Aden Protectorate Levies: Difference between revisions

The Aden Protectorate Levies (APL) were a militia force for local defense of the Aden Protectorate. The Levies were drawn from all parts of the Protectorate and were armed and officered by the British military. They used the Lahej emblem of crossed ''jambiyah'' (traditional curved double-edged dagger) as their badge.

The APL were formed on 1 April 1928 primarily to protect Royal Air Force stations following the change of status of Aden to an Air Command in April 1927. Their secondary role was to be that of assisting the civil police. The APL also formed a Camel Troop.

Colonel M.C. Lake of the British Indian Army was the first Commanding Officer until Lt. Col. J.C. (Robby) Robinson took over command in 1929 and remained as C.O. till 1939. In 1928 the APL comprised two British officers and six platoons of Arabs recruited from tribes in the Western Protectorate states, they had 48 camels and 8 mules. The APL recruited from the various tribes which lived in the foothills or the higher mountainous regions of the protectorate.

Based in Aden Colony was the APL Depot Battalion, the Levies Base and Training Organisation. The Depot included married quarters, a neonatal clinic, a school for children, the APL Band and the APL Camel Troop. Air supply and other repair and supply units also were based there. The APL hospital (ALH) was located near Khormaksar.

Arab Officers (Bimbashis), one of whom in each Battalion was responsible to the Commanding Officer for Arab Administration, held Governor's Commissions and bore ranks of 2nd Lieutenant (MulazimIth Thani); Lieutenant (Mulazim Al Awal); Captain (Rais); and Major (Wakil Qaid Ith Thani). The senior Arab serving with the Aden Protectorate Levies was a Lieutanant Colonel (Qaid Al Awal).

By 1939 there was an Anti-aircraft Wing which succeeded in shooting down an enemy Italian plane. During World War Two the APL coonsisted of 1,600 men engaged in Aden and the Western Aden Protectorate but also providing garrisons at Socotra Island and Sharjah.

In 1942 a British policy change saw British Army personnel being replaced over a period of 6 years by RAF Regiment officers and airmen by 1948.

In 1960 the APL consisted of four rifle battalions each of which had 3" mortars, medium machine guns and signallers, and a Mechanical Transport Platoon. The APL was a brigade-equivelant with its own air supply and air liaison officers and the Senior Arab Officer. Plus there was the APL Armoured Car Squadron, the APL Signal Squadron, the APL Band and and the APL Camel Troop. The APL Camel troop was a ceremonial unit conducted many public appearances.

On 30th November 1961, following the creation of the Federation, the APL changed name to the Federal Regular Army.

Awards

The Levies were awarded the following:

one D.S.O.,

seven M.C.s,

two M.M.s,

one O.B.E.,

three M.B.E.s and

one B.E.M.

References

[1]