British soldier recalls seizure by Iran of disputed islands

Lt Col David Neild tells of ruler's reaction to news of Iranian occupation.

The first major test for Ras Al Khaimah came early on a November morning in 1971 as news that the Iranians had invaded the islands of Greater and Lesser Tunb crackled over Lt Col David Neild’s radio.

It was one day before Britain’s withdrawal from the Trucial States after 150 years of foreign policy administration from London.

“No one was expecting any invasion at that time, they were there just as a symbol of Ras Al Khaimah,” Lt Col Neild said. “It was still a British protectorate then.

“The principle was that if you had a treaty, Britain guaranteed your external safety and they should honour that, which they didn’t.”

Lt Col Neild sped off to the palace of Sheikh Saqr, the Ruler of RAK, to break the news.

“He said: ‘Right, get the soldiers, get the people, get the dhows ready, we go to the island’. And I said: ‘If that’s what you want’. And he said: ‘Just wait’.

“And there was a date palm there and he went and prayed and I thought, ‘I think maybe I should pray as well because we’re about to go out in wooden dhows to take on the Iranian navy, which is not much of a contest, so I think today is the day I meet a watery grave’.”

After praying, Sheikh Saqr reconsidered.

“I said: ‘Your Highness, if you want us to go, we will go’,’” Lt Col Neild said. “And it may sound strange, but we would have gone, such was a our loyalty to him.”

The Briton had observed negotiations between Sheikh Saqr and the British, who had pressured the Ruler to settle with Iran before withdrawal.

“He said: ‘The islands belonged to Ras Al Khaimah, I can’t give them away’. He said: ‘My family have walked on those islands and their grandchildren have walked on those islands. It is not negotiable’.”