ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

C. K. Brampton. MA (Oxon): Senior History Master and subsequently Deputy Head Master, Moseley Grammar School, Birmingham. It was his encouragement that established an interest and affection for historical matters and taught the essential lessons of the subject. In particular that the subject is the sum of many parts that cannot be treated in isolation and importantly that any retrospective analysis must be measured with regard to the circumstances of the time as a fragment of the continuum of history. The precept he taught was that the substitution of opinion derived with the benefit of hindsight is not scholarship; decisions and events have to be judged in the context of the times in which they occur.

I stand rebuked by him for my failures to meet the quality of his teaching and the poverty of my scholarship throughout this expedition into the past.

Lt. Col. D.J.Jones, R. Sigs. C.O. 9th Signal Regt, B.F.P.O. 53. 1961/62.

Capt. J.R. Burrows, R. Sigs. Adjutant, 9th Signal Regt.

My own military experience was limited to a two year stint of National Service, 1960 to ‘62. There were two significant pieces of good fortune during this service. First, I crept under the wire of the selection procedure, then the training at Mons OCS and consequently was commissioned into the Royal Signals. The second ingredient of good fortune was my eventual posting in Cyprus to the unit commanded by Lt. Col. Jones, in which I undertook the duties of assistant adjutant, under the ever watchful scrutiny of Capt. Burrows. It is appropriate at the end of this exercise for me to acknowledge the opportunities presented by them and the other members of the regiment to experience the British Army at work and play. I count myself fortunate in the extreme that I served in this regiment. I was expected to and allowed to play a role in the life and work of the unit and was in the company of colleagues who treated me as an equal and without reservation offered me their friendship and hospitality. To them must go the credit for drawing back the corner of the curtain of tradition to reveal the awesome scope of the history and achievements of the British Army. I was privileged to be part of their community I am delighted to acknowledge my debt to all of them, including their families, for their forbearance and hospitality, in the full knowledge that I can never discharge this obligation.

Mons Officer Cadet School, Aldershot. ‘A’ Company, July to November 1960.

Gentlemen, my appreciation is offered to you all for your good company, humour, competence and determination under which cover I was able to hide my shortcomings and as a consequence experience the British Army as a junior officer after we had marched off to our duties in the pouring November rain.

There are many others to whom I have obligations for their personal and professional support; my family; Betty my wife, son David and daughter-in-law Anne, their patience and affection has made a significant contribution to the completion of this project. Ellen Hall should receive proper credit for the photograph of her great-grandfather’s medals. Friends, Paul Renecle whose example of humour in adversity was a lifestyle lesson in itself, David Downing for the early and vital encouragement he offered me in the preparation of this text for publication. These and others, friends with whom I have worked and played, too many to mention specifically, have each in their own way enabled me to make something of opportunities too good to miss as I encountered them and all deserve my gratitude and sincere thanks for the pleasure of their company.

The team at Troubador led by Jeremy Thompson who have steered a novice author through the processes of publication have enabled me to convert a pipe dream to reality and they should know that their patience and professional contribution has been valued for maintaining my confidence that there was a worthwhile project to bring to a conclusion.