⚔"Operation Red Tidings" by J.P. Cross

⚔"Operation Red Tidings" by J.P. Cross

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‘How have you managed to stay alive all this time?’

Wang Liang, putting his hand into a top pocket, said ‘I have kept my father’s mascot that he showed you so many years ago,’ and he brought out an old, tattered piece of paper, still wrapped in its piece of plastic and showed it to Jason, ،چ&ق.گ‮.’‬, Hung Sik Siu Sik, Red Tidings.

Your author found Chinese youths inspecting a students’ overnight camp and measuring its defensive weapon pits on one similar final exercise in 1971. The Malaysian police verified that they were a batch of recruit guerrillas on their way north to join the MRLA. ↵

See Operation Blow Pipe. ↵

See Operation Blind Spot. ↵

Map of Peninsular Malaysia

Map of Baling

Map of Negri Sembilan

List of Characters

[Note: except for those with a * in front of their name, the others were either born in the author’s imagination or their names have been changed to avoid family embarrassment.]

*Ah Chong, guerilla courier

Ah Fat, police ‘mole’ and non-voting Central Committee member, Malayan Communist Party, a.k.a. P’ing Yee, Flat Ears

Ah Hong, bar owner in Kuala Lumpur

Bickers, James Stuart, Brigadier, in whose brigade were 1/12 GR and 2/12 GR

*Briggs, Lieutenant General Sir Harold, Director of Operations, Malaya, 1950-1951

Chakrabahadur Rai, Rifleman, 1/12 Gurkha Rifles

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

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

*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

Cox, Peter, manager Rompin Estate

Fremin, Geoffrey, assistant manager, Rompin Estate

Gibson, Henry, Major, later Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding Officer, 1/12 Gurkha Rifles

Goh Ah Wah, senior surrendered guerilla, 2 Regiment, Malayan Races Liberation Army

*Ismail Mubarak, a.k.a. Moby, Head of Special Branch, Seremban

Jasbahadur Gurung, Rifleman, 1/12 Gurkha Rifles

Kwek Leng Ming, surrendered guerilla, 2 Regiment, Malayan Races Liberation Army

Kulbahadur Limbu, Corporal, 1/12 Gurkha Rifles, expert tracker

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

*MacGillivray, Sir Donald, High Commissioner for Malaya, 1954-57

Mason, James, Colonel, Director of Intelligence, HQ Malaya Command

Minbahadur Gurung, Lance Corporal, 1/12 Gurkha Rifles, radio operator

Rance, Jason Percival Vere, Captain, 1/12 Gurkha Rifles, a.k.a. Shandung P’aau, Shandong Cannon

Ridings, Edward (Ted), Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding Officer, 1/12 Gurkha Rifles

Ridings, Edwina, daughter of Lieutenant Colonel Ridings (q.v.)

Ridings, Fiona, Mrs, wife of Lieutenant Colonel Ridings (q.v.)

Ridings, Theodore (Ted), son of Lieutenant Colonel Ridings (q.v.)

Sim Ting Hok, captured guerilla ‘gardener’, 2 Regiment, Malayan Races Liberation Army

*Tan Fook Leong, Commander 2 Regiment, Malayan Races Liberation Army

Tan Wing Bun, son of Tan Fook Leong (q.v.)

*Ten Foot Long, British nickname for Tan Fook Leong, (q.v.)

*Too Chee Chew, a.k.a. C C Too, brilliant propagandist, Special Branch, Malayan Police

Vaughan, Eustace, Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding Officer, 1/12 Gurkha Rifles

Vinod Vellu, infiltrator of Malayan Communist Party

Wang Liang, son of Wang Ming, (q.v.)

Wang Ming, a.k.a. Hung Lo, the Bear, close friend of Ah Fat (q.v.)

*Wong, Miss, girlfriend of Too Chee Chew (q.v.)

⚔"Operation Red Tidings" by J.P. Cross

Overview:

Plot: The book probably revolves around a covert military mission named "Operation Red Tidings," possibly set during a conflict involving guerrilla warfare, such as the Malayan Emergency or the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation. The mission likely involves British or allied forces conducting operations against insurgents in a remote jungle setting, where the protagonist and his unit must outmaneuver a determined enemy.

Setting: As with many of J.P. Cross's works, the setting is most likely the dense, unforgiving jungles of Southeast Asia. The jungle terrain plays a significant role in the narrative, influencing tactics, movement, and survival.

Themes:

Jungle warfare and survival: The book would delve into the difficulties of operating in the jungle, including dealing with harsh weather, dangerous wildlife, and the need for exceptional survival skills.
Counter-insurgency tactics: It would explore the strategic and psychological elements of fighting a guerrilla force that blends into the environment and local populations, making the enemy elusive and dangerous.
Leadership and decision-making under pressure: The protagonist, likely modeled after J.P. Cross, would be a military leader who has to make tough decisions, balancing the lives of his men with the demands of the mission.

Characters:

Protagonist: A seasoned military officer, possibly based on Cross himself, leading his team through perilous operations. The protagonist would be knowledgeable in jungle warfare, resilient, and skilled in counter-insurgency techniques.

Supporting soldiers: The story would feature a variety of characters within the military unit, showcasing their camaraderie, personal struggles, and individual contributions to the mission.

Insurgents and local populations: The enemy forces are likely portrayed as elusive and strategic, using their knowledge of the terrain to their advantage. Local populations might also be a part of the narrative, either as informants or as part of the conflict’s complexities.

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