What do you think?
Rate this book
In the Service of the Sultan: A First Hand Account of the Dhofar Insurgency
While the Americans were fighting in Vietnam, a struggle of even greater strategic significance was taking place in the Middle East: the Sultanate of Oman guards the entrance to the Arabian Gulf, and thus controls the movement of oil from that region. In the 1960s and 70s, the Communists tried to seize this artery and, had they succeeded, the consequences for the West and for the Middle East would have been disastrous - and yet, few people have ever heard of this geo-political drama at the height of the Cold War.
In the Service of the Sultan tells, first-hand, the largely unknown story of a small number of British officers who led Muslim soldiers in this hard-fought anti-insurgency war which has shaped today’s Gulf. After outlining the historical, geographical and political background, the book describes military action in a stark and mountainous environment, including operations with irregular forces and the SAS as well as action in the air and at sea. The book gives a gripping, moving, funny account of all these and paints a powerful and illuminating picture of the realities of war.
It will appeal to all who are interested in the Cold War and relationships between the Western and the Arab worlds. Politics, history, irregular warfare, religion, international affairs: all are ingredients in this absorbing, informative read. In the light of the current insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan, it is also timely to be reminded how a rare victory was won over Communist guerrillas.
In the Service of the Sultan tells, first-hand, the largely unknown story of a small number of British officers who led Muslim soldiers in this hard-fought anti-insurgency war which has shaped today’s Gulf. After outlining the historical, geographical and political background, the book describes military action in a stark and mountainous environment, including operations with irregular forces and the SAS as well as action in the air and at sea. The book gives a gripping, moving, funny account of all these and paints a powerful and illuminating picture of the realities of war.
It will appeal to all who are interested in the Cold War and relationships between the Western and the Arab worlds. Politics, history, irregular warfare, religion, international affairs: all are ingredients in this absorbing, informative read. In the light of the current insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan, it is also timely to be reminded how a rare victory was won over Communist guerrillas.
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 19, 2006
77 people are currently reading
786 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
September 3, 2021
An interesting book about a little known war during the Cold War, that was not fought on a grand scale, but the outcome could have had very bad consequences for the western powers. It was a very successful counter-insurgency carried out over a ten-year span against communist backed forces. The author, who was a junior Royal Marine officer seconded to the Omani Army concentrates on his service there towards the end of the war, but gives great background about Oman, it's people and politics and the conflict. Recommended to those interested in the Cold War and Middle Eastern politics and conflicts.
November 13, 2008
One of the best books i have read in quite some time. truly a wonderful insight into the history of Oman and why it is the place it is today. also how a model counter insurgency in a little know part of the world that few people ever knew happened helped save the world from the iron grip of communism. this is by far the best book i have read about young men, war, leadership, and the struggles they face along with their families back home.
January 26, 2010
The fact that this book is written by one of my neighbours is what made me pick it up in the first place, but I am very glad I did. Army type books is not my usual cup of tea, but this is a really good read. Interesting, gripping and entertaining.
February 3, 2020
تبدأ أحداث الرواية عندما تسلم السلطان قابوس بن سعيد بن تيمور آل سعيد مقاليد الحكم في سلطنة عمان في يوم ٢٣ يوليو ١٩٧٠.. وذكر بعض الأحداث التي تزامنت مع هذا الحدث المهم..
..
ثم تطرق الكاتب لذكر لحظة وصوله إلى عمان والبرنامج التدريبي الذي تلقاه قبل وصوله.. وكيف كان انطباعه عن السلطنة في تلك الفترة .. وشرح بسيط لعادات وتقاليد العمانيين وديانتهم وتعاملهم السمح مع الغرباء وكيف يعاملون ضيوفهم بكرم واسع وحفاوة..
..
وبعد ذلك يخوض الكاتب في ذكر تفاصيل الحرب التي دارت رحاها في جبال ظفار وفي أحلك الظروف وأصعبها.. حيث يحاربون عدواً تشرب أفكاره من أوحال الشيوعية.. وقد ذكر بعض الشخوص والاسلحة المستخدمة وبعض تفاصيل الدوريات والمناورات التي قاموا بتنفيذها..
..
وبعد حربٍ استمرت لخمس سنوات طوال، أذِن الله بالنصر لأهل عمان، أهل الحق والكرامه في عام ١٩٧٥م بقيادة السلطان قابوس سلطان الحكمة والسلام، والذي كان يتابع أحداث الحرب عن كثب.. وبحكمة رجل محنك واصل مسيرة تطور بلاده والتي أخذها على عاتقه.. فجزاه الله عنا خير الجزاء..
..
ثم تطرق الكاتب لذكر لحظة وصوله إلى عمان والبرنامج التدريبي الذي تلقاه قبل وصوله.. وكيف كان انطباعه عن السلطنة في تلك الفترة .. وشرح بسيط لعادات وتقاليد العمانيين وديانتهم وتعاملهم السمح مع الغرباء وكيف يعاملون ضيوفهم بكرم واسع وحفاوة..
..
وبعد ذلك يخوض الكاتب في ذكر تفاصيل الحرب التي دارت رحاها في جبال ظفار وفي أحلك الظروف وأصعبها.. حيث يحاربون عدواً تشرب أفكاره من أوحال الشيوعية.. وقد ذكر بعض الشخوص والاسلحة المستخدمة وبعض تفاصيل الدوريات والمناورات التي قاموا بتنفيذها..
..
وبعد حربٍ استمرت لخمس سنوات طوال، أذِن الله بالنصر لأهل عمان، أهل الحق والكرامه في عام ١٩٧٥م بقيادة السلطان قابوس سلطان الحكمة والسلام، والذي كان يتابع أحداث الحرب عن كثب.. وبحكمة رجل محنك واصل مسيرة تطور بلاده والتي أخذها على عاتقه.. فجزاه الله عنا خير الجزاء..
September 10, 2020
This was a DNF for me. I hate to not finish books but after slogging through half of this I just couldn't anymore. I'm sure this would be very interesting for those looking for military journals because the author spends the majority of this book explaining the minutiae of military strategies and missions. This reads like a personal journal with names of people and places given but more as a list of events and not how everything is tied to the insurgency. I was hoping for a book showing what the country, culture, people and politics were like and the effects of the Dhofar insurgency on those. This just isn't that book.
February 7, 2017
Ian Gardiner wrote a short, but effective account of the Dhofar War. Besides his first-hand experience in the war, he gives background on the war, Omani history, and geography. His Chapter 10 analysis of "manning equipment" versus "equipping the man" is relevant to all warfare and all leaders.
July 14, 2019
We are lucky to live in an age where most books are well written and published with high production values. A small number are well above average and extraordinarily well done. Then there are a rarefied few where enough good words cannot be written—In the Service of the Sultan, by Ian Gardiner, is one of these priceless books.
First hand accounts are excellent for their grit and emotion though usually limited in scope. Overview accounts are useful for understanding events in the context of their times. Gardiner, almost uniquely provides both making this book enlightening. Gardiner, as a combat team leader, has an ability to think philosophically about the events and people involved in those events—not an uncommon trait for an experienced warrior.
In the Service of the Sultan, tells Gardiner’s perspective of countering a politically inspired insurgency in the Dhofar Provence of Oman. This war occurred over a decade from 1965 to 1975 and threatened control of the Straits of Hormuz. Incredibly, most of us are not aware of it as the Vietnam War occupied the news services at the time.
Gardiner serves to reminds of us of this signal strategic event as he furthered his career in the Royal Marines (United Kingdom)—an interesting process—as well as the uncommon feat of defeating an insurgency. Having limited artillery support, and even more limited close air support, the Sultan of Oman’s forces largely prevailed the hard way with infantry patrols and actions. Initially setting a barrier for the insurgents, who were based in Yemen, these forces adapted to their theater of operation. Almost always on foot due to sole eating terrain donkeys were used when insertions were made to set ambushes as they could quietly carry heavy machine guns, mortars and ammunition. Helicopters were used to supply isolated outposts since their noise announcing traits were less dangerous as well as to evacuate casualties. A handful of Jet Provosts would provide air support with their small bomb loads and inferior machine gun armament—at least by U.S. standards—but were more than sufficient to address an enemy without adequate air defense. Along the course of In the Service of the Sultan the reader learns many priceless lessons and professional thinking, such as:
The planning of an ambush is much like complicated watch mechanism
How the adoo thought and the development of how to out think them
What it is like to fight with air support as well as without it
How helicopter pilots flew into rugged terrain in poorly lit nights using airspeed, compass and stopwatch
How taking casualties exponentially compounds the challenge of conducting a fight
The photographs are many and are outstanding. Notably those of Nicholas Knolly since they illustrate the events as they were occurring and leave readers with the grit that must have been.
The craft learned is there to be read. The thinking of the decision making is there. The emotions are there. This is a book that not only teaches history, it makes for vicariously experiencing that history. A history that is gone unsung and unnoticed though it may have been the most significant of the shooting wars occurring during the Cold War. The world would be frighteningly different from that of today should the Sultan of Oman have been overthrown.
Next week a post on Yompers: with 45 Commando in the Falklands War, Ian Gardiner, 2012, ISBN 978-1-84884-441-4, 208 pp. — also by Ian Gardiner — will publish and it will be seen how this commander became a more capable combat leader as well as his increased understanding regarding strategy, politics in war as well as soldiering.
It is not to be missed.
First hand accounts are excellent for their grit and emotion though usually limited in scope. Overview accounts are useful for understanding events in the context of their times. Gardiner, almost uniquely provides both making this book enlightening. Gardiner, as a combat team leader, has an ability to think philosophically about the events and people involved in those events—not an uncommon trait for an experienced warrior.
In the Service of the Sultan, tells Gardiner’s perspective of countering a politically inspired insurgency in the Dhofar Provence of Oman. This war occurred over a decade from 1965 to 1975 and threatened control of the Straits of Hormuz. Incredibly, most of us are not aware of it as the Vietnam War occupied the news services at the time.
Gardiner serves to reminds of us of this signal strategic event as he furthered his career in the Royal Marines (United Kingdom)—an interesting process—as well as the uncommon feat of defeating an insurgency. Having limited artillery support, and even more limited close air support, the Sultan of Oman’s forces largely prevailed the hard way with infantry patrols and actions. Initially setting a barrier for the insurgents, who were based in Yemen, these forces adapted to their theater of operation. Almost always on foot due to sole eating terrain donkeys were used when insertions were made to set ambushes as they could quietly carry heavy machine guns, mortars and ammunition. Helicopters were used to supply isolated outposts since their noise announcing traits were less dangerous as well as to evacuate casualties. A handful of Jet Provosts would provide air support with their small bomb loads and inferior machine gun armament—at least by U.S. standards—but were more than sufficient to address an enemy without adequate air defense. Along the course of In the Service of the Sultan the reader learns many priceless lessons and professional thinking, such as:
The planning of an ambush is much like complicated watch mechanism
How the adoo thought and the development of how to out think them
What it is like to fight with air support as well as without it
How helicopter pilots flew into rugged terrain in poorly lit nights using airspeed, compass and stopwatch
How taking casualties exponentially compounds the challenge of conducting a fight
The photographs are many and are outstanding. Notably those of Nicholas Knolly since they illustrate the events as they were occurring and leave readers with the grit that must have been.
The craft learned is there to be read. The thinking of the decision making is there. The emotions are there. This is a book that not only teaches history, it makes for vicariously experiencing that history. A history that is gone unsung and unnoticed though it may have been the most significant of the shooting wars occurring during the Cold War. The world would be frighteningly different from that of today should the Sultan of Oman have been overthrown.
Next week a post on Yompers: with 45 Commando in the Falklands War, Ian Gardiner, 2012, ISBN 978-1-84884-441-4, 208 pp. — also by Ian Gardiner — will publish and it will be seen how this commander became a more capable combat leader as well as his increased understanding regarding strategy, politics in war as well as soldiering.
It is not to be missed.
April 5, 2022
اسم الكتاب : في خدمة السلطان
الكاتب : إيان جاردنير
المترجم : ليلى الحضرمية وسلطان البوسعيدي
عدد الصفحات : 208
#إقتباس:
إن التحول الذي بدأه السلطان قابوس بن سعيد في 23 يوليو عام 1970 قد تقدم بسرعة هائلة. وبما أنه قائد مصلح وينظر إلى الأمام بنظرة ثاقبة، ويشارك في الأحداث، فقد كان السلطان قابوس يمثل الحكومة التي يريدها العمانيون ويحلمون بها.
#تلخيص الكتاب :
كتاب في خدمة السلطان (رواية مباشرة لحرب ظفار) من تأليف إيان جاردنير وهو أحد المشاركين في حرب ظفار؛ والتي كانت في الفترة ما بين 1965 و1975.
بدأ الكاتب بوصف المشاهد الأولية لبوادر الحرب واسبابها ؛حيث أستطيع القول بأن السبب الرئيسي لهذه الحرب هم الشيوعيون الذين جائوا من اليمن بعد احتلاها من قبلهم وتحويلها للجمهورية شيوعية، ولقد كانت مطامعهم تصل إلى السعي وراء احتلال عمان كافة من خلال الحصول على ظفار، طبعا كانت مطامعهم دائما واضحة للعيان.
ثم استطرق الكاتب في وصف ساحات المعركة والتي كانت في ظفار من شرقها إلى غربها، وأيضا تم ذكر الشخصيات المشاركة في هذه المعركة؛ بالتأكيد لم يقم الكاتب بذكر جميع المقاتلين فلقد اكتفى بذكر من استطاع تذكرهم فقط؛ وذلك لأن الكاتب لم يقم بتدوين الأحداث في تلك الحقبة وإنما قام بالتدوين بعد انقضاء الحرب وانتهاء الأزمة.
وأيضا أسهب المؤلف في ذكر السمات العربية، والأخلاق التي تميز بها العمانيون منذ القدم، حيث أن الكاتب قد عاش بينهم وتقاسم معهم حلو الحياة ومرها لفترة ليست بالقصيرة.
ثم استطرق إيان في وصف مجريات الحرب، الأسلحة، الضباط، الطرق المستخدمة، الخرائط، الاستراتيجيات؛ وكل ما يخص الحرب آنذاك قد تم ذكره بدأ من الفصل السادس في الكتاب.
وأيضاً لا أنسى الأب القائد الذي كافح من أجل بقاء ظفار جزءا لا يتجزء من عمان، وعمل جاهدا لتوحيد البلاد وردع الفتن في جميع أنحائها؛ فلقد حظي جلالة السلطان قابوس رحمه الله بالوصف المثالي في جميع أجزاء الكتاب.
ومن الجميل جدا في هذا الكتاب وجود ملحق لصور من حرب ظفار لمختلف المواقع، المعدات، الجنود، المؤلف وأصدقاءه، وجلالة السلطان قابوس.
وأخيراً فإن انتهاء الحرب كان فاتحة خير للعمانين ولتسارع النهضة العمانية نحو التطور العالمي الذي طمح له الجميع.
ولقد أدرج في الآخير خطاب النصر الذي القاه حضرة صاحب الجلالة في الحادي عشر من ديسمبر في عام 1975 ميلاديا.
.
الكاتب : إيان جاردنير
المترجم : ليلى الحضرمية وسلطان البوسعيدي
عدد الصفحات : 208
#إقتباس:
إن التحول الذي بدأه السلطان قابوس بن سعيد في 23 يوليو عام 1970 قد تقدم بسرعة هائلة. وبما أنه قائد مصلح وينظر إلى الأمام بنظرة ثاقبة، ويشارك في الأحداث، فقد كان السلطان قابوس يمثل الحكومة التي يريدها العمانيون ويحلمون بها.
#تلخيص الكتاب :
كتاب في خدمة السلطان (رواية مباشرة لحرب ظفار) من تأليف إيان جاردنير وهو أحد المشاركين في حرب ظفار؛ والتي كانت في الفترة ما بين 1965 و1975.
بدأ الكاتب بوصف المشاهد الأولية لبوادر الحرب واسبابها ؛حيث أستطيع القول بأن السبب الرئيسي لهذه الحرب هم الشيوعيون الذين جائوا من اليمن بعد احتلاها من قبلهم وتحويلها للجمهورية شيوعية، ولقد كانت مطامعهم تصل إلى السعي وراء احتلال عمان كافة من خلال الحصول على ظفار، طبعا كانت مطامعهم دائما واضحة للعيان.
ثم استطرق الكاتب في وصف ساحات المعركة والتي كانت في ظفار من شرقها إلى غربها، وأيضا تم ذكر الشخصيات المشاركة في هذه المعركة؛ بالتأكيد لم يقم الكاتب بذكر جميع المقاتلين فلقد اكتفى بذكر من استطاع تذكرهم فقط؛ وذلك لأن الكاتب لم يقم بتدوين الأحداث في تلك الحقبة وإنما قام بالتدوين بعد انقضاء الحرب وانتهاء الأزمة.
وأيضا أسهب المؤلف في ذكر السمات العربية، والأخلاق التي تميز بها العمانيون منذ القدم، حيث أن الكاتب قد عاش بينهم وتقاسم معهم حلو الحياة ومرها لفترة ليست بالقصيرة.
ثم استطرق إيان في وصف مجريات الحرب، الأسلحة، الضباط، الطرق المستخدمة، الخرائط، الاستراتيجيات؛ وكل ما يخص الحرب آنذاك قد تم ذكره بدأ من الفصل السادس في الكتاب.
وأيضاً لا أنسى الأب القائد الذي كافح من أجل بقاء ظفار جزءا لا يتجزء من عمان، وعمل جاهدا لتوحيد البلاد وردع الفتن في جميع أنحائها؛ فلقد حظي جلالة السلطان قابوس رحمه الله بالوصف المثالي في جميع أجزاء الكتاب.
ومن الجميل جدا في هذا الكتاب وجود ملحق لصور من حرب ظفار لمختلف المواقع، المعدات، الجنود، المؤلف وأصدقاءه، وجلالة السلطان قابوس.
وأخيراً فإن انتهاء الحرب كان فاتحة خير للعمانين ولتسارع النهضة العمانية نحو التطور العالمي الذي طمح له الجميع.
ولقد أدرج في الآخير خطاب النصر الذي القاه حضرة صاحب الجلالة في الحادي عشر من ديسمبر في عام 1975 ميلاديا.
.
February 23, 2018
Absolutely fascinating memoir of a young officer at war. While America was in Vietnam the Brits were fighting Communists in Oman on the Yemeni border in the province of Dhofar. The author is a Royal Marine who was “seconded “ to the Sultan which means he doubled his salary and was essentially a merc. However, in addition to seconded Brits the Shah of Iran sent a brigade as well as air support. The enemy was called the “adoo.” They were a formidable threat.
But before they defeat the Communists they had to depose the Sultan who was anachronistic and backward. The Sultan ‘s son, Qaboos, took over in 1970 and there was a quantum shift- forward thinking, benevolent and enlightened leadership.
But what makes this book so special are the lessons learned and sea stories as well as the exotic locale. One of the laudatory blurbs says it’s the best book about soldiering he’s ever read. High praise indeed. It reminded me somewhat of Field Marshall Slim’s book, “Unofficial History,” the best book of leadership vignettes I’ve ever read.
Going to have to read the author’s book on the Falklands now.
But before they defeat the Communists they had to depose the Sultan who was anachronistic and backward. The Sultan ‘s son, Qaboos, took over in 1970 and there was a quantum shift- forward thinking, benevolent and enlightened leadership.
But what makes this book so special are the lessons learned and sea stories as well as the exotic locale. One of the laudatory blurbs says it’s the best book about soldiering he’s ever read. High praise indeed. It reminded me somewhat of Field Marshall Slim’s book, “Unofficial History,” the best book of leadership vignettes I’ve ever read.
Going to have to read the author’s book on the Falklands now.
July 31, 2023
An honest and impartial assessment of the "Dhofar" war in which the British, amongst allies, fought Communist rebels in Oman in the 1970s. The wise moral assertions made throughout consider a range of entangled moral factors woven throughout the experience of this ex-soldier, however it mostly does not delve into analysis outside the "dutifulness" of the soldier in this context. The prose is often simplistic and underdeveloped as well as the descriptive bulk of the writing on the military movements and tactics make this more of a descriptive tale of experience in the war. Whilst that is what the book intended to portray it makes it a mere primary source of militaristic occurrences, and less of a valuable analytical account of which I was hoping for as I spend time in Oman myself.
Despite the major issues I have with this text, there are still interesting comparisons and insights into how Omani culture functions, how it differs to other Arab/Muslim states and how the Dhofaris are the equivalent of Scottish Highlanders. These are not revolutionary insights but still significant to be reminded of when consulting sources produced by people well versed in Omani life.
Despite the major issues I have with this text, there are still interesting comparisons and insights into how Omani culture functions, how it differs to other Arab/Muslim states and how the Dhofaris are the equivalent of Scottish Highlanders. These are not revolutionary insights but still significant to be reminded of when consulting sources produced by people well versed in Omani life.
October 26, 2019
A book I gave a read after receiving a very strong recommendation for it. What you get here is an on the ground account of the Dhofar Rebellion (not to be confused with the Sudanese war in Darfur) and the modernization of Oman that occurred as part of this.
This was a conflict which much like the Malaysia Crisis is relatively unknown due to how successful the counter insurgency actions were particularly in comparison to the larger events in Vietnam and Afghanistan.
It's interesting a military focused account which will help you understand another curious facet of the Cold War but most significantly give you a much better appreciation of Oman and why it is the way it is to this day.
It was also fun learning about how the Sultan even as late as the 60s resisted foreign influence to the point of personally vetting all car purchases in the country.
This was a conflict which much like the Malaysia Crisis is relatively unknown due to how successful the counter insurgency actions were particularly in comparison to the larger events in Vietnam and Afghanistan.
It's interesting a military focused account which will help you understand another curious facet of the Cold War but most significantly give you a much better appreciation of Oman and why it is the way it is to this day.
It was also fun learning about how the Sultan even as late as the 60s resisted foreign influence to the point of personally vetting all car purchases in the country.
September 3, 2017
Good personal account of the Dhofar war of the early 1970's.
Compared to the power of weaponry available today nearly 50 years later, this seems like a cake walk compared with today's military encounters, but of course it was not!
Ian Gardiner captures the essential humanity behind the task of creating a team out of any fighting force and shows that despite huge differences of culture, it was still possible to generate the right spirit to resist an insurgency and save Oman from being overrun.
The fact that Oman is one of the most civilised countries in the Middle East, blessed with enlightened government, progressive but respectful of traditions and cultural legacy, is the prize won all those years ago and safeguarded since.
Compared to the power of weaponry available today nearly 50 years later, this seems like a cake walk compared with today's military encounters, but of course it was not!
Ian Gardiner captures the essential humanity behind the task of creating a team out of any fighting force and shows that despite huge differences of culture, it was still possible to generate the right spirit to resist an insurgency and save Oman from being overrun.
The fact that Oman is one of the most civilised countries in the Middle East, blessed with enlightened government, progressive but respectful of traditions and cultural legacy, is the prize won all those years ago and safeguarded since.
June 21, 2018
One of the best books on counterinsurgency, leadership, foreign internal defense and elements of field craft I have read in a long while. Reading it brought me back to my own experiences; particularly the satisfaction of leading men and the admiration and respect for the Arab people and their culture. It’s funny the things that you miss, like talking and sharing a meal or chai with Arab comrades...and sometimes...erstwhile adversaries. Gardiner brings this to life and us brutally honest about his experience as a company grade officer seconded to the Omani Army. This book should added to the personal library of any combat arms officer (young or old l). Foreign service officers would do well to do the same.
July 3, 2022
تتميز المذكرات عن كتب التاريخ بسرد تلك اللحظات الصغيرة العابرة التي ترسم في مخيلتك صورة حية عن حقبة ما . يسرد الكاتب يومياته كضابط بريطاني معار أثناء حرب ظفار . يروي عن بعض المعارك ويشرح الخطط والتكتيكات الحربية وعادات وتصرفات الجنود . كما يسهب في شرح عمل سلاسل التوريد وانواع الاسلحة والذخائر المستخدمة. الكاتب يستخدم عدسة مكبرة على العمليات الميدانية المناطة على كتيبته ،ويقدم شرحا دقيقا عن كل المعارك التي خاضها او كان طرفا بها . بحكم خبرته العسكرية ، يشرح الكثير من الاستراتيجيات والتكتيكات المعمول بها في الحروب كما يتطرق الى الحالة النفسية والعقلية للجنود اثناء المعارك وفترات المراقبة الطويلة. في نهاية الكتاب يقدم صورة عامة عن جميع القوات المشاركة مصحوبة برأيه الشخصي عن دورها وتأثيرها في سير المعارك.
January 23, 2018
I read the Kindle book version of this, and though full of spelling mistakes, mostly centered around the letters F, L, K, either dropping them or interchanging them, this was still a very good read. I was virtually unaware of the Dhofar war, until an interview with the author on an episode of Parts Unknown, which made me buy the book. After reading this personal account of Ian Gardiner's experience I wish that the security personal in Washington had read it before engaging in nation building in the middle east. in my opinion a highly informative, and story like, history book. happy reading y'all
March 29, 2018
An interesting war
I knew absolutely nothing about the war in Dhofar back in the 70s before reading this book, and now I know at least a little, though not as much as you would think.
The book is at its best when it reads more like a piece of travel writing. Oman seems very interesting, both then and now. As a piece of war writing though, the book falls a bit flat.
I knew absolutely nothing about the war in Dhofar back in the 70s before reading this book, and now I know at least a little, though not as much as you would think.
The book is at its best when it reads more like a piece of travel writing. Oman seems very interesting, both then and now. As a piece of war writing though, the book falls a bit flat.
February 7, 2018
كتاب جميل ، كان التعمق قي صفحاته شيق ، والتعرف على الصعوبات اللتي مرت بها عمان حتى تصبح بهذا الجمال ❤️ مجهود طيب من المترجمين يشكرون عليه
August 22, 2018
A fascinating insight into a country and into a war that most people know nothing about. I had to wonder why these guys got involved - they had no personal or national cause at stake.
June 15, 2021
Was watching an Anthony Bourdain show on Oman, who interviewed the author. The book doesn’t disappoint and this war should be more widely known for its significance and importance.
January 25, 2023
3.5 stars. I did not know about this war until I was given this book as a gift. Interesting to understand what was going on in a corner of Oman in the 1970s while the world was watching Vietnam,
Read
December 18, 2024This was a step into a different genre and it didn't pay off. Nice to learn about the Omani conflict but author felt the need to name every person he had ever met and it made tedious reading
December 9, 2012
In Service of the Sultan is the story of the author's secondment from the Royal Marines as a part of the effort to assist the Sultanate of Oman combat a Communist insurgency in the south of the crescent-shaped country. It covers a collection of the author's personal experiences, the experiences of those that he served with, and an account of the general swath of the war. A good array of maps, and some nice black-and-white photos are sprinkled throughout.
The book is written in a spare, yet elegant and candor-filled style that only Brits seem to be able to pull off. He writes self-effacingly and with a respect for both friend, foe, and the people in Oman in general. In this sense it goes beyond the usual jingoistic garbage that permeates some personal accounts that pretends that the enemy was without some legitimate (if not necessarily justly prosecuted) motivation. It covers a wide variety of personal and historical information, but the author manages to pull the reader from topic to topic without the reader feeling lost or that he is just throwing random anecdotes. He also does the reader a service of explaining much of the tactical and strategic thinking of the time both in regards to the events in the country and the regional impact of the war. The author's explanations by example of the importance of knowing and connecting with the local troops and population, the important effect of fostering good morale therein, constant patrolling and ambushing, and strong coordination between the various services to yield success. The exigencies of low tech counter-insurgency are also interestingly explored – from donkey supplied mortar firebases to dhows as gunboats – lend an interesting view into the difficulties seen and surmounted by the Omani government and British troops.
If you are looking for an entertaining and easy-to-read primer on the little documented counter-insurgency in Oman during the 1970's, this is one to pick up.
The book is written in a spare, yet elegant and candor-filled style that only Brits seem to be able to pull off. He writes self-effacingly and with a respect for both friend, foe, and the people in Oman in general. In this sense it goes beyond the usual jingoistic garbage that permeates some personal accounts that pretends that the enemy was without some legitimate (if not necessarily justly prosecuted) motivation. It covers a wide variety of personal and historical information, but the author manages to pull the reader from topic to topic without the reader feeling lost or that he is just throwing random anecdotes. He also does the reader a service of explaining much of the tactical and strategic thinking of the time both in regards to the events in the country and the regional impact of the war. The author's explanations by example of the importance of knowing and connecting with the local troops and population, the important effect of fostering good morale therein, constant patrolling and ambushing, and strong coordination between the various services to yield success. The exigencies of low tech counter-insurgency are also interestingly explored – from donkey supplied mortar firebases to dhows as gunboats – lend an interesting view into the difficulties seen and surmounted by the Omani government and British troops.
If you are looking for an entertaining and easy-to-read primer on the little documented counter-insurgency in Oman during the 1970's, this is one to pick up.
March 7, 2021
Ian Gardiner wrote an interesting book about his time as a soldier on the side of the Sultan of Oman in the Dhofar war. He gives his perspective clearly and precisely, giving the reader an insight into this rather unknown conflict. The detailed narrative is peppered with exciting anecdotes, emotions, and military lessons.
Unfortunately, the narrative suffers from a few shortcomings. For example, there is no recognizable thread, the events are rather arbitrary thematic summaries without any real chronological stringency. After a few chapters, I lost the overview of where we are now, the context, and what exactly is going on.
Other protagonists, i.e. acquaintances of the author, are mentioned by name, but they are never really introduced or characterized. Gardiner often describes the actions of different people in one sentence. With a bit of luck, you will have read a passage about the person before and somehow recognize (mostly) him, but most of the time you won't know anything about him except his name. "Person A just did B." That takes a lot of depth from the story.
In the end, I also think it's a shame that Gardiner rarely deals with a different perspective having written this book in retrospect. The rebels are and will remain “adoo” (Arabic for "enemy") - that is, anonymous opponents and nothing more. They become dehumanized and the conflict told is reduced to cold, military action.
All in all, a short, crisp book, which shows the Dhofar war from the perspective of a young British officer.
Unfortunately, the narrative suffers from a few shortcomings. For example, there is no recognizable thread, the events are rather arbitrary thematic summaries without any real chronological stringency. After a few chapters, I lost the overview of where we are now, the context, and what exactly is going on.
Other protagonists, i.e. acquaintances of the author, are mentioned by name, but they are never really introduced or characterized. Gardiner often describes the actions of different people in one sentence. With a bit of luck, you will have read a passage about the person before and somehow recognize (mostly) him, but most of the time you won't know anything about him except his name. "Person A just did B." That takes a lot of depth from the story.
In the end, I also think it's a shame that Gardiner rarely deals with a different perspective having written this book in retrospect. The rebels are and will remain “adoo” (Arabic for "enemy") - that is, anonymous opponents and nothing more. They become dehumanized and the conflict told is reduced to cold, military action.
All in all, a short, crisp book, which shows the Dhofar war from the perspective of a young British officer.
December 5, 2014
I was happy to be done with this book. I didn't feel it gave a lot of perspective on the conflict history and found the author discriminatory (sometimes shockingly so) to all except his amazing British comrades.
June 25, 2015
Good read. Nice overview of Oman and a great description of an almost unheard conflict during the Vietnam area. This book also contained valuable counterinsurgency and small unit leadership lessons as well (especially useful for multinational units)
January 9, 2017
مؤلف الكتاب من الذين عاشو و شاركو في التصدي لمحاولة انتشار الشيوعية في الخليج العربي و كانت بدايتها في اليمن و من ثم ظفار ، في ظفار كانت الشيوعية مغلفة بمطالب السكان المحلين بالاستقلال ، لذاك الكتاب يعد من أفضل الكتب التي تصف تلك الفترة الزمنية
November 12, 2015
A great read on the British involvement in Oman. An often overlooked part of world history (due to the Vietnam war). Well written.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews