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Auction: 21001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals (conducted behind closed doors)
Lot: 685

(x) An impressive Special Forces campaign group of nine awarded to Corporal A. C. 'Lofty' Blackburn, 22 Special Air Service, later Major, Sultan of Oman's Special Force and Baluchi Mercenary Regiment (Western Frontier Regiment)

General Service 1962-2007, 3 clasps, Borneo, South Arabia, Dhofar (22831505 Tpr. A. C. Blackburn. S.A.S.), metal rods between clasps; Oman, Sultanate, Order of Special Royal Emblem, for Expatriate Officer, hallmarked; General Service, 1 clasp, Dhofar; As-Samood Medal; Peace Medal; 10th Anniversary Medal; 15th Anniversary Medal; 20th Anniversary Medal; Malaysia, Pingat Jasa Medal, mounted court-style for wear, good very fine (9)

Allan Charles Blackburn was born on 4 July 1938 and initially served in the Welsh Guards from 27 March 1956 - Christmas Day 1957, before leaving the Army. He re-joined the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers on 2 January 1959, before passing selection for the SAS in late 1964. He went onto see active service in Borneo and South Arabia, before once again being discharged on 6 May 1969. Unable to resist the call of duty, Blackburn returned for a third stint and re-joined the SAS on 5 August 1969. Discharged from Bradbury Lines on 20 November 1974, Blackburn had notched up no less than nineteen confirmed overseas trips, with a further four 'CLASSIFIED' ops noted in the early 1970s. His Testimonial, to go with his 'Exemplary' Military Conduct rating states:

'Alan Blackburn has been an SAS soldier for nine years and has served in numerous adverse and difficult situations. He has emerged from these as a quiet, determined and cool individual with a likeable nature. His patience, loyalty and understanding have been particularly well tested and demonstrated in his dealings with volatile and unpredictable indigenous tribesmen who all profess their respect and liking for him. His firmness and fairness with the latter must be singled out for commendation. He is at home working on his own as an individual, or as a member of any team. His stalwart qualities are about to be rewarded with a commission in the Sultan's Armed Forces; however I believe he will do well for himself or any employer in anything he turns his hand to. It was a pleasure to work with him.'

That Testimonial clearly reflects the long and close work of Blackburn in the deserts of South Arabia and on the Dhofar.

Soon into the action in Dhofar again, Blackburn was the target of a PLA attack in the Wadi Ghayir between Taqa and Murbat. A hostile radio broadcast by Radio Oman stated that on 11 October 1976 an ambush had taken place on a landrover '...carrying a group of mercenaries and agents including a British officer of high rank who was te National Firqat Commander (Blackburn) in Dhofar'. They also proclaimed all the passengers were killed. In his own words:

'I was hardly the important target as states, but I guess they had their equivalent of Alistair Campbell on the newsdesk. I, as a humble Captain was the sole Brit responsible for a large tribal area, with about six different armed groups from the sub-tribes operating against the Communists. I was on a final dash between two camps alone in L/rover to co-ordinate an operation and got zapped - vehicle destroyed, but I lived to fight another day! Clean underpants at dawn!!'

A number of letters confirm at least three periods of service with the Sultan's Forces, with the Special Force from March 1981-May 1985, commanding a Desert Squadron of 60 men. Wounded in action in 1980, he used his time out to take up a short role Liason work in Saudi Arabia. He also spoke Arabic fluently and used his experience of the Firqat to recruit fighters from the Dhofar into the Sultan's Special Force upon his return. He was with the Western Frontier Regiment from August 1985-June 1988, again serving with distinction. Following military service, Blackburn continued his long involvement with the region, being Specialist Security Advisor to BHP on gas exploration in Yemen in the mid-1990s. He also assisted in the building of a school near Beihan.

Sold together with an impressive archive including his Certificate of Service, letters related to his service and his own notes, besides a number of photographs of his service with the British Army and in Oman, a good number annotated.

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Sold for
£4,000

Starting price
£1900