The British Army & the Suez Crisis | November 1956

In November 1956, Britain, France and Israel launched a co-ordinated invasion of Egypt to seize control of the strategic waterway known as the Suez Canal. In this video, I detail the role played by the British Army and Royal Marines in this invasion; codenamed Operation Musketeer.
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[@humblepi3666]

Both my Wife's Uncle, and an old neighbour - both Royal Marines - were involved in the Suez Crisis. Whatever the political distaste of this operation by the usual failures of our political betters, these men did their duty to the best of their abilities and in the best tradition of the Royal Marines. Sadly, my Wife's Uncle is no longer with us, but was given a great send-off by a contingent of RMs at his funeral.

[@amjadmoosa5609]

they committed warcrimes

[@freddieflipflop]

My grandad was there he was a driver for officers one day he saw a crocodile walking up the bank towards them so he shot it turned out it was the local dignitaries pet

[@freddieflipflop]

@@amjadmoosa5609 a decade earlier we stopped the Nazis think yourself lucky

[@frogfrager]

@@freddieflipflop what makes the british better than nazis if both commit atrocities?

[@JordanEbanksLive]

@@frogfrager they won I guess

[@Drummer2020]

My father was killed at Suez serving in 42 Commando and he died on 6th November, 3 months before I was born. I have the same name as him, so quite spooky seeing my own name in your roll of honour at the end. I also went on to serve in the Royal Marines. [excuse the clumsy nickname, my real name is Brian Short]

[@livethforevermore]

Hi Brian, just received your email and seen your comment. Thank you for yours and your father's service. I'm sorry to hear that he was Killed in Action. I hope this video went someway in honouring him and his colleagues who served during the Campaign 🇬🇧

[@Drummer2020]

@@livethforevermore hi Ben, Yes, remembering the fallen is the only way to honour them and I thought you did an excellent job of explaining something that to most people would have been lost or not known about. I myself went to the Falklands war and I guess that too is slipping further from peoples minds and to some they will not have heard of it at all. Thanks for including the names of the fallen. best wishes Brian

[@martinsparrow150]

Much hounor to ur dad of course politicians don't send their sons to war great comment from u from a kiwi down under and by the by don't have a fskin would hate to one crumpled

[@seanbooth9330]

So sad to hear you lost your dad that way Royal, much love and respect to your dad and to you for following in his footsteps.

[@Simonsvids]

Then change your nickname. It does make it harder for others to take you seriously. First impressions are important.

[@stuartgmk]

My dad Bill and his older brother Tom were both recalled back into the British army for the show . Dad had been for out six weeks and uncle Tom about three weeks from regular service . They were sent to Libya where they met up and thank Christ both came home .

[@senojbdet]

I met many of the Reservists recalled to the Colours in Libya. What arm of service?

[@rservajean]

As far as I know, during operation Mousquetaire, french paratroopers made the lowest parachuting in military history (150 meters). They lost 10 men in combat (20 for the british) and egyptians lost 200 soldiers. Quite impressive.

[@hlvscomendandeche8744]

French and then Rhodies and South Africans were masters of very very low altitude jumps

[@angloaust1575]

They had plenty of experience in indo china 156 combat jumps!

[@theoilandgasresourceportal2132]

The groundsman at my tennis club fought in Suez as a Royal Marine, his name was Albert Middleweek. He was injured during the fighting. Died a few years back. RIP

[@penguimTwo]

Hopefully he's no longer at the tennis club then.

[@Surv1ve_Thrive]

@@penguimTwo ?

[@stevethomas5849]

Typical Politicians screwing it up.

[@cropathfinder]

the Op would have failed anyways, the politicans saved their own asses and saved britain's assets from being torched in over half the world, also this is back when UN actually had any power and they were using it to fuck britan up

[@Praetore_]

@@cropathfinder Except getting back to reality, No.

[@Praetore_]

Essentially, the operation would have carried out fine, if anything we might have eventually sent an extra force over if it was required and the port and the area around it given time would have been secured and reinforced with insurgents and mobs being dealt with as and when. The nutshell is, it was like an early version of the Falklands, everyone is mad at us for doing the right thing because they don't want to see major powers at war. It required a strong government and a strong prime minister, but, we were kinda all out of those after the two world wars and all.

[@Praetore_]

@@abchaplin There is no such thing as illegal when it comes to war. That's simply not how it works. It's also entirely your opinion, and you're welcome to believe whatever you like.

[@angloaust1575]

Like rhodesia!

[@ellyrion8173]

Brilliant video, and I appreciate you listing the names of all those who gave their lives. Thank you

[@oddballsok]

Yes, especially the egyptian ones.... .no wait...

[@davidadams188]

My dad was recalled to the colours for this operation he had left the army in 1955 . As a radio operator in royal signals he was ordered to report to a camp in London called Gouch street it was a underground barracks in London.once back in the Royal signals he was busy listening to the Russian radio traffic.

[@senojbdet]

Goodge Street

[@PaperBoatman]

I was a serving Royal Navy medic at Chatham Naval Hospital at the time. We had 2 casualties from the Suez war on my ward.... Royal Marines, one had been shot twice by a sniper the other had serious injuries from an explosion. There was something that sticks with me until now ... they were both 17 years old.

[@PaperBoatman]

I never knew it had been so involved before your documentary. One of the Royal Marines who had suffered back injuries caused by an explosion, which he said was from a Fleet Air Arm rocket when he was on the beach. Do you know of any incidents of friendly fire?

[@styx14045]

Yes - there was a friendly fire incident FAA/45Cdo. Had my 18th birthday in Port Said!

[@xmanfacex]

Excellent video. Never really understood how the campaign was fought.

[@gilanbarona9814]

When politicians have no guts, we soldiers have to bear the burden of the results. Nevertheless, heroism could not be questioned no matter what happens afterwards. Rest easy, warriors. We who remain have not forgotten.

[@ph5832]

Not much has changed

[@rickytorres8566]

Or when they recklessly go and fuck around in another countries business.

[@callumwilliams1449]

@@rickytorres8566 Ey what? The British and French built the Canal and was partly owned by the Egyptians until they sold their shares of the canal to the British. The irony is, the US backed the Egyptians because thought they would side with them in the Cold War, made some big Anti-imperial stand on the whole thing while owning the Panama Canal themselves. Egypt and several other Middle Eastern countries sided with the USSR anyway, Britain and France was severely weakened. The US sucks.

[@michaelamos4651]

Another very well made video. Somehow your narration comes across as being someone who really cares about the subject. Well done

[@leeshoesmith3286]

A little known fact to add to this op was that the centurion tanks of the 10th Royal Hussars layer down a barrage from the Jordanian Bank of the canal. They were there secretly unbeknown to even the UN or even the US or Soviets. My dad was in Jordan for six years with his regiment from 1952 till 1958

[@wyverncoch4430]

Thanks for this well presented and informative video about an often forgotten part of British military history

[@wattlebough]

Awesome video mate. Small detail only: Port Said (that is “Say-eed”). Carry on.

[@louisbeerreviews8964]

Iconoclasticnation is port said

[@Praetore_]

@Tim Webb >Royal Navy >NATO >Egypt had no real navy if any ships at all >Piece of shit country >Was defending their, debatable, home territory, which is always easier. >"eNtIrE eGypTiAn nAtIoN" >Not everyone wants a facist in control of their nation. *Some people still wanted British rule, in fact many throughout all of the colonial nations still wanted British rule when they left, and again if not that, Most didn't want a dictator.* Just, Shhh.

[@nomdeplume798]

My dad who spent some months there in 1949 en-route to Singapore also pronounced the place Port Said (Sed)

[@wattlebough]

@@nomdeplume798 English speakers don’t know how to say Arabic words. It’s Port Say-eed or بور سعيد if you want to get fancy. I’m sorry matey, with all due respect to your father, he and the rest of the english lads wouldn’t have really cared too much about trying to say it the way the locals say it, but I think the locals are more likely to be correct in how to say the name of one of their own cities.

[@tonyjedioftheforest1364]

My dad always called it say eed. He was there towards the end of the Second World War then onto Palestine.

[@brendanhere.6400]

You explained that very well, most enjoyable to listen to.

[@petrolhead001]

I really enjoyed this video. Its so well put together. The maps you included are extremely helpful, I'd love it if you could continue using that feature in your future videos. Thanks for making this video!

[@ThelastCelticForest914]

Very infomative! I always wondered what it was all about. Now I know. Thanks!

[@shamrock141]

"The old declare war, but it is the young who must fight and die in it"

[@Lemiesz]

Really, really good job, thanks a lot for Your work! :)

[@Reyno-um7hb]

Awesome content!!

[@generallordkearsley1932]

My uncle was a royal engineer in the suez Crisis and the Aden emergency later repairing centurions

[@robertlunn2836]

Chick Dempster in the thumbnail was my wife's uncle. We did not find out about his death till after the funeral. His niece who I am married too was too ill to attend at the time and was in a care home. She is now receiving hospice care.

[@peteb8556]

@freebeerfordworkers ; Chick lived in Littleborough near Rochdale. His family are still regular attendees of Rochdale PRA meetings.

[@woodybenjam]

Excellent video! Awesome!

[@jasonhumphries9434]

Another great & interesting video.👍

[@steveswitzer4353]

Nice keep em coming

[@LakesWalkerUK]

Thanks for the information!

[@jasgamage]

Another well thought out and presented video, nice one pal

[@haughtywren788]

I love how in conflicts like this, one side gets like 20-100 deaths, and the other is almost always over 1,000

[@endacurtin8282]

Liveth For Evermore; you forgot to mention that the Irish Guards Regiment were also deployed by the UK. My Father Seán served with a signals outfit there and was wounded in combat. He used to love telling us about his time there and how he was wounded. He passed away on Friday last to the great Barracks in the sky.

[@oscargoodwinn]

Please do a video on the Aden Appeal as my grandad fought as an engineer for the RAF in this conflict also I think this would also make a good video because the Appeal is quite an unheard conflict. Love the video keep making more

[@LordGeorgeRodney]

When UK refused to join in the Vietnam war as a result of Suez..when Ted Heath viewed the scenes at US embassy in 1975 he classed it as a 'sweet revenge'.

[@leonardwei3914]

That's quite petty.

[@alanandconnielast]

@@leonardwei3914 Not really, they deserved it.. Should not have helped them with anything.

[@angloaust1575]

Eisenhower said get out of suez! Or else we will pull the financial plug!

[@steveh5005]

Very detailed with clear presentation

[@karl-ns1vs]

Always enjoyable superbly narrated !

[@paulfallon7038]

Excellent presentation.

[@thefateweaverchannel2288]

Subbed liked shared, great video

[@highlands]

The US intervention against us in Suez is even more egregious when you find out that they themselves essentially kept the Panama canal into the 1990s.

[@randomlyentertaining8287]

If the Panamanians had really pushed for us to hand over control of the canal, it likely would've been given. There were student protests and riots but the Panamanian government never tried to nationalize the canal. There's also the fact that the US owned the land the canal was on and there was a military presence there, which was never asked to leave until it was agreed to transition control over to Panama in 1977. Meanwhile the UK had pulled out its defense troops in 1956. So quite a bit different story than the Suez Canal.

[@tonyjones99]

My uncle Sgt William Jones was there with the paras, he died next year in an accident aged 40.

[@jebsails2837]

I now know more about the background of this conflict. Thanks for an excellent presentation. Narragansett Bay.

[@markmccummins8049]

Outstanding video, Liveth! This is one Yank who knew about the “Suez Crisis.” My Dad explained what the UK, France, and Israel had done 11 years before as Nassar in ‘67 began beating the war drums, sparking the Six Day War. He suggested that the UK, France, and Israel could have prevented all of this if “the Great Eisenhower” had left them alone. A few years later I did more investigation into this military operation (it was cool to see Centurions, M47s and the Egyptian SU 100s). I view it now with the perspective of age and experience. The fact that Egypt had Soviet ordnance suggested to the UK and France that Nassar was a Soviet puppet. And Nassar was nationalising the Suez Canal. In the Cold War era this was disturbing - a fact lost on younger viewers. Not only was Nassar nationalising the canal; he was pro-Soviet.

[@Planet_Xplorer]

If Nasser was a Soviet puppet, the Churchill was a US clown.

[@markmccummins8049]

@@Planet_Xplorer check the Atlantic Conference between Churchill and Roosevelt, and the continued effect on US politics, and then ask who is the clown.

[@FredericGaillot]

For France Suez canal has always been important. The canal had been built by french, maintained by them, several ships were sent in 1915 to support British against Turks, and troops were stationned in Port Said in WWI and WWII. But, in 1956, France was at war in Algeria and Egypt supported algerian rebels. Attacking Egypt was part of a larger plan and that why France committed 34 000 soldiers to invade Egypt and lost 10, plus 33 injured.

[@redberries8039]

the thumbnail guy looks about as tough as any man i've ever seen

[@leonardoursua4765]

Great video can u do the history of Borneo confrontation and Sarawak insurgency.

[@StephenButlerOne]

Wingates Chidits would be an interesting topic also

[@gooner72]

Brilliant video mate, very detailed and interesting but..... it's "Centurion" tank and not "Centaurian". Apart from that...... spot on!!!🇬🇧🇬🇧✌✌

[@chrisschneider194]

Sick videos man! Just found ur Chanel, and honestly if you keep it up this Chanel can be huge! Keep it up bro!

[@JackDionne]

Very interesting.

[@Natedawg38]

Always wanted to know more about this after seeing it in the Crown. In fact, are there any movies about this? If not there should be

[@paul123ggggggggg]

this was the moment when the old European powers realized their time had passed and they were no longer tier one world powers and could no longer act independently without the express permission of the united states.

[@at-tegreatest3739]

They could have kept going they just had weak leadership

[@fromthefire4176]

AT-TE Greatest imo you’re both right. Something changed after ww2, in their ppl and power structures, they lost their political spirit and physical resources enough to prevent the kind of great _and_ terrible, men of ambition and will that are needed to try to stand above everyone else on the world stage. Their time passed, but merely as hard power, unilateral actors, and they most definitely could have prevented it. But it was fate, they didn’t have the pieces in place to do so, and it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing either.

[@EthanThomson]

@@fromthefire4176 to put it simply, the oil age arrived, and the european powers had no naturally existing oil resources

[@EthanThomson]

Alcaeus Blackwell just use seawater. Solves the issue of rising sea levels too, boom

[@hiddenassassin3233]

I mean you're wrong pal. Britain's never needed "permission" from America and never will. Go back to losing wars that you think you can win without Britain.

[@Ronald-hx5ob]

Excellent video. The last hurrah of British and French military power in the Middle East. Hats off to those who lost their lives.

[@styx14045]

Sgt Kislo RAC was killed on November 6th while in command of an LVT carrying men of "A" Troop, 42 Commando RM through Port Said.

[@karenalletson9767]

My Brother Bernard was there with the (Queen's Own) Royal West Kent Regiment.

[@alanmarr3323]

I knew a Royal Marine John Pearman who fought at Suez he suffered from Post Traumatic stress .

[@alanandconnielast]

Dont care.. If your not British you have no place here.

[@alanandconnielast]

@ايجون تارجاريين Anglo Saxons, and you are clearly not Australian, what this left writing BS..

[@ThePierre58]

Excellent, my father 9 Sqd RE was attached to 3 Para... told me Military success was over shadowed by political failure..I remember he was dropped at el gamil

[@oml81mm]

42 Commando is pronounced as 'Four Two' Commando, not forty two.

[@robertparker7243]

...and Port Said is pronounced 'Port Sayyed' not 'Port Sed'... nevertheless a really articulate history, well delivered

[@markc6714]

That's just because Brits can't count high enough to get to forty two...so they use four two.

[@commander31able60]

I only wish XXX Corps was pronounced "Triple X Corps" and not "30-Corps"

[@Ardass486]

Very little is ever said about this conflict. I didn't realise until now,how many casualties there were. One of the forgotten,short but poignant,conflicts of the 20th century. I served with 40cdo,in the seventies,and the seniors, (who would have been young marines back then) never mentioned this. Always Aden!

[@georgetuisawau4781]

Can you do a story about the battle of Mirbat. Oman by the SAS.

[@Surv1ve_Thrive]

Good idea George

[@stephencockett9959]

Very good video. Do you mean Centurion tanks - pronounced as a Roman Centurion. Good work.

[@nichapalarpjaruwat487]

Is that true according to War in peace magazine that state “The British at Gamil had a rougher time. Unlike the French they did not carry a personal weapon for use during the descent and once on the ground they had to break open containers to secure arms and ammunition.” Since British paratrooper be able to carry their personal weapons in jump order since late WW2?

[@snowflakemelter1172]

All numbers in the British army are pronounced separately 4 - 2 commando rather than 40.

[@TheGreenjacketbilly]

Wrong its 40 Commando, then 4-2 and 4-5( forty, four two and four five. They are Royal Marines not British Army).

[@wyverncoch4430]

only in the Royal Marines, which are navy not army

[@markc6714]

That's just because poms can't count high enough to get to forty two...so they use four two.

[@thetechoasis2179]

umm no it isn't 40 commando is pronounced forty ..

[@thetechoasis2179]

@@markc6714 yes so you keep saying on every single comment on this matter. makes you look bitter and jealous of the Brits.

[@mauricesellars5101]

1 para also was there arrived on the Empire Parkeston on the 6h nov

[@nomdeplume798]

My dad came out of the RAF in 1955 and married my mother in early '56. She was pregnant with me at the time and they were worried he'd be called up. In the end he wasn't.

[@rodpratt7718]

Centurion tanks, not centorion.

[@rosschapman6808]

I feel bad for the Egyptians. 2000 soldiers killed defending their country and 1000 civilians killed. The Egypitans didnt even do anything illegal/wrong. Pretty sad.

[@Nobilangelo]

If they had kept going, years of mess in the Middle East would have been avoided.

[@12345678964861]

Yeah and if they never decolonized we wouldn't be in the situation we are in now either. As a Canadian I am deeply ashamed that we declared independence from Britain.

[@JJ-xe2gr]

You deserve a fuck load more subscribers but if I'm being honest patriotism isn't as strong in the UK as it is in say the US plus population size you can almost expects subscriber numbers to be lower but you best believe the followers you do have are loyal and very supporting for example me!!! Do you have a patreon as your SAS task force knight videos also bring back memories and make me want to send you money to keep the content flowing

[@johnd2058]

This, plus later wars, is why the USA pays Egypt and Israel each such large 'aid' packages annually: to keep the Canal open.

[@BallyBoy95]

I believe it's pronounced, "Port Sigh-eed."

[@martindoyle2150]

Marine Commando's 40 and 42 are featured here, what happened to 41? I recently met a gentleman who was telling me he was in Marine Commando's 41 and I was hoping to collect some info for him.

[@livethforevermore]

41 was disbanded in the early 1950s, and wasn't active during the Suez Crisis.

[@martindoyle2150]

@@livethforevermore Ok thanks for the info. I may have mis-heard him, I'll see him this week and find out more. Thanks again.

[@Peoples_Republic_of_Devonshire]

41 (Independant) Commando RM served with distinction in the Korean War earning a US Presidential Unit Citation, but was disbanded shortly after. Personally I think that the new RM unit that's independant of all other Marine formations for fighting from the new Littoral Combat ships (named the Future Commando Force) should be reconstituted as 41 (Independant) Commando.

[@Ardass486]

More recently,41 left Malta in about 1976,reformed at Deal in Kent,then disbanded,late seventies,if my memory serves me correctly.

[@bp8888able]

In 1960 41 Commando was reformed as part of the United Kingdom's Strategic Reserve. The Commando served in various places throughout the world. These included East Africa in 1964, while in 1969 they were the first R.M.Commando to participate in operations in Northern Ireland.] In 1971 they were stationed in Malta, and in 1974 together with 40 Commando they took part in United Nations operation in Cyprus following the Turkish invasion. In 1977 they left Malta and in 1979 carried out public duties in London. In 1981, then based at Deal, Kent they were disbanded again.

[@jeremyhook1818]

My dad fought in Suez. They were brought in from Kenya. According to him the Egyptians couldn't surrender fast enough.

[@paulmitford5189]

I took a hit in Port Said back in 1956 but I am still around.

[@Planet_Xplorer]

Did you have pride in killing innocent civilian Egyptians?!

[@commander31able60]

this being 1956, the British forces were likely mostly armed with Lee-Enfield rifles from WWII. in the meantime everybody else had either self-loading rifles or even assault rifles.

[@shamrock141]

Not necessarily. The british army had adopted the L1A1 semi-automatic rifle in 1954 and it had become the standard infantry rifle for the British military

[@commander31able60]

@Dan Didnot wikipedia: An assault rifle is a selective-fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine.

[@av5095]

What's the difference between "died of wounds" and "Killed in action"?

[@Styrbjiorn]

I think KIA means they died at the spot (hence "in action") whereas died of wounds probably means fatal wounds that killed them outside of combat (wounded in action, died in a field hospital behind the front lines). That's my guess.

[@wor53lg50]

Dying in or with your charge is KIA..

[@wor53lg50]

UK made centurion tanks saved the golan heights... And was still being used in desert storm, but them meteor engines was a pig to work on...

[@anglerfish1001]

The para in the thumbnail looks hard as nails.

[@MrSunworshiper]

You should have met his brother. When I was dating Chick's niece if you was one minute late back by his brothers clock you had to take cover. Sat next to his niece now.

[@anglerfish1001]

You must have got her back on time then.

[@MrSunworshiper]

@@anglerfish1001 After the first couple of times of being late, yes. Or I told him we would be later then going to be home.

[@philusaphur4924]

Dint mention the 1000 egyptian civilians killed and the 1,650-3000 egyptian soldiers killed.

[@livethforevermore]

As I state at the start and in the title, the focus of the video is on the British Army. I also don't mention anything about the activities or casualties of the Royal Navy or Royal Air Force; because the focus is on the British Army, its movements, engagements and perspective of the invasion.

[@philusaphur4924]

@@livethforevermore Oof, Sorry about that I dint see the disclaimer.

[@darrenabbott6264]

@@philusaphur4924 well then you are clearly blind for not seeing it

[@fredbazoo]

The last roar of the British imperial lion......

[@HankD13]

Falklands anybody?

[@oml81mm]

This was an engineered war involving the British, French and israelis, which Eisenhower saw for what it was, and (quite rightly) refused to support. The British learned from this.

[@ceciljohnrhodes4987]

We’ve recently forgotten that lesson.

[@ggale2721]

Yep they learned not to follow the yanks into Vietnam a few years later. The British politicians didn't forget!

[@Dischingo]

@@ggale2721 Maybe so but at the end of the day Britain let down France more than anyone by not helping them in the 1st indochina war or defeating the vietminh in 1945/46. Also the commonwealth was well represented by the the brave Australians in the fight against communism. I doubt Britain would have the courage to fight communist North Vietnam.

[@brynwilliams3895]

I'm not a bootneck, but even I know it's Four-Two and Four-Five!!other than that, very interesting

[@markc6714]

That's just because Brits can't count high enough to get to forty two...so they use four two.

[@brynwilliams3895]

@@markc6714 wow, straight for the jugular with that one.....

[@Surv1ve_Thrive]

@@markc6714 you've written that same lame comment in several posts.

[@markc6714]

@@Surv1ve_Thrive for starters it's not lame, and secondly if the comment suits the post I'm replying to then it's still pertinent whether it's one or a hundred replies.

[@akt67]

Hi Port Said pronounced `say`eed` :) Good work though.

[@barbaradyson6951]

Thanks to the yanks Suez crisis ended in disaster.

[@williambenson8568]

just like Vietnam

[@barbaradyson6951]

@Roger Rarebit power.

[@diligentone-six2688]

@@barbaradyson6951 That's not America's Best interest. Eisenhower's role was to resolve this peacefully. Since that it could damage the British Financial System.

[@barbaradyson6951]

@@diligentone-six2688 it had nothing to do with Eisenhower and he did screw up the British financial system

[@peteb8556]

It wasn't 'the yanks'. It was the bankers on Wall street that decided what happened here, just like they have done since around 1900 onwards all around the World.

[@davesherry5384]

My old man was 6 RTR at the time. I was in Malta and then Libya with me ma while all this was goign on.

[@mattwordsworth9825]

Well the British did what the US did to them during the Suez Crisis in Vietnam. Payback I'd say

[@sorrysirmygunisoneba]

The US almost conspire against the British when possible when you look at history pre 90s. The French have been our best ally in Europe.

[@tomlucas4890]

perhaps you should look at what the US did, and the world as it is in the Middle East. the US has caused more harm than good in every theatre of the world.

[@highlands]

Not quite. In Suez, the US were actively working against the UK and France. The UK didn't join in the Vietnam adventure because it wasn't in our interests and, besides, we didn't see much of the 'special relationship' in Malaya or Yemen or Oman.

[@TrooperLFC]

its not "Forty two" and "forty five" but "four two" amd "four five" commando

[@MervynPartin]

Regardless of the actual conduct of the battles, I do wonder what the Egyptian people felt about the canal (in their own country) being under foreign control. I am certainly not happy about the amount of British infrastructure and manufacturing that is now under foreign control, much of it now owned by foreign governments. (Apparently, in the UK, state ownership is taboo unless it is another state!) I honestly do not know how things would have worked out if the Egyptian Government had been approached sometime beforehand and offered the canal. This would hopefully have prevented the conflict and possibly gained another friend in the middle east, but whenever the Western powers decide what is best for them, it all goes belly up, with repercussions that seem to keep increasing. When there is a threat to British territory (like the Falklands), of course there should be a response, but Egypt was not a British colony, even if some monarch thought otherwise.

[@eraldorh]

It was built using western money and the british and rench had majory stakes in the company. How would you react if a foreign government siezed control of said private company because they decided that even tho they didnt pay for a dam thing they should reap the benefits now. There was also the threat of the eqyptian government closing the route costing billions to western powers, if you think any other nation wouldnt react the same way you are just niave.

[@MervynPartin]

@@eraldorh India was subjugated by private companies- The British and French East India Companies. The British East India Company also flooded China with Opium, resulting in the 2 Opium Wars. I make no apologies for actions by previous generations, but those are examples of the "benefits" of private companies to the local population. Am I also naïve if I didn't think that the USA would react the same way when Saudi Arabia nationalised the oil production? Did they invade? No

[@eraldorh]

@@MervynPartin The suez canal company did nothing like that so its irrelevant. No because saudi princes visited the US to make assurances that it would not disrupt oil supply and they bought billions of dollars of weapons while they were there. Saudi is also considered a US ally in the region. The nationalisation also didnt involve ruining a private company owned by a foreign government so not only is your analogy shit but you are indeed niave. One of the reasons for the Iraq gulf war was the iraqi nationalisation of the control of oil.

[@MyScubasteve]

port "saieed" not said.

[@abdulmismail]

Yeah, it's a superb video - but it was kind of let down by mispronunciations. Not only Port "Sai'eed" but Port Few-ad as he said in the video is pronounced "Port Foo'aad".

[@JohnRodriguesPhotographer]

It's okay, he doesn't speak Egyptian

[@salaciousone]

He also called centurion tanks centaurian. I really wanted to see a tank with horse legs 😂

[@senojbdet]

Many years ago I saw a Documentary on Suez which showed the graves of 3 or 4 soldiers killed in the fighting. One showed the soldiers number - a dozen numbers close to mine so I knew that he was a REME soldier. Yet your Roll of Honour does not list him.

[@r.crompton2286]

It's terrible when soldiers die in vain through a lack of resolve by politicians. Can't understand how GB and France could have developed such a good plan but not have gained unequivocal supportfrom the USA/NATO prior to the invasion. Had this come off successfully, maybe Nasser would have been deposed and a puppet government established. But Nasser was allowed to prevail with theSix Day War being the eventual result. Can't see how regaining control over the Suez canal in '56 could have triggered WW III when the Six Day and Yom Kippur Wars didn't.

[@budgie204]

The American government motto. "don't do as we do, do as we say"

[@nickmcmahon623]

The Americans fkd up badly over suez. Allow Britain to regain for Canal Zone and nothing that’s happened in the Middle East since would be the same.

[@rickytorres8566]

That's a load of horse shit, any encroachment on the Egyptians (rightly wanting to take back their shit) would have brought the wrath of the Arab world to the Imperialists (France & GB) and eventually the Soviets would have capitalized on that.

[@nickmcmahon623]

Ricky Torres you know nothing. Britain could have battered the entire arab/Muslim world single handed back then, as we had for a century or so. Learn some history or STFU

[@nickmcmahon623]

Aizaz Aziz very true, our American friends let the Russians get on with it and have paid the price with a fucked up Middle East ever since. It led to us getting our own nukes, so all well in the end.

[@richardmurphy9006]

The French took this and went independent the UK just stuck loyally to USA suez was a watershed

[@ohpatriote5622]

After That frenchgov and General de Gaulle décided to have their own nukes.

[@joehiggins8659]

Politicians and their dirty games.

[@ualuuanie]

All for not at the end of the day the Egyptians still have control of the Suez canal.

[@61zulu77]

All for"naught" at the end of the day...

[@jrjohnryanjr]

They gave there lives for nothing

[@ronfisher4965]

And 115 Sqdn Canberra's, short term, but based in Nicosia Cyprus. Loved the Island no matter the EOKA terrorists in action.

[@seumasnatuaighe]

It's pronounced, Port Sigh-eed. Commandos are referred to by single digit numbers. 40 Commando is four-oh, 43 is four-three. As The Marines will tell you, forty three is a position in the Kama Sutra.

[@markc6714]

That's just because poms can't count high enough to get to forty two...so they use four two.

[@Surv1ve_Thrive]

@@markc6714 you keep making that exact lame comment in so many posts! Give it a rest cobber jeez!

[@markc6714]

@@Surv1ve_Thrive and again if I'm replying to a pertinent post, it's perfectly relevant and appropriate no matter how many times I reply.....so bite me

[@davidmcintyre998]

Had America called the Russian bluff and the West kept its strong hand perhaps we would be in a different world today,its America and i say this with sadness that has payed a big price for this perceived weakness.

[@apropercuppa8612]

Is that how the Port is pronounced? I thought it was pronounced Seye-ihd.

[@61zulu77]

Yes it is, you are correct

[@LM-dl7do]

RIP Chick

[@davidlawrencebanks4610]

Centurion is not pronounced as you do. It's not Centorian but Centurion is only a small point but in documenting history details are very important