Originally Posted by gallowglass

On a point of interest, one of the 'characters' in The Feathermen is a young Guards officer called David Mason - he is the author of Shadow Over Babylon and Little Brother.

I met him when he was the High Sheriff of Oxfordshire. I asked him about the Feather men and he said it was true. Not sure I believed him as he was a good mate of Fiennes! I also spoke to him about McNab and Bravo Two Zero (must have been soon after the book was published)………he was very scathing about him and was surprised that the patrol ever got the go ahead!

For what its worth. My vote would be for fiction albeit, a good read!

To anyone who has not yet read "The Sett", it's a good 'un too.

Also believeable !

Originally Posted by muhandis89

The 'Spike' mentioned in the book is Spike Powell,who died subsequently in Zim,when the first of two Viscounts was downed,by a missile.Some confuse him with Spike Hoe.

Originally Posted by Int_N_Sly

Sir Peter DLB slated it in his 1st book (Storm Command?) and dismissed it as "nonsense".

I agree it's odd that Ran Fiennes would risk a good reputation to something that way off the mark. IIRC (it's been years since I read the book) the name 'Spike' is identified as a 'Featherman'. A certain ex-hereford 'Spike' was closely involved with David Sterling, and, infact, wrote his biography.

Now that is rotten luck.

One assumes, as it was then Rhodesia, and the bush war was at full tilt, he wasn't there on vacation.

The Featherman - Excellent Read
Shadow Over Babylon - Excellent Read
The Cage - Excellent Read
Still trying to start In The Shadow Of The Sultan.....

Originally Posted by sonofgreenfinch

Originally Posted by muhandis89

The 'Spike' mentioned in the book is Spike Powell,who died subsequently in Zim,when the first of two Viscounts was downed,by a missile.Some confuse him with Spike Hoe.

Originally Posted by Int_N_Sly

Sir Peter DLB slated it in his 1st book (Storm Command?) and dismissed it as "nonsense".

I agree it's odd that Ran Fiennes would risk a good reputation to something that way off the mark. IIRC (it's been years since I read the book) the name 'Spike' is identified as a 'Featherman'. A certain ex-hereford 'Spike' was closely involved with David Sterling, and, infact, wrote his biography.

Now that is rotten luck.

One assumes, as it was then Rhodesia, and the bush war was at full tilt, he wasn't there on vacation.

Listen my friend, by 1975 there was a whole host of individuals leaving the Regiment to seek further adventures and in many instances career moves back in their parent units.
Op Storm was in the process of winding up. Guys after all were taking a big drop in pay to serve in a squadron. The system took the message and an overall review was inaugurated which is more or less still in place today.
No great mystery about the Rhodesian option. Peter McAleese's book 'No Mean Soldier' explains this dimension.
Forgetting 'Ran / Rafe' or whatever the digitally challenged fool is undertaking these days, if you want a '70's TRUE adventure story then read 'The Hilton Assignment'. Suffice to add, Ranulf wasn't invited on that one.

Fact or Fiction - It's a Right Rivetting Read all the same, would you really think Sir Ranulph Fiennes would invent such a story, not too sure personally but the assassinations were amazing if true!

The 'Clinic' certainly sound very feasible and the thaa'r is very real, and anyone who has ever served in the Middle East and has had to slot someone should keep a mental note of that...

Great book! if you haven't read it, then get your arrses down to your nearest bookshop...

Originally Posted by gallowglass

I have an interesting perspective on this topic.

I was encouraged to read The Feathermen by something that came up during a conversation I had with a friend of mine about two and-a-half years ago. I was asked in a very pointed manner whether I had ever read the book - on the spur of the moment I blurted out that I had (I hadn't then, but was familiar with what it was about). I was then asked whether I thought it was true. I said that I wouldn't be surprised if it was - what stuck in my memory was what I can only call the knowing look my friend had on his face as he asked me this. I should point out that my friend was an infantry officer, and his father (a retired cavalry officer) had known Ranulph Fiennes quite well from the time they served together in Dhofar in the 70s. Having shortly thereafter read the book, I have to say that I came away from it convinced of its accuracy. Sir Ranulph Fiennes is a gentleman soldier-adventurer of the old school, and I have encountered so much actual rubbish purporting to be 'real' that I like to think that I can recognise the genuine article when I see it.

On a point of interest, one of the 'characters' in The Feathermen is a young Guards officer called David Mason - he is the author of Shadow Over Babylon and Little Brother.

I had a somewhat drunken conversation with a friend of mine who came to stay with us, who was ex Guards and later elswhere, which was in the same vein. He asked me if I would be happy to kill on assignment. I told him that despite being a good shot, I didn't think I would have the knowledge to do anything other than long shots.

I told him that if I thought it was really my country asking me to do it, then of course, but if it was a private cabal, then no.

All the while the knowing look was there. This was either due to him being drunk and succumbing to waltiness, or he represented someone. If it was the latter, happily, I failed the test, as it wasn't mentioned again.

If he was just being a drunk, then no harm, but I fell sure such things go on, and if so, what of it?

Bob_lawlaw, thanks for the tip re The Hilton Assignment.
Have checked on Amazon and see it is about an attempt on the mad Qadhafi.
I've also read bits about Peter McAleese and was surprised to learn just how many Rhodesian special forces and infantry came from elsewhere.

Originally Posted by sonofgreenfinch

Originally Posted by ex-pat

I read it a year or so after the the following incident and although there is probebly no connection ,it is still a bit spooky. I used to do a lot of building repairs around the Earls court area and one of my customers, a single guy in his late 40's early 50's, worked for Control Risks (look them up if you dont know). I knew he had served in the regiment as an officer in the 70's. He used to nip off at a moments notice and not be seen for weeks. He had a few flats and houses around central London (all at the same time)which I worked on, but only he used to stay in them. His main place was just around the corner of Trebevior Rd which is mentioned in the book. One day he just did not come back. The houses were sold and we never heard of him again.

Am i paranoid?

Don't think so. I find that pretty 'spooky'.

Like most who have posted, I read the book, enjoyed it, and took it at face value.

I've since become an occasional drinking companion of a former senior member of 22 Sqdn (out a fair while now) who left me under no illusions that I was wrong.

HMG, agencies in the same line of business as Control Risks et al maintain a portfolio of addresses throughout London and the Home Counties. As with most houses they need to be maintained, gardens mowed, circulars removed from letter boxes etc to generally lend an air of it being used otherewise the consequences of some local fecker moving in is always there.
Between leaving the military and getting a proper job I looked after a series of addresses for HMG. Pretty mundane work as a rule, but important at times. A job best suited for the 'older' man. I had my own little collection of tradesmen mates who kept them all in good order for a price of course. I see nothing 'mysterious' in any of the above and yes they are periodically sold so as not to compromise either security or client confidentialities. No big deal.

Originally Posted by Victorian_Captain

Taking you a stage further in your reading...

Fiennes' autobiog Living Dangerously is a top read. Well worth digging out a copy - although it is 10 years old.

Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know his autobiography is going for just ten of your British pounds down Tescos (That's cheaper than the quote on Amazon!)

And has pictures of the "hacksaw/frosbite interface".

Top Chap!