Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry
Halfway through the afternoon another Troop arrived in support and climbed onto a ridge opposite the fort. Things started to get interesting then as some enemy had, by this time, got up onto some high ground on the far side. They were bringing accurate fire on to the ridge and the wadi below. The Vickers was of no effect as the enemy were tucked in to dead ground.
Soon the newly arrived patrol was trying to respond to accurate fire zipping past. At this long range the Tribesman’s rifle of choice, the Lee Enfield, was better suited with longer range sights. The Hunters were gone away but the day had yet to run its course.
Darkness came before the enemy could gain the higher ground. The supporting troop departed and the two sections of the ambush patrol started to reform. They had been lucky so far. Sgt Paterson had kept his section intact in extremely difficult circumstances. They were joined by the section from the fort and after a very short planning discussion it was decided there was little chance of finding bodies on such a dark night, stumbling around the enemy’s back yard was not an option. The enemy were there in greater numbers than the initial briefing had indicated. The patrol had sprung a successful ambush killing two and probably a third and hit a fourth.
Sergeant Paterson’s view was “Quit while ahead” and thanks to his quick decision-making his section took no casualties. It was time to go home. It was set to be a long night. Few of the patrol had eaten in 24 hours and there was about 2,000 feet of very steep rock and shale ahead of them. The Patrol got back in to their base as dawn broke the next morning.
Sergeant Paterson was recommended for Military Medal for his leadership and decision making in these two actions. This was subsequently awarded.’
David Young’s Four Five The story of 45 Commando Royal Marines 1943-1971 adds the following additional details on the Wadi Aimaan action:
‘No account of this patrolling phase in the Radfan would be complete without the story of 1 Troop in the Wadi Aimaan. The operation, near the end of the Commando’s third tour, shows first class ambushing techniques plus the determined efforts of the dissidents to pin our men down in the lower ground. The Troop was under the command of Support Company on the Jebel Widina and on the night of 24 July descended into the Wadi Aimaan to lay an ambush - in conjunction with Five Troop... The patrol commander continues with his recollections:
‘It was pitch black as we descended to the wadi floor and I had to call up Company Headquarters to fire a starshell so that we could identify the house we were heading for near the ambush position. I had two sections with me and we waited patiently until dawn. We had been told to expect two dissidents in the area and at nine o’clock on the morning of the 26th one enemy came into the killing ground moving rather suspiciously, I thought he might be acting as a decoy. Then another armed man appeared, I wasn’t sure if there were more to come but decided to open fire as we had at least two “in the bag”. Marine I. E. Deakins, with a sniper’s rifle hit one at a range of over 300 yards, and the GPMG teams killed the other who was dashing to cover. Two more dissidents appeared on the scene and we injured one of them. I sent a sitrep back on the radio and was ordered to give chase after the wounded man. I left one section back in the building and moved forward with Sgt. Patterson’s [sic] group. We picked our way very slowly downhill as we were in our own killing ground. After we had gone about 400 yards another group of dissidents opened up with a Bren gun from higher ground. We dashed for what cover we could find, but as we were out in the open I decided we should move back a bit and seek the rather sparse protection of a nearby cornfield. For some time the twelve of us lay amongst the corn whilst the enemy bullets ploughed into the crops around us and I then ordered Sgt. Patterson [sic] to make a break and take half the group back to our original building. Fire increased and they were pinned down behind a small tree and boulder where they had a long and uncomfortable wait until darkness. I took the other Marines up a steep cliff and got out of the firing zone. The radio then packed up on us but at midday we were joined by the Recce Troop who had been flown in. We stayed on this cliff all afternoon and at about four-thirty saw considerable enemy movement to our east - they were probably preparing to counter-attack. The Vickers guns, brought down to the southern tip of the Widina, opened up and a Hunter air strike was called. The dissidents dispersed but we thought it unwise to move until darkness had come. It had been an unpleasant day, but we hadn’t suffered any casualties. My group then went back and joined up with Sgt. Patterson [sic]. The dissident bodies had still not been recovered, but by now I had a feeling that the other enemy were moving close and it was therefore considered an unnecessary risk to attempt another recovery. We thankfully set out in the darkness on the 2,000 foot climb and didn’t get into our lines until after daybreak.’
Paterson advanced to Colour Sergeant and served with 42 Commando 20 July 1967 - 5 December 1969 (awarded L.S. & G.C. 5 December 1968). He served with 45 Commando, 6 December 1969 - 13 September 1977. On the latter date he was discharged to Pension. Colour Sergeant Paterson died in June 2013.
1 of only 7 M.M.’s awarded for Radfan.
Sold with the following related items and documents: four mounted related miniature awards - N.G.S. with ‘Malaya’ clasp only and G. S.M. with ‘Radfan’ and ‘South Arabia’ clasps; Two Parchment Certificates of Service; Royal Marines Company Record Book; Naval Pay and Identity Book; Certificate of Discharge; letter of congratulation from Major Mike Banks, C/O X Company, 1 Troop, 45 Commando, R.M. on the occasion of the award of the M.M., dated 6 May 1965; letter to the same effect from Lieutenant General N. H. Tailyour, C. B., D.S.O., Commandant General Royal Marines, dated 27 April 1965; letter to the same effect from Lieutenant General Sir Charles Harington, K.C.B., C.B.E., D.S.O., M.C., Commander in Chief, Middle East Command, dated 7 May 1965; letter to the same effect from Major General J. H. Cubbon, C.B., C.B.E., G.O.C. Middle East Land Forces, dated 23 April 1965; letter to the same effect from Major General F. N. Grant, HQ Plymouth Group, R.M., dated 29 April 1965; letter to the same effect from Lieutenant Colonel R. J. McGarel Groves, R.M., 45 Commando, dated 28 April 1965; letter to same effect from Colonel M. A. Wilberforce, 1I.T.C.R.M., dated 27 April 1965; letter of commendation and appreciation for service from the Commandant General Royal Marines, dated 29 July 1977; two Certificate of Hurts; and other ephemera, newspaper cuttings and photographic images of recipient in uniform.
www.dnw.co.uk all lots are illustrated on our website and are subject to buyers’ premium at 24% (+VAT where applicable)
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176 |
Page 177 |
Page 178 |
Page 179 |
Page 180 |
Page 181 |
Page 182 |
Page 183 |
Page 184 |
Page 185 |
Page 186 |
Page 187 |
Page 188 |
Page 189 |
Page 190 |
Page 191 |
Page 192 |
Page 193 |
Page 194 |
Page 195 |
Page 196 |
Page 197 |
Page 198 |
Page 199 |
Page 200 |
Page 201 |
Page 202 |
Page 203 |
Page 204 |
Page 205 |
Page 206 |
Page 207 |
Page 208 |
Page 209 |
Page 210 |
Page 211 |
Page 212 |
Page 213 |
Page 214 |
Page 215 |
Page 216 |
Page 217 |
Page 218 |
Page 219 |
Page 220 |
Page 221 |
Page 222 |
Page 223 |
Page 224 |
Page 225 |
Page 226 |
Page 227 |
Page 228 |
Page 229 |
Page 230 |
Page 231 |
Page 232 |
Page 233 |
Page 234 |
Page 235 |
Page 236 |
Page 237 |
Page 238 |
Page 239 |
Page 240 |
Page 241 |
Page 242 |
Page 243 |
Page 244 |
Page 245 |
Page 246 |
Page 247 |
Page 248 |
Page 249 |
Page 250 |
Page 251 |
Page 252 |
Page 253 |
Page 254 |
Page 255 |
Page 256 |
Page 257 |
Page 258 |
Page 259 |
Page 260 |
Page 261 |
Page 262 |
Page 263 |
Page 264 |
Page 265 |
Page 266 |
Page 267 |
Page 268 |
Page 269 |
Page 270 |
Page 271 |
Page 272 |
Page 273 |
Page 274 |
Page 275 |
Page 276 |
Page 277 |
Page 278 |
Page 279 |
Page 280 |
Page 281 |
Page 282 |
Page 283 |
Page 284 |
Page 285 |
Page 286 |
Page 287 |
Page 288 |
Page 289 |
Page 290 |
Page 291 |
Page 292 |
Page 293 |
Page 294 |
Page 295 |
Page 296 |
Page 297 |
Page 298 |
Page 299 |
Page 300 |
Page 301 |
Page 302 |
Page 303 |
Page 304 |
Page 305 |
Page 306 |
Page 307 |
Page 308 |
Page 309 |
Page 310 |
Page 311 |
Page 312 |
Page 313 |
Page 314 |
Page 315 |
Page 316 |
Page 317 |
Page 318 |
Page 319 |
Page 320 |
Page 321 |
Page 322 |
Page 323 |
Page 324 |
Page 325 |
Page 326 |
Page 327 |
Page 328 |
Page 329 |
Page 330 |
Page 331 |
Page 332 |
Page 333 |
Page 334 |
Page 335 |
Page 336 |
Page 337 |
Page 338 |
Page 339 |
Page 340 |
Page 341 |
Page 342 |
Page 343 |
Page 344 |
Page 345 |
Page 346 |
Page 347 |
Page 348 |
Page 349 |
Page 350 |
Page 351 |
Page 352 |
Page 353 |
Page 354 |
Page 355 |
Page 356 |
Page 357 |
Page 358 |
Page 359 |
Page 360 |
Page 361 |
Page 362 |
Page 363 |
Page 364 |
Page 365 |
Page 366 |
Page 367 |
Page 368 |
Page 369 |
Page 370 |
Page 371 |
Page 372 |
Page 373 |
Page 374 |
Page 375 |
Page 376 |
Page 377 |
Page 378 |
Page 379 |
Page 380 |
Page 381 |
Page 382 |
Page 383 |
Page 384 |
Page 385 |
Page 386 |
Page 387 |
Page 388 |
Page 389 |
Page 390 |
Page 391 |
Page 392 |
Page 393 |
Page 394 |
Page 395 |
Page 396 |
Page 397 |
Page 398 |
Page 399 |
Page 400 |
Page 401 |
Page 402 |
Page 403 |
Page 404 |
Page 405 |
Page 406 |
Page 407 |
Page 408 |
Page 409 |
Page 410 |
Page 411 |
Page 412 |
Page 413 |
Page 414 |
Page 415 |
Page 416 |
Page 417 |
Page 418 |
Page 419
