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#1
06-02-22, 09:19 AM
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RAF ADEN PROTECTORATE LEVIES
Can one of our RAF collectors tell me that when the RAF ADEN PROTECTORATE LEVIES were authorized to wear the RAF Eagle and did they wear it on both arms or just the one please?
Jerry engr9266
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 JERRY ROYAL ENGINEERS/BRITISH ARMY CORPS & SERVICES/BRITISH LEGION/ROYAL BRITISH LEGION (see albums) 
Last edited by engr9266; 06-02-22 at 11:08 AM. 
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#2
06-02-22, 12:38 PM
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Hi Jerry, hopefully I can help, sort of…
Although it was created to assist the Royal Air Force, the unit in question was just the ‘Aden Protectorate Levies’ (no ‘RAF’), which was formed in Aden on 1st April 1928, exactly ten years after the RAF itself. Its role was to protect RAF bases in the country, and to help the local police when needed, especially on matters concerning servicemen. Although the NCOs and Other Ranks were drawn from the country, its officers were all British, although later some Indian junior officers and NCOs were seconded. During the war the Levies numbers expanded and an anti-aircraft Flight was formed but their duties remained the same. The British and Indian Army officers were also replaced by officers from the RAF Regiment, which was formed in 1942, and they had their own hospital which was the RAF hospital (with RAF staff) at Khormaksar. Despite their role, the RAF staffed hospital, the RAF Regiment officers and the fact it was under RAF control until 1957, the APL never wore the RAF shoulder eagle. For the first 25 years or more a simple brass ‘APL’ title was worn at the base of the epaulette although an ‘ADEN PROTECTORATE LEVIES’ cloth title was worn later on. The Iraq Levies did however wear the RAF shoulder eagle. They were named so in 1919 although they had already been in existence a couple of years. From 1928 the Iraq Levies essentially took on the same job as the APL but in Iraq of course, and came under Air Ministry control. From 1942 they were permitted to wear the red/tan shoulder eagle, while their parachute unit also wore the maroon ‘Airborne’ shoulder title, the former being retained until the disbandment of the Iraq Levies in 1955. On an endnote, the eagle on your example looks to be the post 1972 shape. Hope that helps…
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#4
06-02-22, 04:16 PM
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Padre, Thanks for the information. So the Iraq Levies wore the RAF eagle.
The one shown was just for the post as I do not have a eagle from the time period. engr9266
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JERRY ROYAL ENGINEERS/BRITISH ARMY CORPS & SERVICES/BRITISH LEGION/ROYAL BRITISH LEGION (see albums)
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#5
06-02-22, 04:55 PM
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Hi engr9266
Yes, it was the Iraq Levies who wore the shoulder eagles, and on both shoulders as per the RAF. Only the red version, and many photo photos seem to indicate the printed version, but whether woven was also worn is unknown. Wardog - Its hard to find information on the Levies, both Iraq and Aden, in particular relating to insignia. The was/is a website up which has some good photos, but even the author had little outside general info and veteran's recollections!
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#6
06-02-22, 06:50 PM
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Regards Mike
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#7
07-02-22, 12:06 AM
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I had forgotten about the early chapters so thanks for reminding me, I've not had it off the shelf for a while!
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