Deep Behind Enemy Lines, page 2
‘Thank you, Sir,’ he said, stood and saluted smartly.
The CO beamed. ‘Well done, sergeant. Welcome to the world of special communications.’
Following confirmation of his appointment from the Regiment’s Review Board, Bill would be joining the nominated subordinate unit in Kenya and would now become part of special reconnaissance force activities and a member of the UK’s British Special Forces Command. However, Bill mentally noted his associate unit personnel wore the usual military navy beret and neither the red beret of the Parachute Regiment nor the beige beret of Special Forces such as the SAS and this seemed rather strange to him.
The UK ground training was to commence immediately at the Joint Warfare Establishment, Old Sarum, where it involved basic simulated jungle survival, carried out in a specially prepared hanger. Physical endurance required the wearing of field denims, a helmet and gas mask, which significantly restricted breathing. Trainees were required to carry a 7.62 ammunition belt and webbing-supporting full pouches, a weighted Rucksack Bergen, wear direct moulded sole (DMS) boots, and shoulder an SLR (self-loading rifle). They also had to jog up steep hills loaded down with all this FMSO (full military service order) equipment.
The programme was arduous and exhausting, particularly considering the restricted breathing ability. Another training exercise involved the stripping down and re-assembling of small and large weapons in daylight, and blindfolded to represent night and the dark in the event of a weapon jamming. The participants were also timed on performance. Multifunctional exercises in a gymnasium were for building stamina and character development, and there were numerous film presentations on battlefield and amphibian assault tactics, stealth free fall parachuting and groundwork for parachute training. Bill already had his specialist parachute qualification, having spent six weeks on the parachute course in Hampshire. He was joining a special global wireless unit under the direction of a Global Security Divisional Service (GSDS), a counter-intelligence division of the UK Foreign Office Global Wireless Support Organisation and, as such, parachuting was a prerequisite.
The Kenya-based unit was some forty personnel strong, commanded by a Major James Brown, an SAS (Special Air Services) Officer, assisted by a Senior Foreign Office Liaison Civil Servant. Its modus operandi was penetration, infiltration and/or operation deep into, and where possible behind enemy insurgent and military lines.
One evening, over a few beers with his fellow course members, someone brought up the subject of Orde Wingate’s World War Two command in Burma with the Chindits, highlighting the similarities with their current agenda. This triggered a memory from Bill’s military history studies and decided he would read up more on that past campaign, which he did, and subsequently began to recognise the unit he’d be attached to was an operational analogy.
The basic functional agendas differed in only one respect; the Chindits, SAS and Gurkha’s as formidable ground troops, were to seek out, ambush and destroy an enemy, whereas the Global Wireless Forces, being both airborne and ground-troop trained, were surveillance troops with an operational mandate to seek out, collect intelligence on insurgent movements and report their findings to the SAS or other specialist infantry units like the Gurkha’s to counter any insurgency.
Bill already had normal security clearance, and now received his positive vetting from the Ministry of Defence. He was then issued with all his travel documentation and reference papers from his unit administration and had all necessary inoculations, before saying farewell to the associates and instructors he’d worked with, and took his leave.
He was ready for some well-earned R & R prior to his departure for Kenya, and had one or two ideas about what he’d do with himself during this time. Primarily he wanted to try and access some free fall parachuting/ skydiving, which would stand him in good stead for his forthcoming posting and act as a bolt-on to his existing static line parachuting qualification. He was very keen to augment his military expertise and capabilities as his sole aim was the successful and tactical objectives in missions; to deny an enemy its insurgent ambitions of penetration into normal and politically accepted safe havens, although he was not blind to the personal and operational risks he faced. His whole military career and training had been geared to the furtherance of being part of such missions, and what he’d trained for and believed in. The one and only obstacle would be a more superior and tactical enemy.
Among Bill’s myriad thoughts on this new phase of his life, he got to muse about what manner of man his new OC was likely to be. As with all organisations, hierarchy came in many shapes, sizes and personalities. He had no problem with discipline, but he was not so stupid as to dismiss the fact there was fair and foul, and the army was up there with the best and worst. He’d find out soon enough, it was a case of wait and see.
The officer occupying Bill’s thought at that moment (although he knew little of him yet) was Major James Brown, whose meteoric rise through the officer ranks was quite outstanding. This could, of course, be a case of whom you knew and not what you knew, but Bill hoped he could keep an open mind until he met the man and made his own judgement.
Chapter 3
Major James Brown could be said to have enjoyed a privileged upbringing, and a meteoric climb up the officer promotion ladder.
Now, as a major of the SAS B Squadron, a coveted command, he was a well-qualified and greatly respected Rupert. But some might say it could have been because his father was highly distinguished and decorated for his military activities during WWII, holding the rank of colonel. As an officer in the Army Intelligence Corps at the MOD, he’d been heavily involved with Operation Longcloth, the Chindits and General Orde Wingate, with whom he was closely acquainted.
However, the army personnel that James bumped shoulders with along the way would mostly disagree with that assertion, as he had earned the respect of those of lesser rank, as well as the command hierarchy.
He was not immune to being at the sharp end, having suffered a severe wound in 1959 during a dangerous skirmish in the Sultanate of Oman against a large group of Yemeni terrorists. That operation had been successful, but the wound James sustained left him with a permanent facial scar as a reminder of the occasion.
His own ambitious nature occasionally gave him pause to reflect his father’s distinguished career and could possibly be colouring his own drive. But then again, he rationalised, he did carry his father’s genes, didn’t he?
On his return to the UK he’d met Kathryn Dobson, daughter of a senior officer in the Royal Artillery and, after a short courtship dictated by an imminent change to James’ circumstances, they married. This change was set in motion by a memo from his CO requesting he report to him for an interview.
When James presented himself, the CO greeted him cordially, ushered him to a chair, made brief reference to his sterling active service work on his last mission and launched into the crux of the interview.
‘Major Brown, I have been requested by the Foreign Office Global Security Divisional Service (GSDS) and Global Wireless Services section (GWS) to recommend a qualified and responsible officer to take command of a Special Reconnaissance unit in Kenya. I believe you are the man with the right credentials for this assignment. The job requires covert implementation of operations, penetration and reconnaissance that involve dealing with outbreaks of Islamic fundamentalism, which are escalating in the NFD, and are orchestrated by the Somalis, thus the FO involvement.
I cannot emphasise strongly enough how extremely vital this work is, not only because these rebel factions seek to undermine and destroy British authority but, equally important, to stop the wholesale slaughter of the law-abiding indigenous population. It’s becoming what can only be described as a bloodbath. It will be a beneficial career move for you major, and I would not have put your name forward if I hadn’t been confident of your abilities.’ The CO paused and gave James a questioning look.
It took James a couple of seconds to respond. ‘Sir, any officer presented with such a challenging proposal could not fail to be delighted and honoured. Can you give me details regarding unit numbers?’
‘I’m not privy to all details yet, but I can tell you the specialist manpower will be in the order of forty-five, quite small compared to the usual squadron of around 120 a major would normally expect to command. However, make no mistake this is a very specialised and high profile security command. Initially, the posting will commence at 26 Special Communications Regiment, a recruitment unit in College Square, Bristol. Reporting there is to be in three weeks, so I must have your answer ASAP. Do you have any further questions?’
James was somewhat thunderstruck; not only by the offer but also the enormity of the responsibility and serious nature of the job.
‘Not immediately, Sir, but thank you for your confidence in me and you will have my reply within two days.’
He stood, saluted, and left the office with a great deal to think about. Certainly, there was no doubt he would accept and, once he’d talked to his wife who backed him wholeheartedly, he relayed his acceptance to the CO next morning. He spent the next day putting everything necessary in place for the transfer to his new regiment, and three days later he received the order to report to 26 Regiment.
On arrival, he was ordered to report to his new CO and after depositing his bags in the nominated officer accommodation, duly presented himself at the Regimental Headquarters. His new CO made him welcome by expressing his hope that James’ mess quarters were OK and proceeded to inform him he would be attending a short course at the Joint Warfare Establishment in Old Sarum. There he would be familiarised with Kenyan topography, with emphasis on the Northern Frontier District. Enemy weaponry, planning, preparation and operations implementation would be addressed and then there would follow a three-day visit to the affiliated FO organisation at Alton Park, Essex where he would meet a Senior Civil Service Officer with the GWS who would join him in Nairobi. He would also receive global orders, his operational mandate and more in-depth assignment details. Under his military command would be some forty parachute-trained special communications personnel who were already on post, and presently being organised and managed by a staff sergeant. At this juncture Major Brown felt at ease knowing more of the specifics.
The short course at the JWE completed, James proceeded to Alton Park, where two Senior Civil Servants met him in a conference room.
‘Please be seated, Major Brown,’ invited the slimmer individual with balding pate and spectacles. ‘I’m Sidney Travers, Senior Civil Service Officer with the Global Wireless Service. This is my supervisor, Oliver Wainwright, also a senior civil servant with the FO.’
‘Welcome to the GWS, Major Brown,’ said Wainwright. ‘As an overview, we have several global locations where politically the British Government is involved with Islamic fundamentalism and insurgency activities, Kenya being just one of them. This department’s focus is to covertly monitor the insurgents’ activities and have the findings reported back to the British Government to determine any necessary counter-insurgency measures. Since there has been extensive insurgency in the NFD region of Kenya, the government there has requested assistance.
As such, and in consideration of your experience, you have been recommended to command the unit in that theatre. You’ll be located at our secure office facilities in the Kahawa Military Cantonment just outside Nairobi. Furthermore, Sidney Travers will be co-located with you for the duration of your assignment, and the monitoring activities will be directed from this department via him.
However, be assured your unit will be controlled and commanded exclusively and militarily by you, under usual army regulations and command protocol.’ Wainwright paused. This guy was rather officious, pompous and conceited thought James. However, the major knew he had to defer to them both for the sake of his reputation and future military career.
‘Now I’ll leave you in the good hands of Travers. He’ll go into greater detail about the covert operations in the Kenya geographic area.’
‘Thank you,’ James said, and stood as Oliver Wainwright left the room.
Through previous discreet enquiries James had made via his father’s FO contacts, he’d learned that both Wainwright and Travers had worked for the DWS (Diplomatic Wireless Service) in operations deep behind the German lines during WWII, obtaining valuable intelligence information for the allied forces, so he knew not to dismiss their obvious expertise lightly.
‘FYI, major, I’ll be unaccompanied on this assignment, will travel separately and reside in the officer’s mess accommodation at the Kahawa Garrison.’
Travers, it would seem, had no wife or children in his life to hamper him. James listened intently whilst Travers continued over the next hour to give a detailed description of the proposed operations mandate.
James called his wife again after the meeting and filled her in on what details he could, leaving out any sensitive security issues. She, in her turn, gave him the assurance he needed to confirm he’d made the right decision in accepting the assignment and was more than grateful because, without it he would have been very conflicted.
The next business of the day was to organise all necessary paperwork for them both; packing, travel, inoculations, transport from the airport to the unit base and living quarters on their arrival in Nairobi.
Two days later they flew out of Heathrow Airport on a BOAC Boeing 707 and landed on time at Embakasi Airport, Nairobi. On clearing immigration and collecting their baggage, James saw a soldier in uniform holding up a board with their names printed on it. ‘There’s our ride, sweetheart.’
They were struck by the brightness and warmth that enveloped them as they walked out of the reception hall and became aware of the noise and activity going on around them.
The soldier saluted smartly. ‘Good afternoon, Sir, Madam and welcome to Nairobi. I’m Staff Sergeant Baines and I’m tasked with taking you to your quarters at Kahawa. Let me help you carry your bags to the car.’
‘Thank you, Staff Baines.’
It had just started to rain as they climbed into the car, a very smart model of quite a new Jaguar Mk 7. Staff Baines loaded the cases into the boot and jumped into the driver’s seat, started the engine and exited the car park heading for Kahawa.
‘Bit wet, Staff. Was this rain expected?’
‘Just a shower, Sir. We get them occasionally during September and you’ll have noticed how warm it is too.’
‘Yes it does feel rather close. You came out here with the advance party I understand. Have all the men settled in now on the base?’
‘Yes, Sir. I’m the only senior rank in the unit so I’ve been organising the men with some obliging assistance from the camp’s administration department.’
‘Well done. I’ll speak formally to the men in a couple of days, once we’ve settled in. I’ll let you know the day and time shortly.’
‘Very good, Sir. A Mr Travers is due to arrive the day after tomorrow, and I’ve instructions to collect him from the airport too.’
‘Yes, Staff. He’s an extremely important and senior member of our team, so be sure to be on time.’
‘No problem, Sir.’
‘Can we expect more rain at this time of the year, Staff’ asked Mrs Brown.
‘As I mentioned Ma’am, it rains now and again, although more like heavy showers really. We get the short rains in November and December and the long rains April through June.’
When they arrived at the officers’ quarters Josh unloaded their baggage into the accommodation and handed the keys to James.
‘Thanks for all your assistance Staff I’m extremely obliged. As I said, I’ll be in touch shortly. Just let me know when you’ve collected Mr Travers and have dropped him off at his accommodation.’
‘Will do. Been a pleasure Sir, Ma’am.’ Staff Baines saluted and drove away.
As they entered the property their first impression was of a large, airy and well-furnished quarter. There were three bedrooms, a large kitchen, a large bathroom and shower and plenty of wardrobe space. It was also very clean, which promised a housemaid in attendance.
They started to unpack and settle in.
Chapter 4
Bill had three weeks to kill before joining his new unit in Kenya, so he put in for, and received, the necessary leave permission up to the day before he was due to fly out. His first priority was to visit his mother and sister whom he hadn’t seen for several months and thought it would be good to catch up with various civilian mates, finding out what had been going on in their lives over one or two beers. There were a few long overdue personal things he wanted to deal with as well.
He also had it in mind to see if there was somewhere to get in some free fall parachuting experience. It would be good, and certainly useful, to augment the static line parachute course he’d undertaken during training. Unexpectedly, on the Tuesday morning before his leave was due to start, he got a phone call out of the blue.
‘Hi, Bill, Roger Harper here. A blast from the past, eh! How are you doing?’
Bill had a momentary mental block as to just who Roger Harper was, and then the penny dropped. Roger had been at Catterick Camp with the Army Air Corps when Bill was there with the Royal Signals. They’d both been billeted in the WOs’ and Sergeants’ Mess, becoming firm friends for the duration before they went their separate ways and lost touch. During the down time they’d laughed, put the world to rights and rabble-roused in the town after evenings of heavy boozing, narrowly escaping stints in jankers.
‘Roger, old mate, good to hear from you. How on earth did you manage to track me down?’
‘I heard on the army grapevine you were completing a course of training and thought we might get together for a jar and old time’s sake. Any chance of that? What do you think?’
