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Product Description
The Sunday Telegraph
'An enthralling book'
Professor Richard Holmes
`Quite simply one of the best books about soldiering that I have
ever read.'
ever read.'
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The author of this excellent book - a retired Royal Marines Brigadier , who having served in Dhofar in the early part of his service, is more than qualified to comment on the events at the time and with greater experience, is now able to reflect on them many years later.
The fact that the forward to this volume was written by the Chief of the Defence Staff ; and Professor Richard Holmes has commented that this volume is "quite simply one of the best books on soldiering" he has ever read, speaks volumes and I am therefore sure readers will not be disappointed either.
The Dhofar insurgency came at a time when the American were struggling in Vietnam and Britain was pre-occupied with events in Northern Ireland. The communists were therefore keen to seize the opportunity to try and gain control of the Sultanate of Oman - the important state guarding the strategic entrance to the Arabian Gulf. Had they been successful, the consequences for the Western world and the Middle East in general could have been disastrous.
The author has cleverly brought together all aspects of this campaign ,which involved both international and local politics and strategic military planning and has successfully provided the reader with a vivid factual account of this little known war fought in the treacherous heat and mountainous conditions just over 30 years ago.
There are several interesting black and white photographs backing up the splendid narrative which brings into perspective and allows the reader to compare events at that time (when Muslim troops were led by a small number of British officers) and the present day events in Iraq and Afghanistan.
This volume is sure to interest a wide range of readers from those whose actually served there, through to researchers and students of international affairs and military history.
The fact that the forward to this volume was written by the Chief of the Defence Staff ; and Professor Richard Holmes has commented that this volume is "quite simply one of the best books on soldiering" he has ever read, speaks volumes and I am therefore sure readers will not be disappointed either.
The Dhofar insurgency came at a time when the American were struggling in Vietnam and Britain was pre-occupied with events in Northern Ireland. The communists were therefore keen to seize the opportunity to try and gain control of the Sultanate of Oman - the important state guarding the strategic entrance to the Arabian Gulf. Had they been successful, the consequences for the Western world and the Middle East in general could have been disastrous.
The author has cleverly brought together all aspects of this campaign ,which involved both international and local politics and strategic military planning and has successfully provided the reader with a vivid factual account of this little known war fought in the treacherous heat and mountainous conditions just over 30 years ago.
There are several interesting black and white photographs backing up the splendid narrative which brings into perspective and allows the reader to compare events at that time (when Muslim troops were led by a small number of British officers) and the present day events in Iraq and Afghanistan.
This volume is sure to interest a wide range of readers from those whose actually served there, through to researchers and students of international affairs and military history.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
It is rare indeed to find an author of a military boook who can not only write like a dream, but was himself in the thick of the action in the Dhofar. Ian Gardiner is writing about an almost forgotten war, but a critical one, that had to be won. He captures the difficult terrain, the harsh climate and the character of the men who fought and in some cases died there. I profoudly recommend this book.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The Dhofar campaign is perhaps one of the most important conflicts since the Second World War. Both the Russians and Chinese were funding and training military insurgents in the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen with the intention of fuelling a Communist insurgency in neighbouring Oman. The ultimate prize being control of the Strait of Hormuz and thus the control of oil in and out of the Arabian Gulf. Though important, this conflict is largely ignored by historians with much more attention being paid to the United States losing a comparatively insignificant but contemporary war in Vietnam.
This book portrays a fantastic first hand account of a soldier's experience in Dhofar. It is almost built up as a series of short stories or anecdotes told with reflection, insight and often with humour. Ian Gardiner writes extremely well, the book is well paced, appropriately structured and not at all self-indulgent. Whilst being a story of soldiering, the book also gives a sensitive portrayal of Oman and the Omanis in the 1960ies and 70ies, giving the book an angle that similar accounts would omit.
The book does not cover the politics or the leadership of the relatively inexperienced Sultan Qaboos that ultimately resulted in victory. Hence, if this is your first venture into Oman, I would recommend that you supplement the book with a quick consultation of an encyclopaedia and a map.
This book portrays a fantastic first hand account of a soldier's experience in Dhofar. It is almost built up as a series of short stories or anecdotes told with reflection, insight and often with humour. Ian Gardiner writes extremely well, the book is well paced, appropriately structured and not at all self-indulgent. Whilst being a story of soldiering, the book also gives a sensitive portrayal of Oman and the Omanis in the 1960ies and 70ies, giving the book an angle that similar accounts would omit.
The book does not cover the politics or the leadership of the relatively inexperienced Sultan Qaboos that ultimately resulted in victory. Hence, if this is your first venture into Oman, I would recommend that you supplement the book with a quick consultation of an encyclopaedia and a map.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
short review of In the Service of the Sultan: A First-Hand Account of...
In anticipation of working in Oman myself sometime soon, I had a quick read through this book. There is no doubting the author's integrity, courage and intelligence. Read more
Published 22 days ago by G. Heath
Service in Oman
I enjoyed the book, having seved in Dhofar at Sarfait at the same time but the book only covers a small part of the whole story. Read more
Published 12 months ago by 123
An inspiring read
I can only agree with all here and would suggest that if you enjoyed it you try, 'Dangerous Frontiers' by Bryan Ray. Read more
Published 14 months ago by MP Collins
Worth reading
Having spent the last few months in Oman I feel I can now relate to some of the issues .It also goes part way to explaining the politics of the Sultan and why he looks after his... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Paul Andrew Woodfield
A man in Oman
Can't rate this one high enough! Little known war when Vietnam was happening, with British Army personnel volunteering to go and fight to in a foreign land to halt Soviet supported... Read more
Published 23 months ago by J. Manson
In the Service of the Sultan
Vary Good as advertised. I was in Oman at this time and knew Ian Gardiner. Factual, and well written.
Published on 5 Nov 2009 by T. Hollomon
In the Service of the Sultan:
A well documented account of the conflict and its' role in Middle Eastern power distribution. A bit too much like a diary rather than a narrative but a compelling read all the... Read more
Published on 28 Sep 2009 by P. McHUGH
Real soldiering, impressive penmanship
I read this book to get some historical perspective before serving with the Sultan's Armed Forces myself this year. Read more
Published on 26 Aug 2009 by Mr. M. Burke
THE SIDE I DIDN'T SEE
I worked in Oman in 68/69 on the edge of the empty quarter. I returned in71/73 and gain for 3 months in 76 to rrelieve at the Mutrah hotel and again to run the Sultans private... Read more
Published on 24 Mar 2009 by Mr. Allan Wilson
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