1956 - 1969

A continual round of village cordon and search operations, road blocks, curfews, law enforcement and riot control followed. Operations were directed against terrorist enclaves in the Kyrenian and Troodos Mountains and the Paphos Forest. Colonel Grivas’s EOKA HQ was captured, providing a major intelligence coup, but he escaped.

French paratroopers with part of the 1st (Guards) Independent Parachute Company were to capture two vital bridges leading south from Port Said and isolate the town.

An appeal for assistance from King Hussein saw the Brigade, less the 1st Battalion, flown into Amman to secure the airfield and bolster the King’s authority.  They remained until October 29th returning to Cyprus and then England.  Rapid action to a trouble spot had averted probable hostilities in this volatile area.   During this period the 1st Battalion who had remained in Cyprus were again employed on anti-terrorist operations against a revival of the EOKA offensive.  They remained, credited with a number of successful operations, until March 1959 when they too returned to the UK.

Within five days of the Emir’s request 8,000 British troops had deployed to Kuwait including the carrier HMS Bulwark and a naval task force with the Aircraft Carrier HMS Victorious positioned in the Gulf. Iraq was deterred. The real enemy proved to be the heat, which alternated between 120 to 149 degrees each day, requiring soldiers to drink 20 pints of fluid every 24 hours.

A concerted operation involving 3 PARA, 45 Commando and Federal troops to capture the Dhanaba Basin, a Radfan tribal stronghold, began at the end of April 1964. 3 PARA lost two killed and several wounded clearing the fort and village buildings at El Naquil in concert with 45 Commando.

Borneo (Kalimantan to the Indonesians) is the second biggest island in the world. One third of the island was three British dependant territories – Sarawak, the Sultanate of Brunei and North Borneo.

After receiving news in January 1967 that two terrorist groups - the Federation for the Liberation of South Yemen (FLOSY) and the National Liberation Front (NLF) - were vying for power in Aden, an emergency operational tour was ordered by the CO of 1 Para, Lieutenant Colonel Mike Walsh.

With a population from various ethic backgrounds. The Indians supported the Socialist People’s National congress while the Africans backed the communist inspired People’s National congress. Despite underlying tension the situation remained calm during the battalion four-month tour.

Service on operations in Malaysia and surrounding waters was recognised by the institution of a separate campaign clasp 'Malay Peninsula' for the General Service Medal.

The qualifying period was 30 days service between 17 August 1964 and 11 August 1966.

Profile under development.

Civil strife led to armed insurrection and as the Island was a British Colony. 2 PARA was despatched with 120 members of London’s Metropolitan Police to restore order.

It was decided not to conduct an airborne assault but instead land with Gemini assault craft from two Royal Navy frigates to soften the political profile of the intervention. Flashes around the beach landing area proved to be from a large contingent of the World’s Press waiting to record the landing, rather than hostile fire Royal Navy gunners were assuming they may have to silence.