Andy Mcnab
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His second book, Marijuana Time, is also excellent and again written with great humour, often at his own expence. Ken, a year after the war, is now posted to Belize with 2 Para where he gets a taste for Marijuana that sends him on a personal nightmare. Whatever your opinion of cannabis, imho you'll enjoy the book. Andy McNab writes a short preface to the book in the version of MT I have.
>>By Hippy Chaos (Sunday, 1 Aug 2004 13:20)
Hello all--I'm glad to see so many McNab fans gathered in one place. I've read all but his latest two books and will certainly buy those as soon as funds allow.
This question is probably stupid, but no one ever accused me of being overly intelligent, so here goes--seeing as how he keeps his identity secret, what does Andy do at book signings and other public appearances? Does he have to kill all who meet him?
>>By Sick of Cute Screennames (Sunday, 1 Aug 2004 13:58)
Just a quickie, .............now where have I heard that before !
Interesting read about medals and the SAS/SBS thingy-me-bob. Just like the RM (Royal Navy) and Para Reg. (British Army) of which both are, shall we say, somewhat of a rival though mainly in typical forces humour, the SBS (Royal Navy) and the SAS (British Army) - certain personnel only - also display some rivalry in a forces humour sort of way. But speak to any of them on a professional level and respect is on both parties for each other. In essence, one is simply maritime and the other land/air. However, Boat Troop sections in the SAS do also specialise in maritime theatre of operations and train extensively with the SBS in Dorset. Likewise, the SBS equally train in HALO/HAHO parachute insertions and are trained to just the same standards as the SAS though probably not to the extent of that of Air Troop (SAS) who obviously specialise in that field.
Good point made earlier - UKSF. That's how it is - joint.
AM certainly did put up with a lot of hardship in the Gulf/91 and also through other difficult times during his service. But no more than many other servicemen (Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, British Army) who have equally endured such hardships. Taking nothing away from AM, one must remember that the main difference here is that we have all heard of AM's hardships, where many others we have not. Just because we have not heard of the other "unsung heroes" does not mean to say that they do not exist. I know of some blokes who went through much harder time in conflict than AM and suffered far more injuries. They have no medals......just pride. After all, it is their job, just like mine.
When it come to VC's and their holders (living and dead), think of the Brigade of Gurkhas.
Hats off to all servicemen.
Reg.
>>By Reginald (Sunday, 1 Aug 2004 14:25)
Is it OK to be honest in opinion here? I hope so. I better say I liked some of Andy McNab books and didn't think much of others he has written. That's my honest opinion. I can say the same about other SF books. Tornado Down though doesn't come across as hyped to gain sympathy like some of McNab's books, it was a flight into hell.
I thought it better to check the facts on forces mergers as I hadn't heard any thing from military pals to suggest I had missed a forces wedding.
This is what I actually received in reply to query sent to recommended source.
Misnomers come and misnomers go and this one must have arisen due to misread reports of SPECIAL FORCES DIRECTORATE (Special Forces Group) which was reformed 1987, and construed as merger of operating forces in the 21st century.
If one thinks in terms of merger as being that of "overall office based command" to that of "operational unit command" then yes one could say it became a merged force back in 1987 as a war/terrorist planning executive. However, if you take into account the remaining individuality of the "operational units" - and fierce rivalry within the directorate heirarchy as well as in the operational units - it's a merged directorate in name only.
The 1987 directorate was based on the ethos of its WW2 predecessor of "one directorate one voice" to direct control of the SAS and SBS from its Headquarters at the Duke of Yorks Barracks in West London. I won't fill you in on the history of inmates at the Duke of Yorks Barracks, suffice to say the setting up of the directorate was an SAS coup!
The Director of the SAS is that of Army Brigadier - also the Director Special Forces, while the deputy is a Royal Marines (SBS) Colonel. At any time the heirarchy in rank could be reversed - subject to political/military superiority, i.e, whomever in future heads up as overall military Chief of Staff. Even so, as a service directorate (SFD) it maintains close contact with both the Intelligence Service (SIS/MI6) and Security organization (MI5) and with similar foreign SpecOps Commands, in particular USSOCOM.
an aside: The time to worry is when you hear that a US Navy S.E.A.L Commander has been appointed "Head of UK Special Forces Directorate!!!"
Don't know you Reginald but you seem to put honesty forward instead of pandering to names.
Hear hear hsats off to all servicemen. And women.
>>By flygirl (Sunday, 1 Aug 2004 15:17)
Hi Reg read your piece on the glorious Gurkhas, not sure on this Reg but being welsh i was always told by my late father, that the regiment with the most VC was the welsh borders... Not only for their bravery at rourkes drift, but all through the african campaign....Also during world war 1 and 2.......etc... if anyone gets the chance to visit the museum in brecon its a marvelous place. And make's you proud to be british. Not enough thanks is ever given to our service men and women for what they do for us, these are the cream of britain and we should be proud of them. You only have to see american news and how they call them heros yet we forget that in this country. This country was made up of many, and like they say on rembrance day lest we forget god bless them all, for their service and for giving us our freedom..
>>By briwriter (Sunday, 1 Aug 2004 15:41)
I could not agree more briwriter.
I do believe a certain amount of inter-service competition is natural and somewhat encouraged. I have a couple of friends and acquaintances that are seals and have spoken of training with SAS. Other than the usual epithets that seemed to be terms of respect they spoke rather highly of them. As an American I can say that the reason SBS doesn’t get as many accolades is because they are not as well known (present company excepted) as the SAS.
>>By BadTime (Sunday, 1 Aug 2004 18:53)
flygirl: yes it is awarded to living personnel but there is a very small amount of people who survived whatever act it was that made them eligible.
>>By Nemesis2842004 (Sunday, 1 Aug 2004 18:57)
End your rift, SAS and SBS are told
The head of Britain's Special Forces has ordered the commanders of the SAS and SBS to end a rift that threatens to undermine the elite units.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;
sessionid=
ZPDIQMYEUHHL5QFIQMFCM5OAVCBQYJVC?
xml=/news/2004/08/01/nrift01.xml&secureRefresh=
true&_requestid=9150
>>By Lynn (Sunday, 1 Aug 2004 22:32)
Barracks ban claim angers SAS hero
One of the SAS's most celebrated war heroes is embroiled in a dispute with the regiment's most senior officers over what they say is a gentleman's agreement that stops him visiting its Herefordshire barracks.
Gen Sir Peter de la Billiere, a former commanding officer of the regiment and commander of British forces during the 1991 Gulf war, remains furious at suggestions that an order bans him from visiting the Credenhill base.
The row began after senior officers blamed the flood of books by former members of the SAS on Sir Peter's book on the Gulf War, Storm Command, which covered the regiment's contribution.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?
xml=/news/2004/07/28/nsas28.xml
>>By Lynn (Sunday, 1 Aug 2004 22:42)
Troops backed on Gulf syndrome
General Sir Peter de la Billiere, the commander of British forces in the first Gulf war, expressed concern yesterday about the drugs and chemicals his men were exposed to and the illnesses they might have caused.
He said the time had come for the Ministry of Defence to provide proper financial aid to those affected.
(..)
But the lengthy period over which soldiers took anti-nerve gas pills during the build-up to the land war meant that they could have received unprecedented quantities of the medication.
"I wonder if they had ever been taken on such a wide scale or for as long," he said.
The general also highlighted concern about the locally produced fly spray widely used by troops. Veterans have said it was liberally spread over compounds and equipment.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?
xml=/news/2004/07/22/ngulf22.xml
>>By Lynn (Sunday, 1 Aug 2004 22:46)
in todays news of the world there was a great two page article about the sas/sbs, it's taken from a new book by christian jennings...The book is called midnight in a burning town, and tells of the sas and sbs through seirra leone to iraq etc. its a great read. I'm currently reading it a second time.
the article itself is very good with a few good stories.....if anyone else is reading the book leave me know what you think, and only three more months for the new andy mcnab novel cool............
>>By briwriter (Sunday, 1 Aug 2004 23:35)
SAS in 'raid' on spy HQ
A CRACK special forces unit has exposed poor security at the new GCHQ spy centre — by breaking in without ANYONE noticing.
Red-faced bosses knew nothing of the raid until the intruders sent PHOTOS of themselves taken inside the £1.2billion snooping complex.
The team — believed to a combined SAS and SBS unit — were sent in after the Government ordered a test of security.
The building at Cheltenham, Gloucs, houses 4,500 staff who patrol cyberspace, eavesdropping on millions of telephone conversations and emails worldwide.
A senior government source said: “The special forces are used from time to time for exactly these sorts of purposes.
“If anyone can find a weakness in security it will be them.”
Whole article on:
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article
/0,,2-2004351917,00.html
>>By Lynn (Monday, 2 Aug 2004 00:18)
Well done Lynn. Excellent back up research. I prefer insider info to that of media gossip but that's just my opinion. The source who provided my info on rivalry within the Special Forces Directorate also said I would encounter rivalry here if I posted her piece. Tee hee, how bizarre that all sounded until I popped in to see what was on the board this morning. Ho hum, I feel like I'm back at school with hands up prats competing for teacher praise. Never did get into that kind of crappy stream myself. Too busy fanning fag smoke back row desks.
>>By flygirl (Monday, 2 Aug 2004 09:54)
Lots of interesting new posters suddenly, really pleased to make your acquaintance. That little story by BadTime is a gem, it should be used on the cover of McNab's next book, really inspiring!
Bo, there are lots of top quality pics in Op Certain Death, the writer is a professional journalist after all. What a story! I was gripped by it for the whole weekend, such incredible heroics all round, and so real in the telling. A particular favourite bit, Chapter 9 I think, is an aside about the creation of the CB-MRE-B and the mk.II version, go find it!
And Mr. Sickov, nice profile! Unfortunately you are right about the book signings. It is a little known fact that all signed copies of his books are effectively second hand and blood stained.
>>By camban (Monday, 2 Aug 2004 12:46)
camban got to agree with you on chapter nine and the mre bombs very funny part of the book but my alltime favourite was one of the lads bonding with chicken run the sf chicken with loads of balls or lack of brains.
>>By Nemesis2842004 (Monday, 2 Aug 2004 13:18)
as for rivalry it's pretty health between units because the british army has always been that way that is what makes us the best, since when theres no enemy to fight we fight each other and therefore keep that edge.
>>By Nemesis2842004 (Monday, 2 Aug 2004 13:21)
Sorry Camban, not always on the blood and second hand book ...... ( X-files music playing in the background)
>>By Ninjawoman (Monday, 2 Aug 2004 15:22)
Return afresh, from pastures new
Find voices, departed
Yet heard still
Attention demanded
Never permitted to wane
>>By geist (Monday, 2 Aug 2004 15:39)
What the F...? Looks like she took a wrong turning!
>>By camban (Monday, 2 Aug 2004 16:27)
Awesome! The summer doldrums have lifted!
Welcome! and Hi again! (respectively) -- to all the new friendly voices mingled amongst the familiar ones... :o)
I must ask tho, Lynn...
What the heck search engine do you have running? You're gonna cause brown-outs worldwide at the rate you're going! Lot of excellent stuff, definitely pushing the right buttons. OCRD roolz! :o)
>>By am-i-binned (Monday, 2 Aug 2004 17:47)
LOL AIB - pushing predictable buttons you mean?? ;o)
Geist and Nem, good to see you back, and agree Cam - nice new posters too.
Flygirl, with insider info - you mean of the kind 'been there, seen that' ?
>>By Lynn (Monday, 2 Aug 2004 17:57)
Hi all,
Dear Briwriter, good and educating read. Forgive any misunderstanding. I was not not inferring that the Brigage of gurkhas hold the most VC's. To be honest I don't really know what regiment does without consulting my office whipper-snappers to check for me. I knew they had quite a few and as the Brigage is made up of a number of different Gurkha regiments combined, I assumed collectively that they may have. You "welshie's", like the "Scotties" as we call them collectively are a brave bunch where military service and achievements speak for themselves. I obviously stand corrected.
Any idea what I should do with myself as this year is my 22 years service in the British Army. Should I stay or should I go now..........as the song goes. I've been discussing this with the lads most of the day and you know how things are.....once something is in your mind, it rattles until you get it sorted.
Thanks for your kind words flygirl. As you know, I think when the situation and time arises for a particular soldier to consider entering selection application for (UK)SF, if they pass and in time have bonded with other fellow mates into a proficient operating unit, when the gloves are off they are professional enough to respect themselves and other fellow SF units - SAS/SBS. With many years service with the Para Reg., if the sh*t hit the fan, I'd be glad to have a RM by my side. People at Hereford have also spoken the same regarding the SBS. Some SAS personnel do have a thing about the SBS and vice-versa but in it's summary these are minority and not majority, as made clear to me.
I like your style.
Reg.
PS I had Gulf War Syndrome, Lynn, but my affliction was due to lack of B&H's fags !
>>By Reginald (Monday, 2 Aug 2004 20:45)
leave reg it's what most people are doing and i'm fed up of being away now, i'm in 16 bge so it's shit especially if you were on eagles strike
>>By Nemesis2842004 (Monday, 2 Aug 2004 23:27)
if you took naps you were seriously fucked up anyway
>>By Nemesis2842004 (Monday, 2 Aug 2004 23:32)
hi Reg,
thanks for your note, i'm not sure either who has the most VC's eithher way they are all very brave men and women. I was told it was the welsh borders but i might be wrong so if someone knows the answer it would be nice to know. Like i said the museum is well worth a visit, so is the beautiful market town of brecon. (No i dont work for the welsh tourist board)....just proud of being welsh, as cerys would say...
Well Reg congratulations on your long service my cousin never got his think he was short by a few years he was in the RMP...Ok watch your langauge fellow sqauddies lol haha, he had to leave due to ill health...
like i said makes you proud to be british, and its pity the servicemen and women of this great country arent treated with more respect and grattitude like they are in the states, your all hero's and we are very proud of you all..
>>By briwriter (Tuesday, 3 Aug 2004 01:39)
Only 13 days to the ultimate force, season 2 dvd, with henno and the lads, ok i know its not andy and the boys, but its great entertainment... Hope that means we will get the longer epsiode season three in a few weeks time on tv, that and andy's new book coming out, wake me up it must be xmas..(Sorry Christmas, stupid comprhensive education doh!)
>>By briwriter (Tuesday, 3 Aug 2004 01:42)
Thanks all for being so welcoming to newcomers. I just listened to a WGN radio interview with McNab mentioned in a much, much earlier post and was surprised mainly by his accent. To hear McNab tell it, his wrong-side-of-the-London-tracks accent is virtually unintelligible to all who didn't grow up in a "housing project," as we Yanks call it. Just goes to show we Americans ARE all commoners, I guess, 'cos he sounded well-spoken to me.
As to my previous question regarding Andy keeping his identity secret, it does astound me that in this age of cell-phone cameras, etc., no one (including employees of the various media outlets where he has appeared), has snapped a picture and made it public. Don't get me wrong--I'm glad no one has, but I do find it odd. Is McNab just not as famous as he should be?
BTW, it occured to me that my screenname sounds kind of mean, so I'd like to clarify that what I'm sick of is trying to invent witty screennames for myself, so if you have a "cute" screenname, rest assured I appreciate and enjoy it. Really.
>>By Sick of Cute Screennames (Tuesday, 3 Aug 2004 04:05)
Go with it Sick of Cute Screenames. Agree with you wholeheartedly. Ha ha. A look at profiles here and it brings a smile out. Just to set the record straight flygirl represents my past life at 30 thou ft.
There are images of Mr McNab out there. When did you last take a trip round a monkey house at your local zoo?
That's sorted you out . Now you know why he keeps to the shadows.
>>By flygirl (Tuesday, 3 Aug 2004 10:06)
hi there flygirl, from a welsh homie, I'm down with my bro's yeah, i really have to stop listen to hip hop music....I read your message about andy, above, so iake we are a fan of Chris... MMmm MMMmm.. Oh god i'm turning into harry hill, anyone seen me badgers..
PS to sick of cute screennames, these guys and gals. ok now turning into jimmy saville,(british dj) are probably the nicest bunch of people you can meet, and welcome to the greatest bunch of bookworms and fans on the planet.
>>By briwriter (Tuesday, 3 Aug 2004 15:05)
well said briwriter, this is a forum for people to discuss andy mcnabs work. both the sas and sbs are excellent soldiers and both now go through the same selection due to the formation of one uksf, so fly girl why come on here arguing that the sbs is better or whatever your point is and quoting a source that is supposedly in the know, when this is about the books. now i am serving with 16 aa brigade and a lot of my friends are down at H so they deserve the respect and they are not up their own arses at all, they are professional and don't need a air stewardess slagging them off because the only person that can do that is serving members of uksf.
>>By Nemesis2842004 (Tuesday, 3 Aug 2004 15:56)
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