Product Description
In Part 1 of his book the author describes his life as a young officer in the Somaliland Scouts in the (then) British Protectorate of Somaliland. At that time tribal quarrels, generally over water, were taking place in the troubled strip of country between the Protectorate and Ethiopia; the Ogaden. It was the Scouts’ difficult task to keep the warring clansmen apart. It gives a vivid account of a nineteen-year-old in command of Somali troops in a fascinating and unpredictable country.
The second part of the book deals with the Author’s second period of service with Muslims, a quarter of a century later. This time in the Southern Province of Oman – Dhofar. Here he commanded the Northern Frontier Regiment of the Sultan’s Armed Force in a limited but fierce war against Communist Insurgents. It shows how the tide was turned against a brave enemy fighting on their home ground – the savage wadis and cliffs of the jebel.
Dangerous Frontiers will appeal to a wide audience, including those interesting in military and world history and in those two little known areas – the Horn of Africa and Southern Oman. In both campaigns it reflects the mutual liking and respect that the handful of British officers had for their Muslim soldiers and the soldiers for their leaders. It is written with humor and an understanding of other cultures.
DANGEROUS FRONTIERS: Campaigning in Somaliland and Oman
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March 8th, 2010 at 9:10 pm
DANGEROUS FRONTIERS: Campaigning in Somaliland and Oman
Excellent memoir by a British Officer whose exploits put Indiana Jones to shame. Leading indigenous troops in some of the most dangerous and difficult countries in the world, this volume was hard to put down. This book should be a must read for military and technical advisors who will be posted to the Horn of Africa and Arabian peninsula, or to Southwest Asia in general. Historical pictures are a great help, although I wished there had been more of them.
Rating: 4 / 5