My Friends, The Enemy: Life in Military Intelligence During the Falklands War

by Nick Van Der Bijl

"‘On the beach the Lieutenant asked if he could say a prayer before being shot. “Don’t be so bloody silly,” I replied, “get into the boat.”’ My Friends, The Enemy recounts the Falklands War from the viewpoint of the only Intelligence Corps in HQ 3 Commando Brigade and serving with its Intelligence Section of Royal Marines, It is a personal account supported by intelligence assembled since 1982. Nick van der Bijl was a Staff Sergeant and his role meant that he was expected to provide accurate intelligence to Brigade Headquarters and deploy specialist skills. Little was known about the Argentine threat and so the Intelligence Section was very heavily involved in collecting, collating and distributing intelligence from a variety of sources, initially from the UK and after landing at San Carlos Water, also from documents, prisoners of war, and a counter-intelligence operation. While the intelligence proved to be accurate throughout the campaign, some has been controversial, particularly relating to the Battle of Goose Green. Van der Bijl was one of the first into Stanley after the Argentinian surrender and was part of an intelligence operation that searched enemy HQs for documents and selected several hundred officers for further interrogation. My Friends, The Enemy is the first time that the story of intelligence operations has been told by a witness to events in the Falklands from the start of the campaign to the finish."

328 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 13, 2020

Reviews

[Andrew Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

A howler of a spelling error in the opening pages didn't fill me with confidence in this book. To be fair, it was all readable and mildly interesting. But it never became a gripping or remotely fascinating read. Parts of it read like a rather turgid intelligence report. Plenty of detail on types and numbers of weapons, and the composition of battlefield forces, but lacking in the rich emotional tapestry that really grips a reader. How was the author feeling? How was he affected by what he saw? We have very little of that. The book almost felt like an attempt to justify the author's role in the war, or at least the role of his Corps. He came across as a frustrated individual, searching for something substantive and truly influential but which was never found. The interrogation of POWs is dealt with at length but what did it achieve? Little is disclosed about that. One is bound to conclude, fairly or unfairly, that intelligence that was gained was limited in scope or in terms of practical benefit. He scuttles from one location to another, seemingly on the fringes, and always searching for something. That thing appears to remain elusive.

I think my criticism of the book is primarily directed at its style. I am sure the author contributed far more than the pages of this rather clunky and insipid book reveal. It is a pity that the book does not do more justice to the author.

[Matthew A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some GREAT insights regarding tactical/operational intelligence in the Falklands War. Lacked some citations for further research, however. Relatively smooth reading that stayed on point and covered relevant topics.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice to see a recent conflict from the perspective of the Bde Intelligence staff. Covers all expected angles of tactical intelligence - collection plans, PIRs, captured documents, PWs.

[Chaz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good but nothing crazy