⚔"Operation Blowpipe" by J.P. Cross

⚔"Operation Blowpipe" by J.P. Cross

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Ismail Mubarak, (‘Moby’), Head of Special Branch, Seremban

Kantan, Temiar headman

Kerinching, Temiar headman

Mandeh, Sumatran guide

Senagit, Temiar hunter

Templer, General Sir Gerald, High Commissioner-cum-Director of Operations, Malaya

Theopulos, John, manager Bhutan Estate

Those searched for on operations by the author:

Ah Soo Chye, guerrilla leader in north Malaya

‘Blood Sucker’, nickname of guerrilla

†Chien Tiang, chief confidant of Chin Peng (q.v.) and propaganda expert

†Chin Peng, alias of Ong Boon Hwa, Secretary General of the Malayan Communist Party

‘Collector’, nickname of guerrilla, sometimes known as ‘Wang’

‘Killer’, nickname of guerrilla

†Lee An Tung, Head of the Central Propaganda Department, Malayan Communist Party

Lee Song, Communist politician and guerrilla

Lo See, guerrilla leader in north Malaya

*Tan Fook Loong, Commander 2 Regiment, Malayan Races Liberation Army, (‘Ten Foot Long’,

British nickname)

Tek Miu, guerrilla leader in north Malaya

Yeong Kwoh, senior military member of the Malayan Communist Party

(† Operation Allenby)

(* Operation Jekyll)

Historical characters:

Akbar Khan, Pathan lawyer, Indian Association and Indian Independence League

Lai Tek, triple agent

Mao Tse-tung, Chairman, Chinese Communist Party

Sharkey, Lawrence Louis (‘Lance’). Chairman, Australian Communist Party

Sun Tzu, author of The Art of War

Too Chee Chew (‘C C Too’) brilliant propagandist, Special Branch, Malayan Police

Names either born in the author’s imagination or changed to avoid family embarrassment:

Abdul Hamid Khan} nephews of Akbar Khan (q.v.)

Abdul Rahim Khan} parachutists for the Indian National Army

Ah Fat, police ‘mole’ and non-voting Central Committee member, Malayan Communist Party

Ah Wong, police detective at Sepang Police Station

‘Bear’, Hung Lo, nickname of Wang Ming, (q.v.)

Chakrabahadur Rai, Rifleman, 1/12 Gurkha Rifles

Chan Man Yee, Malayan Communist Party ‘mole’ in Police HQ, Kuala Lumpur

Chen Yok Lan, wife of Tan Fook Loong (q.v.)

Chow Hoong Biu, fresh ration contractor for 1/12 Gurkha Rifles

Deng Bing Yi, fitter in Seremban

‘Emissary’, nickname of Meng Ru (q.v.)

Fong Chui Wan, taxi girl at Yam Yam night club, Seremban

Goh Ah Wah, surrendered guerrilla, 2 Regiment, Malayan Races Liberation Army

Hemlal Rai, chief clerk Bhutan Estate

Heron, James, Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding Officer, 1/12 Gurkha Rifles

Hinlea, Alan, Captain, turncoat officer in 1/12 Gurkha Rifles

Hutton, Reggie, Special Branch officer, Singapore

Kamal Rai, worker on Bhutan Estate with wartime experience

Kent, Major, 1/12 Gurkha Rifles

⚔"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.

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