From the rear side cover: Lying for some years in a dusty attic, this story is a revalation and a highly important addition to Royal Marines history. Although the events happened nearly 50 years ago, it is one of the rare tales of active service written by its commanding officer. Lt Col Paddy Stevens commanded 45 Commando Royal Marines during a particularly active sixteen months from July 1963 to November 1964. During his tour the unit was actively deployed in Aden, called to put down the insurrection in Tanganyika (now Tanzania) and, on returning to their Little Aden base, the Commando was soon fighting up country in the rugged and inhospitable mountains of the Radfan region against determined rebels.

His style makes for easy reading, giving an indication of the pressures and decisions that Commanding Officers have to make, why he made them and the subsequent results. He brings out the importance of junior leadership, and it is a masterpiece of simplicity, clear thinking and decisive judgements that he made in many complicated situations. The book also shows all aspects of Royal Marine life, basic soldiering, landing by helicopters from an unmodified (front line) Aircraft Carrier, keeping the peace, dealing with sudden emergencies and firmly engaged in rugged mountain fighting against a determined and well armed enemy.

Colonel Stevens also deals with the social and adminstrative side of life in a Commando unit where most marines spent a one year unaccompanied tour in 'comparative peacetime'. His insight and perspicacity in  very difficult circumstances and very hot weather shines through this book and should be compulsive reading for future commanders of all ranks. Illustrated throughout with several black and white photographs, chapters include:

• Aden
• The Testing Ground
• The Cool Season
• Passage to Africa
• Tanganyika
• The Force in Readiness
• A Quiet INterlude
• The Radfan
• Cap Badge
• The Deep Valleys
• In the High Mountains
• The Valley of the Taim
• The Dhala Road

The condition of the book is generally excellent. The covers are clean and bright, the spine is tight and intact, and all pages are clean, intact, unblemished and tightly bound. There is a small price sticker on the rear side cover