This Man's Army!

About the Book

The war to end all wars was over and in 1945, Britain, like many of its European allies, was counting the cost not only in the loss of human life, but the economic burden of rebuilding the nation.

The world had enough of war, and the Big Three were determined, it would never happen again, and conscription still continued as a safety mechanism to protect the freedom of all nations.

Communism was now the new enemy with no front lines, and Russia under Stalin commenced the so-called cold war.

Korea had come and gone, and the Suez Crisis, or as it was named the Tripartite War, when Britain decided to join France and Israel in an attempt to prevent Colonel Nasser from nationalising the canal. As usual, the offensive was undermined by the United States, the so-called global policeman, triggering a sterling crisis, which unfortunately forced Britain to withdraw.

So what’s new?

Malaya, although finalising its independence in 1957, still remained a British protectorate. Britain decided to continue with conscription under the flag of National Service, a rose by any other name.

This is a factual diary of one such national serviceman, Private Gwyn Harris of the famous Twenty-fourth of Foot Regiment, The South Wales Borderers, who found himself fighting the Communist insurgence on the Malayan Peninsular. He was a British soldier in a foreign land fighting for a cause that he would never understand and for a nation that would easily forget.

This is an exciting account of ordinary young men doing exceptional things for Queen and Country. A gripping account of jungle warfare laced with humour, honour and sadness. Not to be missed!

Gwyn and his wife, Betty, have now returned to Malaysia to live out their retirement. They now reside in the capital city, Kuala Lumpur.

About the Author