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The War that Never Was

The True Story of the Men who Fought Britain's Most Secret Battle

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About this listen

For the very first time, The War That Never Was tells the fascinating story of a secret war fought by British mercenaries in the Yemen in the early 1960s.

In a covert operation organised over whisky and sodas in the clubs of Chelsea and Mayfair, a group of former SAS officers - led by the irrepressible Colonel Jim Johnson - arranged for a squadron of British mercenaries to travel to the remote mountain regions of the Yemen, to arm, train and lead Yemeni tribesmen in their fight against a 60,000-strong contingent of Egyptian soldiers.

It was one of the most uneven running battles ever waged; the Egyptians fielded a huge, professionally-trained army. The British fought back at the head of a ragtag force of tribal warriors and, ultimately, won. Egypt's President Nasser described the battle in the Yemen as ‘my Vietnam’.

It’s a fascinating, forgotten, and rip-roaringly entertaining pocket of British military history.

©2011 Duff Hart-Davis (P)2014 Audible, Inc. 20th Century Asia Europe Modern Middle East War Military Solider Africa Imperialism Iran Black Ops
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Excellent account of the war that never was along with the insights shared of the challenges faced by the brave men of the special air service and indigenous tribes.

Informative listen.

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