CONTACT

by A.F.N. Clarke

This newly expanded edition of AFN Clarke's best selling and controversial book CONTACT is a raw, visceral, "no-holds-barred" account from one of the men we paid to kill. When first published it caused a furore for its devastating honesty and chilling revelations. Clarke vividly recounts his experiences of two tours of Northern Ireland (in Belfast and Crossmaglen) as a Platoon Commander with Britain's elite Parachute Regiment during the blood soaked 1970's. Eerily similar to soldiers' experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan today, the enemy wears no uniform and shoots from the shadows and the bomber's trip-wire is an ever-present nightmare.

Clarke takes us to the heart of the action. We enter the private world of soldiers, operating in conditions of extreme stress and ordered to hold the lines in an ancient quarrel they have little affinity for, but whose consequences are deadly. We experience their emotions, fear, courage, humor, bravado and the anguish of death.

This expanded edition includes a restored section omitted by the publisher from the original edition, revealing the untold nightmare Clarke lived through having nearly died, with half his insides missing, suffering from PTSD and being expected to return to a "normal life" after his 1976 tour. A story of the scars of war that affect generations. Of heartache, courage and hope for peace.

REVIEWS

..".the best account we have had of what it is like to serve in Northern Ireland..." Richard West, The Times Literary Supplement.

" ... a major contribution to our understanding of war and how people act ... Contact is the work of a brave writer." Kevin Toolis, Irish News.

"Captain Clarke is more than a serving solder, he is a writer of distinction." Jack Gerson, Glasgow Sunday Standard.

..".Contact is one of the best military stories that I have ever read and I recommend it to you in the highest terms; it's a book from a past conflict that has timely and resonant lessons for a present one." Steven McLaughlin, Author of Squaddie: A Soldier's Story. UK 2010.

"An excellent book... I can relate to all places he speaks of having served at those locations as Infantry. A truthful & honest account of a Soldier in a War that was never acknowledged by those who sent us." Eugene Murray, UK 2013.

"A very truthful account... As an ex Infantry man myself of the era, this book speaks for us all about our time in Ulster." Peter Poland, UK 2013.

"Clarke's tale of his actions in Northern Ireland are eye-opening to this American... like the stories I have heard first-hand from the men who served in Vietnam." Robert, USA 2013.

"As a civilian, it's hard to imagine what it's really like to be a soldier in combat but this book opened my eyes..." Katie Huffstetler, USA 2013.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

CONTACT was reviewed by soldiers who served with Captain Clarke as verification of his recollections. It was first published in the UK in 1983 by Martin Secker & Warburg, was serialized for 5 days in The Mirror, and became an instant best seller. In 1984 it was published in paperback by PAN Books, by Schocken Books New York and made into an award-winning BBC TV film. In 2012 the expanded eBook edition was published in response to an overwhelming and ongoing demand for the book.

AFN Clarke is a full-time author who now lives with his wife in Australia. Published works include one memoir (CONTACT) and seven books of fiction of various genre: The Orange Moon Affair; The Jonas Trust Deception; An Unquiet American; Dry Tortugas; Dreams from the Death Age; Armageddon; Collisions with more coming soon.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, History, Amazon, Military Fiction, War, Ireland

226 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1983

About the author

AFN Clarke is the bestselling author of the nonfiction book CONTACT, which was serialized in a British national newspaper and made into an award winning film by BBCTV. He also writes fiction of various genres. He’s lived all over the world, served in the British army, had a near death experience, lost half his insides and recovered from the physical and emotional traumas of war. A proud father of four daughters, screenwriter, pilot, race car driver, he loves to sail, listen to opera, cook gourmet meals, drink wine, read good books, have heated discussions and travel off the beaten path.

Writing mainly fiction these days, he favors politically charged thrillers, suspense and intrigue, humorous satire and books about the challenges of human relationships, all of which reveal his curiosity about the world and his strong belief in the overwhelming power of love, laughter and of the human spirit.

Books include: The Orange Moon Affair and The Jonas Trust Deception (Thomas Gunn thrillers) Contact, Collisions, An Unquiet American, Dry Tortugas, The Book of Baker Series (Dreams from the Death Age; Armageddon; Genesis Revisited) with more coming soon. Author website: www.afnclarke.com.

Reviews

[None Ofyourbusiness Loves Israel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A.F.N. Clarke, a former paratrooper, recounts his harrowing experiences during two tours in Northern Ireland with the elite Parachute Regiment in the 1970s, a period fraught with intense violence and political upheaval. Clarke's memoir vividly portrays the daily existence of soldiers perpetually on high alert, confronting the omnipresent threat of ambushes and bombings from an elusive adversary. The narrative captures the pervasive fear, confusion, and camaraderie among the soldiers as they navigate the treacherous landscapes of Belfast and Crossmaglen during The Troubles. A particularly harrowing episode involves an ambush in Crossmaglen, where Clarke and his platoon are ensnared in a deadly firefight with the IRA, underscoring the relentless danger and the soldiers' rapid responses under fire.

Clarke's unflinching honesty and emotional depth lay bare the psychological toll of the conflict, which he struggles to fully comprehend. He does not shy away from depicting the brutal realities of war, including the enduring physical and mental scars borne by soldiers long after their service concludes. His reflections on the moral ambiguities and the pervasive sense of futility that often accompany such conflicts offer a deeply personal perspective on the broader political and social issues at play. The urgency and emotional strain of evacuating a wounded comrade to safety amidst gunfire illustrate the profound bonds of camaraderie among the soldiers.

Contact also highlights the resilience and courage of the soldiers, who find ways to cope with the constant peril and stress, even if they're not sold on the mission, providing readers with a visceral sense of what it was like to serve in one of the world's most volatile regions at the time. A nerve-wracking bomb disposal incident further underscores the omnipresent threat of explosives and the meticulous procedures required to neutralize them safely, knowing that any mistake could be fatal. This exemplifies the soldiers' bravery and the high stakes of their daily operations. The urgent narration, rapid succession of events, and heart-wrenching authenticity elevate this memoir above similar accounts, offering a unique and compelling insight into the lived experiences of soldiers during The Troubles.

[DoctorM · Rating 4 out of 5]

A crisp, taut, unsparing memoir by a para officer of his time in Northern Ireland during the worst of the early '80s. An account of exhausted soldiers trying to keep order and keep Catholics and Protestants apart while being despised by both sides and being essentially immured in firebases. Very much worth reading for anyone interested in the grinding routine of "ordinary" counter-insurgency.

[Steve Switzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb ,, my favourite personal account of the Northern Irish 'police action'
This is the way it as for one paratroop officer.
Read it.

[Steve Maddison · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Feeling of Truth

I’ve read many military biographies and I always fell that they need to be taken with a pinch of salt. This book however feels much more truthful which could come from the authors style.

I’d like to read some of his other books to see if this style continues.

A very good read and I was left feeling like I had been on the tour with the author.

[gordon bremner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having experienced the situation although it was the early 60's I found this book very much down to earth and the author not pulling any punches it should really make some people sit up and be counted
Excellent read

[Leslie Graham Leek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gritty

The Parachute Regiments are not deployed as diplomats , they are highly trained for a reason and that is to get the job done !!
I never met Alan Clarke but I did meet officers just ?like him who were born leaders and respected for it.
XMG is just as Clarke described it and it is hard to imagine over 100 men being crowded into such a small space and only supplied by helicopter for food, ammunition and everything else that such a group of men needed. The living conditions were appalling and successive battalion of soldiers on 4 month tours of duty had to endure it.

[Lisa-Jaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Atmospheric true account of a Para's tours in Ireland and his stomach problems which were horrendous and should have been initially included in the original pressings of the book. Interesting and pacy..

[Mr Michael R Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raw & Honest

I had previously read the shortened version of this book but still enjoyed this version which includes the authors illness.
It is an honest and sometimes hard to read account of one mans yours of Ulster in the '70's

[allan mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

The truth.

Not pleasant reading. But perhaps a good exposure of what actually went on. Not from a Catholic point of view or a Protestant point of view but the poor bigger in the middle whose main object was to keep his men and himself alive.

[Tim Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to praise highly enough

Anyone interested in the Northern Ireland conflict should read this book. It bleakly , viscerally describes what actually happened, by someone who fought there and paid dearly for the rest of his life.

[C.A. A. Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book many years ago when it first came out. I remember being totally absorbed by it back in the day. Then I happened to come across it again. The cover was different and after further scrutiny, I realised that I had read it back in the 1980s.

[Paul Rees · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible read

A must read, for those who were there and those who were not. I was a crap hat but much appreciated this book, for I was there.

[stephen pettinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good account and a great read ,

I've enjoyed reading this account of his tours of my country and the comical war that has too many sides

[brian longstaff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read brutally honest northern Ireland in the nineteen seventies from a soldier on the ground


At the height of the troubles very candid n n n n n n n n n n n n

[Shaun Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable

The realities of two two tours of Ireland by a Parachute Regiment Officer. If you want an insight to what the troubles were like from the army side give this book a read

[Kas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gritty, honest and brutal of what went on in the 70s in Northern Ireland

[Phil Altimas · Rating 4 out of 5]

a Very gritty book , well worth a read

[Sue Melville · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant.

What a great book, I didn't want it to end. Can't believe it was written by a Rupert 😃 Well done Sir and thank you for the insight.

[Richard Fitzgerald · Rating 1 out of 5]

Contact is stream-of-consciousness drivel. It reads like someone's disjoint journal and is devoid of anything captivating. There is no purpose for this book to exist.

[Mike Cavell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better second time around!

I first read ‘Contact’ about fifteen years ago and thought it was great, very realistic and being ex army loved it for its excitement and fast moving action. I’ve just finished reading it for the second time and realise the depth and horror of the feelings that the author put into words passed me by. Reading it again, with more experience of life and the world around me and taking more time to think about what was actually meant, I realise that life in Northern Ireland as a soldier was much more complicated and frightening, on both a mental and physical level and just how much we were not told at the time by politicians who were, much like the present situation with Brexit, out for the kudos they could get for themselves.
I would recommend this book to all interested in the history of modern Britain and how truth is lost in conflict.

[Scott Whitmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

An engrossing, lyrical look at the life of a British officer during two tours of duty in Northern Ireland during the 1970s, Contact by AFN Clarke (@AFNClarke) reminded me in many ways of two of my all-time favorite books, one fiction and one non-fiction but both centered on Vietnam: Michael Herr’s classic Dispatches and Fields of Fire by James Webb.

As a platoon leader in the elite Paratroop Regiment — the Paras — Clarke served in Belfast in 1973 and South Armagh, close on the border with the Republic of Ireland, in 1976. The operational environment of each posting war very different — one urban, crowded with warring factions who agreed on little but a hatred of the Paras; the other, seemingly bucolic farmland masking nearly unlimited routes of infiltration and escape for the enemy — but the fear of sudden death or maiming injury by explosion or bullet were very much the same.

Writing with fluid and light prose, Clarke sweeps the reader up into the day-to-day life of a British soldier in Northern Ireland: “The incompetence of the commanders; the insanity of our orders, and the surrealism of being an occupation Army on home soil.” You won't find any pronouncements about which side is right or wrong but there is plenty of fear, sweat and some tears, frustration, mind-numbing boredom and a few laughs.

Be warned: if you haven’t served in a military unit, some of the humor may escape you. Don’t let that be an excuse not to read Contact, just know it in advance. There is something unusual forged in the furnace that is the military, something that often doesn’t translate well to those who haven’t shared the experience.

Another thing: to someone in the year 2013 the conduct of Mr. Clarke and his soldiers may appear unduly harsh, brutal even. To be sure, both sides of the conflict are treated the same, but there is undeniably a tendency to freely use the baton. Know the context. One step outside the cobbled-together fortifications of their too-small bases, Clarke and his men were targets for attack by any number of enemies and in any number of ways including car and pipe bombs, landmines, snipers, ambushes, and mortars. The little old lady from either side of the conflict bringing you tea and cakes will also pump you for information that could be used to kill you later.

The author does an excellent job of describing how this environment influenced his decisions, which in most cases was to fall back on his training. With the benefit of our experience in Iraq, US military training today includes Counter-Insurgency Operations (COIN) but in the Cold War-era things were different. Elite combat forces like the Paras were trained to attack the enemy, violently and with the intent to destroy, to seize the initiation and in doing so to keep the enemy off balance. Fine and proven to succeed on the battlefield, but in a murky sectarian conflict like Northern Ireland such tactics frequently ran counter to political calls for “reconciliation.” Remember the context.

This edition restores passages of the book that the previous publisher wanted removed from the author’s initial manuscript. These passages dealt with Mr. Clarke’s severe medical issues, which first appear near the end of his South Armagh posting. Clarke nearly died as a result of the inaction and incompetence of British military medical personnel; a situation too many military personnel will relate to. I suppose the earlier publisher wanted to keep the focus on Northern Ireland, but the author’s illness and eventual recovery was just as compelling to this reader.

One final note: there were several instances of typo or format errors in my copy, perhaps as a result of the eBook conversion by the new publisher or after rewrites in preparation for the new edition. These may have been fixed later. I normally wouldn’t mention this in a review but I know some take exception and therefore allow typos or grammatical issues to influence their experience. I strongly urge readers to ignore any such issues and focus instead on the narrative. Don’t lose out on a great story, and this is a great story.

For more on AFN Clarke and his writing, including new military/spy thriller series of novels, visit his website.

[Mac McCormick III · Rating 5 out of 5]

So writes AFN Clarke in Contact, the book he wrote about his experience as a 3 Para platoon commander during and after two tours of duty in Northern Ireland. In 1973, Clarke served a tour in Belfast and in 1976 he served a tour in South Armgah, two very different environments. He wrote Contact in an effort, it seems, to cleanse himself of his experiences in Northern Ireland and his Royal Army service. He wrote it to tell the truth about things as he experienced them first hand. He may have written, as he says in the introduction “in anger” and in a “stream of consciousness style” as he mentions at the end of the book, but I think that’s what makes Contact so effective. His anger at the way British soldiers were portrayed, the violence, and the hatred that was part of Northern Ireland combined with stream of consciousness writing style combined to give vivid descriptions of the environment, the people, the patrols, and the fighting.

Books that look at the big picture of wars and conflicts are necessary and so are books that delve into the policies and diplomacy (or lack thereof) that lead to wars, but if you really want to get an idea of what a war was about, you read the firsthand accounts of the men who were on the tip of the spear. Clarke’s book Contact is an excellent example of this type of book. You don’t get excuses; you get an unvarnished view of what happened from someone who was there. There are lessons in it for everyone.

[Michael Teague · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brutally honest account of a British soldier in a forgotten conflict. This book provides the account of a platoon leader in the vaunted Parachute Regiment of the British Army during a brutal time of the conflict in Northern Ireland. Much like Nate Fick's One Bullet Away , Clarke describes the incompetence of the leadership he worked. Clarke describes the fear he experienced leading his men into towns where knowing friend from foe was impossible until the shots were fired. His brutally honest writing and use of profanity will probably offend some reads but it provides the reader with an understanding of how soldiers in small units relate to each other.

Overall a good book about a conflict most of us no little about.

[Bill Thibadeau · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a raw look at the combat life of British soldiers (paratroopers) in their battles with the Irish of Ulster. What got to me was the hard life these British volunteer soldiers had to endure in their support of Britain. I doubt that many of these soldiers enlisted specifically to fight the Irish yet that is what they had to do.
The despair and tribulations the paratroopers faced in their daily patrols is haunting. I honestly could feel the cold, the rain, the mud, etc. Kudos to the author for putting down his emotions for those of us that can only imagine the totality of life on patrol.

[The Maverick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great "tell it like it is" book chronicling a British Para's experience in Northern Ireland. Presented in an episodic fashion, Contact is written with a direct "from the ground" perspective, and often relies on a stream of consciousness style. The author uses the book to highlight examples of inept command and counter-productive practices. Highly recommended, but you will need to keep the glossary handy if you aren't familiar with modern British military vernacular.

[Maggie Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous. Utterly fabulous, and it kind of sheds a new light on the conflict in Ireland today. That makes two I've read lately that hint at the lifelong conflict the Irish in general have had to face, both here and other places. More to follow.

[Jack Knapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished this one; Clarke's honest to a fault. This is the best book I've read of the fighting in Northern Ireland, training of an officer of the British Paras, and recovery from serious medical issues most probably caused by stress, bad food, the strains of campaigning. Highly recommended.

[Therese]

$0.0

[andrew taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very very good

Thank you ,really good read.brought back lots of memories, good ,bad ,happy and sad .A must read for all veterans who assisted the bog trotters !.