Summary of RE Construction 1893-1903
The following is a summary of Royal Engineer major building projects from 1 April 1893 to 31 March 1903. In some cases these projects may be useful to readers for dating photographs, including those on early postcards, the publication year of some of which were a number of years after the photograph was taken.
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In March 1903 projects under consideration were a railway from Steamer Point to Sheikh Othman and on into the Interior and a piped water supply for the cantonments in Crater and Steamer Point.
Two of the topics of particular interest were the railway and the laying of a telephone line all the way to Dthala. The latter will be covered in detail in a future article. As regards the railway, the proposal was for the line to follow the Wadi Tiban as opposed to being constructed alongside the ‘Dthala road’.
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In the period 1902-1905 the garrison at Dthala was quite considerable. In 1905 serious consideration was being given to opening a sanitarium on the Jebel Jihaf, at nearly 7,000 ft above sea level.
The Regimental Crest of 2nd Battalion South Wales Borderers on the main road to the Crater, Aden. The crest commemorates 2nd Battalion’s visits to Aden 1892-1893, and 1927-1929 (note it has been recently repainted by someone who does not know the regimental history!). The crest was originally painted by 3902559 Pioneer Sgt. Edward Kelly under the direction of Captain (Quartermaster) John Mellsop prior to the departure of the 2nd Battalion in January 1929.
The 1st Battalion were sent Aden during emergency of 1967. Today, the Crest is in good order and the only British one remaining. There is a suggestion that the sphinx has some mystical powers. Captain Mellsop was the son of 2-24/1613 Pte John Mellsop (served in the 1879 Zulu War) who fashioned the memorial to the 24th at Rorke's Drift, Natal.
