King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

© Images are copyright, Trustees of the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum.
 You must seek permission prior to publication of any of our images.

The National Service Years 1945-59

Kenya & Aden 1958-1959

Corporal Charles Smith, 1st Battalion, King's Own

Charles Smith did his National Service with the 1st Battalion, King's Own Royal Regiment, between 1957 and 1959.  His service took him out to Kenya and Aden.

Group of soldiers of the 1st Battalion, King's Own Royal Regiment at Deerbolt Camp, Barnard Castle, in 1957, undertaking their advanced training.
Accession Number: KO3011/001

On parade at Deerbolt Camp, Barnard Castle, 1957.
Accession Number: KO3011/002

Official army photograph of Private Charles Smith, number 23422090, 1st Battalion, King's Own Royal Regiment.
Accession Number: KO3011/003

Private Charles Smith on the left of this group at Deerbolt Camp, Barnard Castle, 1957.
Accession Number: KO3011/004

Private Charles Smith is on the left of this group of kitchen staff on board HMT Empire Fowey.  Due to the rough weather in the Bay of Biscay and the fact that the majority of the soldiers on board were suffering from sea sickness, Private Smith was seconded to the kitchen as he was not suffering from the conditions.
Accession Number: KO3011/005

Shore leave in Gibraltar, 1957.  Private Charles Smith on the left.
Accession Number: KO3011/006

Shore leave in Gibraltar, 1957.
Accession Number: KO3011/007

View from ship.
Accession Number: KO3011/008

Private Charles Smith on board HMT Empire Fowey on the way to Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/009

Group on board HMT Empire Fowey on the way to Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/010

Group of galley staff on board HMT Empire Fowey on the way to Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/011

Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/012

Private Charles Smith, 1st Battalion, King's Own Royal Regiment.
Accession Number: KO3011/013

View from HMT Empire Fowey on the way to Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/014

View of Gibraltar.
Accession Number: KO3011/015

View of Gibraltar.
Accession Number: KO3011/016

Private Charles Smith, off duty.
Accession Number: KO3011/017

Private Charles Smith on board HMT Empire Fowey.
Accession Number: KO3011/018

Street scene, Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/019

Street scene, Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/020

Street scene, Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/021

Gun at Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/022

Training on the 3 inch mortar in Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/023

Private Charles Smith at Little Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/024

On patrol at Lauder, Audhali State, Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/025

Private Charles Smith, on the left, about go to swimming, Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/026

Loading troops on to a Beverley transport aircraft, Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/027

Private Charles Smith on top of 'Outlook Rock', Aden, overlooking the oil refinery.
Accession Number: KO3011/028

Private Charles Smith, spear fishing, Shark Island, Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/029

View of Little Bay, Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/030

Town of Lauder, Aden, with Private Dick Baxter and Private Charles Smith.  "We had to carry a rifle and a bandolier of rounds in order to leave the camp."
Accession Number: KO3011/031

Tents in Lauder, six men to a tent.
Accession Number: KO3011/032

Chatting to the local troops in Lauder, Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/033

Fishing off Shark Island, Aden, with an Italian lad.
Accession Number: KO3011/034

Local troops on the way to Lauder
Accession Number: KO3011/035

The escarpment we came up, Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/036

Beverley transport aircraft landing at Lauder, Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/037

Little Aden and the oil refinery.
Accession Number: KO3011/038

Our mule transport for patrols, Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/039

Wash time on patrol, Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/040

Travelling down the escarpment to Lauder, Aden, whilst on patrol.
Accession Number: KO3011/041

On the beach at speed, Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/042

On the way back to Lauder, Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/043

Smoke break, Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/044

Fishing with the Italian lad, Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/045

Guns lined up at Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/046

Convoy to Lauder, Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/047

Private Charles Smith, fishing at Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/048

In the Red Sea fishing.
Accession Number: KO3011/049

Group on airfield, Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/050

Arab Dhow, Mombassa, Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/051

Sergeant "Bull" fishing at Little Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/052

Native boy, Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/053

Native troops, Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/054

Rock climbing, Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/055

Transport aircraft landing at Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/056

Towelling down after swimming, Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/057

Airfield, Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/058

Shark nets, which allowed for safe swimming.
Accession Number: KO3011/059

At Silver Sands Rest Camp, Mombassa, Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/060

Beverley transport aircraft taking off at Lauder, Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/061

The beach, Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/062

Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/063

View of Little Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/064

Games Day, Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/065

Silver Sands rest camp, Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/066

Mombassa Harbour, Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/067

Private Charles Smith, at the swimming pool, Gil Gil Camp, Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/068

Filling water trucks in Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/069

Giant tortoise.
Accession Number: KO3011/070

The Equator Sign, Gil Gil, Kenya, Private Charles Smith and Hentey.
Accession Number: KO3011/071

Outside tent at Gil Gil Camp, Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/072

Water truck, Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/073

Morning shave near Mount Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/074

Shooting butts with Mount Kenya in the background.
Accession Number: KO3011/075

At camp near Mount Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/076

Lion on the reserve, Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/077

The men of 'D' Company, 1st Battalion, King's Own, Private Charles Smith included, built the Gil Gil Camp Cinema from a kit.
Accession Number: KO3011/078

Group at Thomson Falls, Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/079

Native huts, Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/080

'D' Company built a rope bridge to cross a ravine which was used by the rest of the battalion.
Accession Number: KO3011/081

Testing the rope of the newly constructed bridge.
Accession Number: KO3011/082

Native hut.
Accession Number: KO3011/083

Time off at Gil Gil Camp, Kenya, with Private Charles Smith on the right.
Accession Number: KO3011/084

Entrance to Nairobi, Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/085

'Off out' with Private Charles Smith, in the middle.
Accession Number: KO3011/086

Local tribesman.
Accession Number: KO3011/087

With pals in Nairobi, Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/088

Rifle team trials, Private Charles Smith was three points short of his marksman's badge.
Accession Number: KO3011/089

The javelin, Gil Gil Camp, Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/090

Off to Town, Lance Corporal Charles Smith on the right.
Accession Number: KO3011/091

Injured flamingo, Gil Gil Camp, Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/092

Lance Corporal Charles Smith and pal, Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/093

Local police filling water truck, Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/094

Light machine gun practice Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/095

Thomson Falls, Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/096

Tusks, Nairobi, Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/097

View of Gil Gil Camp, Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/098

Puff adder snake that bit one of the lads, he went blind for three days.
Accession Number: KO3011/099

Thomson Falls, Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/100

Accession Number: KO3011/101

We built model aeroplanes at Gil Gil Camp, Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/102

Giraffes on the run, Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/103

On convoy to Lauder, Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/104

Unknown bridge.
Accession Number: KO3011/105

Looking over the Rift Valley, for lost model plane.
Accession Number: KO3011/106

A python, with Charles Smith on the right.
Accession Number: KO3011/107

The Puff adder found in my clothes.
Accession Number: KO3011/108

Tented Camp near Mount Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/109

My model glider, Gil Gil Camp, Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/110

Our models at Gil Gil Camp, Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/111

Private Charles Smith, at Deerbolt Camp, Barnard Castle.
Accession Number: KO3011/112

Lance Corporal Charles Smith, at Gil Gil Camp, Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/113

Church Lads Brigade, May Day 1954.
Accession Number: KO3011/114

Church Lads Brigade, May Day 1954.  Charles Smith on the big drum.
Accession Number: KO3011/115

Church Lads Brigade, May Day 1954.
Accession Number: KO3011/116

Lance Corporal Charles Smith with his "Aero Modeller" sent from home to Gil Gil Camp, Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/117

Unknown bridge.
Accession Number: KO3011/118

Lauder Camp, Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/119

Looking for lost aeroplane over Rift Valley, Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/120

Off out....
Accession Number: KO3011/121

Fort Jesus, Mombassa, Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/122

Giraffes on the run, Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/123

Time out at Gil Gil Camp, Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/124

Galley fatigues on HMT Empire Fowey.
Accession Number: KO3011/125

The airstrip at Aden.
Accession Number: KO3011/126

Postcard of HMT Empire Fowey.
Accession Number: KO3011/127

Rear of the postcard, the last one sent from Southampton before the ship departed for Kenya.
Accession Number: KO3011/128

© Images are copyright, Trustees of the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum.
 You must seek permission prior to publication of any of our images.