiday to Mombasa, through the RAF, and stayed at "Nyali Beach" in a little "Banda" hut, palm leaves as a roof, across which wire netting was placed, inside to stop any monkeys and such from getting in. From behind the curtain one day a funny rattling noise could be heard. I thought it was a rattle snake. Ken gingerly moved the curtain and this huge thing flew at him hitting his chest. Janet and I were outside before we even knew we had got through the door, followed by Colin. Then Ken came out looking quite pale. The 'thing' was on the floor, ken had managed to kill it. It had great bulging eyes, quite horrible. [sounds like my mother-in-law!].
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I myself had a nasty encounter with giant ants. I was crossing the grass and felt my feet stinging. I thought I'd stood on nettles but after sitting down on a seat I saw my feet were covered in big ants, and they were clinging on to my toes and biting. They had to be pulled off me, one by one. It was awful. Still, we had a wonderful fortnight.
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Leaving Mombasa, we then arrived back at Aden to be met by an armed guard who escorted everyone off the plane to the awaiting bus to take us to Khormaksar. The bus had an armed guard; we didn't know what it was all about, but while we had been away trouble had broken out and fighting had started, which meant we had to be very careful now wherever we went.
Landrovers patrolled the married quarters day and night and guards were posted at the entrance. Ken was an armourer which meant he went with the 37 Sqn Shackletons when they went up the hills firing on the dissidents where they were hiding out.
The next few months of our tour weren't as enjoyable as we were very wary whenever we left the married quarters, especially at night if we went to the cinema, as at one point we had to walk near the main road for a short stretch and there was always the fear of a hand grenade thrown out of a passing car.
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The second Christmas we were there the M.O.'s daughter arrived from boarding school and a party was arranged for her. She had been standing next to the drinks trolley when a grenade was thrown through a sky light window and she was killed by the flying glass.
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When Ken was away for a few days I took the children to the camp cinema. Half way through the film a message came on screen for all personnel to report, and everyone told to leave the cinema. We heard that there had been an explosion in the cinema at the nearby Army Barracks. We were terrified then of going home so I asked a chap with his young son if we could walk home with them. We didn't feel safe till we were back in our flat.
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The time came for our tour to end, and excited yet a bit sad to be leaving Aden, we boarded the aircraft for England looking forward to seeing our families again. Our next posting was to be RAF Kinloss in Scotland. ~ Hazel Dunn