In the Service of the Sultan: A First-Hand Account of the Dhofar Insurgency

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.

max arthur (4/4 people found this helpful)

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.

New light on a little known war! (24/24 people found this helpful)

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.

In the Service of the Sultan: A First-Hand Account of the Dhofar Insurgency

Ian Gardiner

Reader Reviews:

The forgotten war (0/0 people found this helpful)

max arthur (4/4 people found this helpful)

New light on a little known war! (24/24 people found this helpful)

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