About the Author

Ian Gardiner served a full career in the Royal Marines retiring as a Brigadier. Since then he has written two books (In the Service of the Sultan has sold over 12,000 copies and The Flatpack Bombers). He lives in Edinburgh and is a defence consultant.

Reviews

This wise, beautifully written book has many excellent photographs. Highly recommended. - The Naval Review Ian Gardiner provides a vivid insight into the conflict and not just into strategy, tactics and the actual fighting. What are most revealing are the human touches - the small things that made life miserable or bearable. In his book Ian Gardiner paints a fascinating picture of the Royal Marines at a pivitol point in their history. This is an excellently written volume which I strongly recommend. - Warship World A cerebral Scot who retired as a brigadier, the author is as brilliant at explaining the strategic complexities of the campaign as he is at allowing the reader to experience what it really felt like to be invloved in an unending battle with the elements and against an enemy whose will needed to be broken if the war was to be won. He is generous in his praise of other units, where praise is due, but never shirks from criticism where it is needed. This book maintains the extremely high standards of detail, interest and readability that the author achieved in his first two books. - Guards Magazine