⚔"Operation Blowpipe" by J.P. Cross

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Operation Blowpipe

JP Cross

Monsoon Books

Burrough on the Hill

Published in 2022

by Monsoon Books Ltd

www.monsoonbooks.co.uk

No.1 The Lodge, Burrough Court,

Burrough on the Hill, Melton Mowbray LE14 2QS, UK

ISBN (paperback): 9781915310064

ISBN (ebook): 9781915310071

The moral right of the author has been asserted.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

Cover design by Cover Kitchen.

Contents

Prologue

Part I. 1948-1954

Part II. 1956

Part III. 1963-1968

List of Characters

Abbreviations

Glossary

Map 1 - Malaysia

Map 2 - Detail of the intersection of Kedah, Perak and Thailand

Map 3 - Detail of Negri Sembilan

Map 4 - Detail of Sungei Perak and its tributaries

About the Author

Also by JP Cross

Prologue

Late evening, sometime in 1943, in the Serting Forest Reserve, south of Seremban, Negri Sembilan, Malaya

As porters with a resupply of provisions reached the temporary camp of an anti-Japanese group of Communist Chinese guerrillas, they were shocked as muted but spine-chilling screams of unbearable pain throbbed around the thick jungle. A traitor, who had caused guerrilla casualties, had been identified and was suffering condign punishment: he had been tied to a wooden trestle, arms outstretched, legs apart, stomach stretched and gagged to lessen noise while the guerrilla, whose wife had been killed by the Japanese, had slit the traitor’s belly crosswise with a kris, a pointed dagger with a curved blade. As the porters peered through the undergrowth, they saw the executioner slashing the belly downwards in a mockery of ritual hara-kiri. Noise from the tortured man shrank to a gurgle, then stopped as he died, blood flowing and guts slithering to the ground.

The leader of the porters was Kamal Rai: he and his men were Nepalis from Bhutan Estate, the nearest of the three estates that had a Nepalese labour force, some miles to the south. Kamal heard the voice of a guerrilla he recognised, Lee Soong, saying ‘that is what we do to traitors. If there’s another, his death will take longer, be slower and more painful. You all understand that, don’t you?’

⚔"Operation Blowpipe" by J.P. Cross

Overview:

Plot: The book is likely set against the backdrop of military operations, focusing on a covert or specialized mission known as "Operation Blowpipe." This operation might involve jungle warfare, intelligence gathering, or counter-insurgency tactics, potentially in a region like Borneo, Malaya, or another part of Southeast Asia where J.P. Cross had firsthand experience.

Setting: The novel or memoir would be set in a tropical, jungle environment, where terrain and climate play a crucial role in shaping the mission and the soldiers’ experience. The story could be based in the dense rainforests of Borneo or Malaya, where Cross served during conflicts like the Malayan Emergency and the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation.

Themes:

Jungle warfare: The book is likely to delve deeply into the tactics, hardships, and strategies involved in conducting military operations in the jungle, where survival skills and adaptability are key.
Camaraderie and leadership: Like many military memoirs, this book may focus on the bonds between soldiers, the challenges of leadership, and the psychological toll of war.
Counter-insurgency: The story might explore the complexities of fighting insurgents in remote, hostile environments, requiring not just physical endurance but also cultural understanding and psychological warfare.

Characters:

Protagonist: If the book is autobiographical, the protagonist would be a version of J.P. Cross himself, a seasoned military officer with deep knowledge of jungle warfare. His experience and tactical skills would be central to the mission's success.

Supporting soldiers: Fellow soldiers, either British or local forces, might play crucial roles in the operation, highlighting the teamwork and unity required in such harsh conditions.

Local populations or insurgents: The book might also depict interactions with local populations, both friendly and hostile, as well as the insurgents the operation is targeting.

Style:

⚔"Operation Blowpipe" by J.P. Cross