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April 2024 April 2024

carrying all our kit, weapons and ammo on our backs. Other times we might be BERE REGIS
lifted by helicopter onto the high ground, then deploy into the dangerous areas
on foot. Temperatures could be extreme, ranging from little above freezing at SURGERY NEWS
night in winter to 40 degrees or more by day.
At the beginning of 1973, after about 6 months on operations in Dhofar province, Citizens Advice for you and your
my Battery and I were sent to the north of Oman for a period of rest and retraining family available at Bere Regis Surgery.
in a beautiful area of Oman under the shade of the Jebel Akhdar, the Green Gill provides free, confidential and
Mountain. Here I was able to visit Omani villages, and meet and often eat with independent advice to help people
the locals, and get to understand their way of life better. Oman had seen very overcome their problems:
little development, and was still a largely rural, tribal country. The town my unit
was based in had no school, but it did have a newly opened hospital staffed by Benefits Housing
nurses from Save the Children. My camp contained my battery and our training
battery which was commanded by a lovely Pakistani Gunner. He had a staff of Debt Employment
Jordanian Gunners on loan to the sultanate, so we lived together in the officer’s Consumer
mess with four different nationalities and three languages, all served by Goanese
cooks and Omani mess staff! You can make an appointment at Reception or phone the Surgery on 01929
471268
We were a three-hour drive over dirt tracks from Muscat, the capital, and the
Army HQ. I went there from time to time for a bit of British company and to buy
food from the cold store there. The Omani soldiers enjoyed goat or tuna curries on
alternate days. My Arabic was improving by the day! We will be closed Good Friday 29th
March and Easter Monday 1st April.
In late summer we were warned of an impending move back to Dhofar. My
battery and the battalions we would be supporting in Dhofar did exercises If you need medical advice during
together to hone our skills. My much-enlarged battery, now with 5 British officers this time phone 111, if you have a
and 3 Omani officers, moved south by air. We deployed again onto the jebel medical emergency, phone 999.
positions, but we now had an air portable troop as well as our heavier guns. We will re-open as usual on Tuesday

The Shah of Iran had decided to assist Oman, so almost my first job was to 2nd April
accompany an Iranian Battle Group which deployed to open, and keep open,
the only road over the mountains
between Northern Oman and
Dhofar. After a long night march up
into the mountains, we found
positions from which to guard the
road, dug stone sangars and waited
for the enemy response, which
wasn’t long coming. I stayed with
the Iranians for a month or so. Luckily
my Baluchi signaller spoke not only
his native Baluchi, but also Urdu,
Arabic and a smattering of Farsi, so
through him, I was able to converse
with the Iranian colonel.

At various times we worked with

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