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

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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.)

Yap Kheng, demoted guerilla ‘gardener’, 2 Regiment, Malayan Races Liberation Army

*Yeong Kwoh, senior military member of the Malayan Communist Party

Xi Zhan Yang, Malayan Communist Party courier

Abbreviations

2ic: Second-in-Command

AOC: Air Officer Commanding

AVM: Air Vice Marshal

casevac: casualty evacuation, where possible by air

CEP: Captured Enemy Personnel

CO: Commanding Officer, commander of major unit

Comcen: Communications Centre

Compo: rations, already packed, ready to heat and eat

CQMS: Company Quartermaster Sergeant

CSM: Company Sergeant Major

CT: Communist Terrorist/s, official name for guerilla/s

DCM: Distinguished Conduct Medal

DSO: Distinguished Service Order

DZ: dropping zone

ETA: estimated time of arrival

FARELF: Far East Land Forces

⚔"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.

Style:

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