Action at Mirbat
David Shepherd
CBE OBE FRSA FGRA
Action at Mirbat
Limited edition of 500
The British Government were requested to provide troops to support the Sultan of Oman in his endeavour to prevent Marxist groups in the province of Dhofar from overthrowing him.
Elements of The 22nd Special Air Service Regiment were deployed to the area in 1972.
At dawn on 19th July, a large rebel force, of about 250 strong, attacked the Port of Mirbat.
When the battle started Corporal Labalaba and Trooper Takavesi, both members of a nine-man Special Air Service Civil Action Team, went to man a 25-pounder gun just outside the walls of the fort, North-West of the town.
Gunner Walid Khalfan of the Oman Artillery was already there.
It immediately became clear that the main enemy thrust was being directed against the fort, and in particular against the gun, which was firing at point blank range over open sights.
Before long, the entire crew were wounded.
Captain M J A Kealy, of the 1st Battalion The Queen's Regiment, the commander of the Special Air Service detachment, and Trooper Tobin, who was a trained Medical Orderly,
then ran under fire from the main Special Air Service position to help save the gun.
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