Fifty years ago, I flew into Salalah aged seventeen
Fresh faced, just a schoolboy…but oh ever so keen
I wanted to be a soldier, well what a place to learn
In the desert plains of Dhofar, came this young Dundee bairn
Hedgehog Bravo was the location, where I would first be sent
Defence of Salalah from the open jebel
And sleeping in a sandbagged tent
Lots of weapons to play with, we fire from dusk to dawn
Searching our scanner for Adoo
Just where do they appear from?
RAF Regiment, Engineers and SAS
Along with the brave Omanis all working as one
And of course there’s even the Artillery
With that massive dirty great gun.
There’s Jordanians, Iranians and Baluch
And many others in between
Did they really send me here…to fight for country and Queen?
Back home in the UK, no one even knows we’re here
We could well be in Cyprus, on the beach drinking beer
But no, we all love our time, taking part in the secret war
Winning hearts and minds has not really been done like this before
To help the Dhofari people and their animals, that’s what we’ve come for
Before the military options play their part in the Dhofar war
We’re all proud Dhofar Veterans from but a chapter in our military career
And this one was just a kid facing the Adoo with a good bit of fear
Bob Shepherd,
Ex 2 Sqn, RAF Regt and later 22 SAS Regt.
Dhofar War 72, 74, 76.
Bob Shepherd 
Hey Bob
Do you remember a lad called Bob Tucker ? Think he served in Oman not sure what Sqn though
Great poem !
Cheers
Chris
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Bob Tucker served with me on 51 squadron in the early 72 to 76. Time in Salala.
A true reflection of what went on there. Was there 72/73 with 51 Sqn.
Hedgehog Charlie.
I was there .72 .73.74.Hedhog Charlie. Jock Rodger!
I was on the RAF base as a 19 year old techie from Mar to Nov 72. Really appreciated you guys for keeping us “relatively” safe. I think 2 Sqn were toward the end of that tour. 15 and 51 were the other two. IIRC. Thanks again.
A great account and poem of your service in salalah Bob. i served on 15sqdn Raf Reg 1972 hedgehog bravo, (from boy to man) respect.
Great read Bob, excellence of experience, and without doubt the wealth of your knowledge is making warranted History.
Great poem I was there 72 and 73 with 51 Sqn brought back many memories. Great place with Great mates PER ARDUA
Was there with 51sqn 74 & 75 on headgehog delta on the zeba-de and SF 2nd time 81mm mortar.
Sums it up Bob, for those in the know.
Was there in 1972 with 15 Sqn. Stints on Hedgehogs Delta and Bravo and on HQ driving the water bowser (even though I did not have any form of driving licence).
I did the same BG course as Ted James who was seriously injured during a night time hostile at Bravo.