1950s: City parachutist leapt into Suez Crisis action

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Canal crisis: British PM Anthony Eden told Britons he would not allow a man with Col Nasser’s record to “have his thumb on our windpipe”

THIS time 50 years ago Britain was caught up in a conflict which ultimately brought down British Prime Minister Anthony Eden, and a Derby man was there to play his part.

Eric Doyle, of Allenton (73), was among those who took part in Operation Muskateer, an attempt to capture Port Said, Egypt. He was a member of the 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment. He was called into action as Britain faced yet another Middle East crisis.

It began in the summer of 1956 when Egypt’s President Nasser took the provocative step of nationalising the Suez Canal, which was jointly owned by British and French companies. Nasser made his move because his appeal for foreign aid to build his Aswan Dam project had fallen on deaf ears in America and Britain.

The Western powers’ main concern was that the essential shipping link between the Red and Mediterranean Seas, which revolutionised trade between Europe and Asia, was under threat.

Britain, France and Israel united in protest. The Egyptians responded by sinking 40 ships which were in the canal at the time, rendering it impassable. Eventually, after weeks of attempting to solve the dispute peacefully, with both the US and Soviet Union involved in talks, Israeli troops forced the issue by attacking Egypt at the end of October. The British and French quickly followed, bombing Egyptian airfields and landing troops at Port Said at the northern end of the Suez Canal.

Prime Minister Anthony Eden decided to join the attack because he feared Nasser intended to form an Arab Alliance that would cut off oil supplies to Europe.

In the event, it was that fear which rapidly brought the war to an end. The UN, US and USSR demanded a ceasefire and, on November 7, the invaders agreed to withdraw. After just a week, the fighting was all over and, within a month, the invasion forces had gone. Britain, France and Israel were forced to pay reparation to Egypt for the damage and the canal was re-opened under Egyptian control after the sunken ships were cleared.

Soon after, petrol rationing was introduced in Europe.

Anthony Eden, who had been foreign secretary before, during and after the Second World War before succeeding Winston Churchill as Prime Minister in 1955, was in failing health and, three months after the Suez affair, he resigned.

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