Description
Object description
British officer cadet at Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst in GB, 1972-1973; officer served with 1st Bn Coldstream Guards in Berlin, Germany, London, GB and Belfast, Northern Ireland, 1973-1976; served with Sultan's of Oman Forces in Dhofar, 1976-1978; served as officer with 2nd Bn Coldstream Guards at Caterham Barracks in GB and Gambia, 1978-1979; student with Army School of Languages at Beaconsfield, GB, 1979-1981; served as tour officer with British Commanders'in-Chief Mission to Soviet Forces in Germany (BRIXMIS) in Berlin, Germany, 1981-1983; student with Army Staff College, Camberley in GB, 1984-1985; officer served with 1st Bn Coldstream Guards in GB and Hong Kong, 1985-1986; officer served as ground operations officer with British Commanders'in-Chief Mission to Soviet Forces in Germany (BRIXMIS) in Berlin, Germany, 1987-1989; officer served as second in command of 1st Bn Coldstream Guards in GB and Kenya, 1989; staff officer served with Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium, 1989-1992; commanded 1st Bn Coldstream Guards in Northern Ireland and Germany, 1992-1993; commanded 1st Bn Coldstream Guards Battle Group during Operation Grapple 3 with United Nations in Bosnia, Balkans, 11/1993-5/1994; served as staff officer with Cost Review Secretariat at Ministry of Defence, London, GB, 1994-1995; served as military observer with United Nations in Zagreb, Croatia, 1995; staff officer served as Assistant Director of Intelligence for Current and Crisis with Defence Intelligence Staff, Ministry of Defence, London, GB, 1996-1998; served as Chief Faction Liaison Officer with Stabilisation Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (SFOR), North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in Bosnia, 1998; student with Australian Defence College in Canberra, Australia, 1999; served as Chief of Strategic Policy at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium, 1999-2000; served as Deputy United Kingdom to the European Union in Brussels, Belgium, 2001-2002; served as Head of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Military Liaison Mission in Moscow, Russia, 2002-2005
Content description
REEL 1 Background in GB, 1951-1971: family's military background; following father's military career on postings; education; experience with Territorial Army; decision to join British Army. Aspects of period as cadet at Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, GB, 1972-1973: selection for Coldstream Guards; nature of his cadet intake; character of syllabus. Aspects of period on Platoon Commanders Course at School of Infantry at Warminister, GB, 1973: amusing story of questioning mine detecting qualities of six inch nail; advice to dig escape tunnel. Recollections of period as officer with 1st Bn Coldstream Guards in Berlin, Germany, 1973-1974: nature of report on joining battalion in Berlin; joining battalion in Berlin; taking illicit photograph during journey to Berlin on British Military Train; patrolling into East Berlin; incident of damage to car during patrol into East Berlin.
REEL 2 Continues: British military access to East Berlin; commanding Spandau Prison detachment; imprisonment of Rudolph Hess in Spandau Prison; attitude towards ceremonial elements of prison detachment; lifestyle and accommodation; annual training exercises; 'Rocking Horse' plan for potential Soviet invasion of Berlin; patrolling British Sector of Berlin; description of Berlin Wall; contrast between West and East Berlin; Soviet presence in East Berlin area; opinion of East German forces.
REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of period as officer with 1st Bn Coldstream Guards in London, GB, 1974-1975: return to Chelsea Barracks in GB; contrast between Coldstream and Grenadier Guards; amusing story of sergeant major's reaction to European referendum; nature of duties at Chelsea Barracks; ceremonial duties including the Tower of London. Aspects of operations as officer with 1st Bn Coldstream Guards in Northern Ireland, 1975-1976: contrast between 1st Bn Royal Welsh Fusiliers and 1st Bn Royal Highland Fusiliers presence during reconnaissance party to Belfast; character of reconnaissance parties to Belfast; situation in Belfast, 1975; appearance of Intelligence Section of 1st Bn Royal Highland Fusiliers; intelligence gathering duties; intelligence training received; amusing story of handling source; attitude towards intelligence gathering in Northern Ireland.
REEL 4 Continues: duration of Northern Ireland tour. Recollections of period as officer with Sultan's of Oman Forces in Dhofar, 1976-1978: learning Arabic at Army School of Languages at Beaconsfield, GB; character of Sultan's of Oman Forces; numbers of British and Commonwealth officers; officer's pay; nature of Baluchi troops; stories illustrating Baluchi officers approach to briefings; influence of imams in regiment; story of how Baluchi was able to discover mines by instinct and handle them without danger; language used and need to write things down; attitude of Baluchi troops to soldiering.
REEL 5 Continues: religious considerations; question of how Baluchi troops viewed skin colour; social considerations; rations; Baluchi attitude towards throwing items away; situation in Dhofar, 1976-1978; patrolling activity and restrictions placed on it; incident of patrol being fired on and problems of establishing location of action; arrival of Italian film crew in aftermath of incident; amusing story of response of experienced Australian officer to dealing with contact; duties as operations intelligence officer; last Communist insurgence directed from Yemen, 1976; intelligence sources.
REEL 6 Continues: character of Ado tribesmen; nature of campaign in Dhofor; air support available; description of terrain and climate; complaints from RAF about quality of meteorological reports; nature of heat and cold; uniform and boots; weapons; transport; threat from mines; tactics employed by Ado and their shooting abilities; water supply; rations; duration of night patrols; 'hearts and minds' visits to villages; degree of threat from insurgents during patrols.
REEL 7 Continues: recruitment of Baluchis; training centre in Dfohar; role as training officer; assessment of recruits; training programme; problems operating radios in Dfohar; nature of radio messages; heavy weapons training; character of Reconnaissance Platoon; discipline; mercenary character of Baluchi forces; occasional disciplinary lapses; story of how quartermaster gathered equipment and hid it during inspection; nature of service in Oman; story of dealing with presence of rat in quarters; discovery of dead crow in water supply; attitude to service in desert.
REEL 8 Continues: Recollections of period as officer with 2nd Bn Coldstream Guards at Catterham Barracks, GB and Gambia, 1978-1979: posting to battalion; commanding officer's opinion of role of battalion; attending Junior Officers Course; emphasis on staff duties during course; exercises; posting as company commander with No 1 Coy; attending anti-terrorist exercises at Heathrow Airport; civil disturbance exercises, early 1979; attitude of troops to ceremonial duties and drill; on six week exercise in Gambia; story of armourer having to deal with Soviet and Chinese supplied weapons; presence of snakes, wild dogs and vultures; presence of European holidaymakers on Gambian coast; participation in Queen's Birthday Parade; story of improvisation during honour guard for Chinese premier.
REEL 9 Continues: passing Staff College Examinations. Aspects of period as student with Army School of Languages at Beaconsfield, GB, 1979-1981: character of army architecture at Beaconsfield; language courses; army language aptitude examination; starting Russian language course; fellow students on course; meeting future wife; nature of syllabus and working routine; visit with tourist group to Soviet Union during Moscow Olympic Games, 1980; impressions of Soviet Union, 1980; starting German language course. Aspects of period attending pre-The British Commanders'-in-Chief Mission to Soviet Forces in Germany, (BRIXMIS) course at Ashford in GB, 1981: joining course.
REEL 10 Continues: exercises on Salisbury Plain; opinion of training course. Recollections of operations as officer with British Commanders'-in-Chief Mission to Soviet Forces in Germany, (BRIXMIS) in Berlin, Germany, 1981-1983: RAF officer who didn't take to unit's work; process of posting to West Berlin; location of British Headquarters in West Berlin; familiarisation period on arrival; story of first familiarisation tour with experienced officer; duties on convoy watch; art of collecting intelligence; value of familiarisation tours; experienced NCOs; amusing story of ordering bulk order of DayGlo Gortex jackets; instance of ordering mini-bus without requisite number of seats; role of NCOs seconded from Intelligence Corps; daily recognition tests; looking for 'scoops'; presence of female personnel in mission and reasons why they didn't go on tour.
REEL 11 Continues: organisation of tours in East Germany; crossing into East Germany by Glienicke Bridge; tour tasks including checking military rubbish dumps; checking Soviet and East German prepared positions; types of paper used by Soviet personnel for their toiletry arrangements; marking of maps; selecting overnight stopping points; Soviet Army traffic regulators; importance of tea; incident of meeting with East German forestry official; friendliness of East German civilians towards mission.
REEL 12 Continues: description of types of vehicles used; mission modifications to Opel Senator; story of recovery of broken down vehicle from southern East Germany; nature of modifications of vehicles; cameras used; character of maps used; winches; reasons why camouflaged uniforms not used; use of early video cameras; use of thermal imaging camera; uniform worn; amusing story of receiving first batch of Gortex clothing; footwear worn; sleeping bags and use of ponchos for cover; rations.
REEL 13 Continues: protocol used when dealing with Soviets; description of tactics used when detained by Soviets; use of alcohol during detentions by Soviets; rules on treatment of mission cars; protocol on detention by East Germans; relations between East Germans and Soviets; crossing checkpoints on Glienicke Bridge; East German surveillance in Potsdam; attitude of East German Ministry of State Security (Stasi) personnel to Allied missions; incident of 'bumping' into Stasi in wood near Dresden; vehicles used by East German Ministry of State Security (Stasi); use of 'flyoffs' on autobahn.
REEL 14 Continues: opinion of East German Ministry of State Security (Stasi) efficiency; 'running' military convoys; encounter with Soviet officer whilst photographing military convoy; encounter with Soviet officer whilst watching railway line; types of activities observed by army missions; aims to photograph registration numbers of Soviet Army vehicles; question of estimation of strength of Warsaw Pact forces; story of missions gathering of intelligence on new Soviet T-80 Tank from 3/1983; sharing of information between missions.
REEL 15 Continues: character of French and American missions; how Allied mission tours were co-ordinated; contrast in approaches of British and American missions; question of intelligence gathering role of unit; use of aircraft by Allied missions; British use of De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk to photograph Warsaw Pact forces in Berlin area; attending parade at Soviet War Memorial in British Zone of Berlin; liaison duties with Soviets; visits to Soviet Officers Club in Potsdam; character of Soviet mission personnel.
REEL 16 Continues: account of surrounding of mission car and detention by Soviet Army troops whilst observing river crossing on River Elbe near Guttenberg, 8/1981; account of photographing train carrying the BMP-1 Armoured Vehicle and how NCO managed to acquire calibre of it's gun using Granny Smith apple, 1983.
REEL 17 Continues: account of mission car being rammed by East German Air Force vehicle near radar site whilst escorting new mission commander on tour, summer 1982; story of meeting driver of vehicle who rammed his vehicle on trip to Germany in later years; opinion of aim of East Germans to kill mission members; incidents of American and British missions damaging Soviet and East German vehicles; relations with East German civilians.
REEL 18 Continues: conversation with former East German detainee in pub; attitude of East Germans to state regime; incident of encounters with East German civilians when they aided the mission; life in East Germany. Aspects of period as student with Army Staff College, Camberley in GB, 1984-1985: background to going to staff college; attitude towards period at staff college and learning military writing; syllabus; visit to Berlin; opinion of course.
REEL 19 Continues: focus of course on British Army of the Rhine. Aspects of period as officer with 1st Bn Coldstream Guards in GB and Hong Kong, 1985-1986: attending Queen's Birthday Parade; move of battalion from Caterham to Hong Kong, early 1986; accommodation in Hong Kong; duties on border; internal security training; nature of jungle training in Brunei; degree of internal security threat in Hong Kong; attending state funeral of governor in Hong Kong; attitude towards service in Hong Kong; amusing story of battalion members visit to female Royal Navy medical officer.
REEL 20 Continues: character of Roman Catholic padre; story of meeting former escapee from Japanese occupied Hong Kong during visit to Australia. Recollections of period as ground operations officer with British Commanders'-in-Chief Mission to Soviet Forces in Germany, (BRIXMIS) in Berlin, Germany, 1987-1989: attitude towards posting; character of first tour in comparison to second tour; duties of ground operations officer; occasions when ground operations officer went on tour; Rudolf Hess' incarceration in Spandau Prison; role as interpreter in dealings with Rudolf Hess; death of Rudolf Hess.
REEL 21 Continues: further details of Rudolf Hess' incarceration in Spandau Prison; Allied guarding of Rudolf Hess; reasons why Soviets demanded continued imprisonment of Rudolf Hess; impressions of Rudolf Hess; Rudolf Hess' prison regime; nature of situation in East Germany by time of second tour; attending Soviet Army military exercises in East Germany; role of gathering intelligence on troop movements; atmosphere during encounter with Soviet Army officer during second tour; nature of second tour, 1987-1989; opinion of East German forces; question of Soviet plans on outbreak of war.
REEL 22 Continues: role of ground operations officer; rail watch duties; army tours' taking photographs of aircraft; duration of tours; debriefing and tour report compilation; importance of comment by tour members on report; typing up of reports and signing off; confidentiality of tour reports; story of discovery of convoy of Scud Missile launchers in village at night; plans to acquire example of Soviet reactive tank armour; how mission tour acquired an example of reactive tank armour; story of photographing Soviet Mil Mi-24 Hind Helicopters during first tour, 1981-1983.
REEL 23 Continues: nature of selection of Chief of Mission by late 1980s; liaison between Allied missions; incident when American mission poached on their tour territory; opinion of relations between Allied missions; question of American/French relations; French use of satellite imagery; American and French missions method of touring; Soviet officer's view of different missions; opinion of American method of operating; visits to British Embassy in East Berlin; reaction to Berlin Wall coming down, 1989; question of security within mission; incident when Soviet officer breached security; British liaison with Soviets.
REEL 24 Continues: mission visits to former Nazis concentration camps; visit to British Military Cemetery in East Germany; reaction to hearing of Berlin Wall coming down, 1989; question of Ministry of State Security (Stasi) control over East German population; question of how East Germany military dismantled itself after 1989. Aspects of period as second in command of 1st Bn Coldstream Guards in GB and Kenya, 1989: joining battalion in London, GB, 4/1989; move to Kenya; setting up training programme; British Army's use of Kenya for exercises; stomach problems in battalion. Recollections of period as staff officer with Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium, 1989-1992: background to posting to headquarters; French language needs; role of as military assistant to General John Galvin; character of General John Galvin; editing General John Galvin's speeches.
REEL 25 Continues: character of headquarters at Mons; General John Galvin's personal staff; American staff's working hours; bureaucratic nature of work; attempt to cut down number of generals at headquarters; stories illustrating General John Galvin's character; story of visit to Munich with General John Galvin; visit from Russian Chief of Staff to headquarters, 1990; organising General John Galvin's reciprocal visit to Russia.
REEL 26 Continues: story of visit to Russian Military District Headquarters in Kiev; story of visit to Russian Navy in Sevastopol; arrival of Russian liaison officers at headquarters; story of visit to Poland, 1991 including hosting by Italians in Warsaw; General John Galvin's visit to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Defence College in Rome, Italy; writing speech for General John Galvin about American logistical contribution to Gulf War Operations, 1991; question of division of responsibility between Americans and Europeans in Russia and Eastern Europe, 1991; character of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).
REEL 27 Continues: dealing with letters from American medical officer; amusing story of being offered candy by American officer; story of General John Galvin's visit to site of Battle of Waterloo. Recollections of period commanding 1st Bn Coldstream Guards in Northern Ireland, 1992: receiving specialised Northern Ireland training; joining battalion at Dungannon; visit to local Royal Ulster Constabulary commander; co-operation with police forces; nature of role; incident of troops receiving bomb in tin of Quality Street sweets; nature of tour in East Tyrone; amusing story of visit by Patrick Mayhew; problems obtaining equipment and use of helicopters; further details of nature of tour.
REEL 28 Continues: reiteration of story of troops receiving bomb in tin of Quality Street; question of nature of threat to troops; leaving Northern Ireland; description of base at Dungannon in East Tyrone. Aspects of period commanding 1st Bn Coldstream Guards in Germany, 1993: move to Germany; training in preparation for posting of battalion to Bosnia; reaction to receiving orders for Bosnian posting; training programme for deployment to Bosnia; arrival of 2nd Bn Coldstream Guards personnel on formation of 1st Bn Coldstream Guards Battle Group. Recollections of operations commanding 1st Bn Coldstream Guards Battle Group during Operation Grapple 3 with United Nations in Bosnia, Balkans, 11/1993-5/1994: nature of reconnaissance party to Bosnia, 8/1993; construction of Main Supply Route (MSR) into central Bosnia by Royal Engineers; nature of area of responsibility along Main Supply Route (MSR).
REEL 29 Continues: distribution of warring parties in Central Bosnia; character of various warring parties in Central Bosnia; deployment of battalion in Central Bosnia; under command of United Nations and British Headquarters in Split, Croatia; identifying battalion with United Nations; relations with United Nations; rules of engagement under United Nations and question of returning fire; relations with local warring parties in Gornji Vakuf; crossing checkpoints; threat of mines.
REEL 30 Continues: arrival in Bosnia, 11/1993; battalion accommodation at Vitez; location of commanding officer's accommodation outside main base at Vitez; local Chief of Police's setting up checkpoint opposite his accommodation; role of battalion looking after press; attitude of journalist Martin Bell towards battalion; subsequent behaviour of Martin Bell over comments made during battalion's tour; problems of attempting to 'play' the media; his attitude towards press wishes; question of media always wanting bad news; North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)'s first use of lethal force after Serbian bombing of factory; complex liaison process; nature of Bosnia Muslim offensive in Vitez Pocket.
REEL 31 Continues: attempt to vitrify 'massacre' in Vitez Pocket; visit to commander of 3rd Bosnian Corps to discuss visit to area of 'massacre' in Vitez Pocket; viewing bodies of 'massacre' victims; interviewing prisoners about 'massacre' in Vitez Pocket; use of interpreters and their status; interpreters' opinions of conflict; how interpreters learnt English from lyrics of pop group ABBA; effects of experiences on interpreters and question of their fate; opinion of and dealings with local Croat Republic of Herceg-Bosna commander Dario Kordic; sense of security as United Nations personnel; method used by battalion quartermaster to get through checkpoints to Sarajevo; story of military observers encounter with Serbian General Ratko Mladic.
REEL 32 Continues: description of organisation of aid convoys; routes taken by United Nations convoys into Central Bosnia; degree of threat towards United Nations aid convoys; distribution of humanitarian aid in Vitez Pocket; reiteration of dealings with local Croat Republic of Herceg-Bosna commander Dario Kordic; organisation of two convoys to distribute aid to Croatian and Bosnia Muslim communities simultaneously; dealing with late leaving of Croat convoy on return journey.
REEL 33 Continues: effect of poor weather on Main Supply Route (MSR) and role of Royal Engineers in keeping it open; problems with ice and use of aggressive track; dealing with hijack of battalion vehicle by Bosnian Muslims; return of stolen British machine gun by Croats after it's capture by Bosnia Muslims; degree of threat during tour; use of Russian language to understand conversations; visits to War Crimes Court in The Hague, Netherlands; visit by war crime investigator dealing with Vitez Pocket; further dealings with War Crimes Court in The Hague, Netherlands; attitude of troops to service in Bosnia and role of officers; taking cover during explosions in factory.
REEL 34 Continues: activities after ceasefire; examples of improvisation amongst cut off communities; character of his adjutant; decision to hold childrens' tea party; arrival of British reinforcements after ceasefire; situation in Bosnia after ceasefire; sending supporting force to Sarajevo after ceasefire; situation in Sarajevo; handing over to 1st Bn Prince of Wales Own Regt; money made from selling comforts in Bosnia; return to Germany and leaving battalion, 8/1994; attitude towards commanding battalion. Aspects of period as staff officer with Cost Review Secretariat at Ministry of Defence, London, GB, 1994-1995: initial posting to Staff College, Camberley and clash with journalist Martin Bell over battalion's role in Bosnia.
REEL 35 Continues: visit to South America to speak on experiences in Bosnia, autumn 1994; duties with Cost Review Secretariat; question of reasons for gliding activities in RAF. Recollections of period as military observer with Headquarters, United Nations Military Observers in Zagreb, Croatia, 1995-1996: use of military observers during tour of Bosnia; headquarters officers; location of military observers; question of how military observer posts were viewed by different countries; location of headquarters; accommodation and eating arrangements; character of military observer teams; change in role from monitoring to intelligence gathering; question of different nationalities bias towards different parties in Bosnia; role of military observers; lack of American presence in United Nations in Bosnia.
REEL 36 Continues: attempts to maintain balance amongst military observers; visit to Macedonia, 5/1995; contrast between Finnish and American battalions in Macedonia; visit to Albania/Macedonian border and invitation to inspect troops; character of Macedonia; airfield watch; situation in sectors of Croatia; attitude of Serbians towards United Nations' military observers; question of American support for Croatian forces; incidents of military observers being taken hostage by Serbian forces, summer 1995
REEL 37 Continues: treatment of military observers taken hostage by Serbian forces; story of Serbian guard being 'court martialled' by his military observers hostages; Croatian invasion of Republic of Serbian Krajina during Operation Storm, 8/1995; story of military observer's rescuing pet dog under shell fire during Operation Storm, 8/1995; mistaking electrical storm for Serbian rocketing in Zagreb; how Serbian forces rapidly retreated and left behind vulnerable people; incident of being fired on by drunken Croatian forces; question of Serbian forces not being able to control captured territory; situation in Sector East; Croatian invasion of Serbian Krajina, 9/1995.
REEL 38 Continues: nature of campaign in north eastern Bosnia; start of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)'s involvement in Bosnian War, 9/1995; withdrawal of United Nations' military observers from Serbian side; how ceasefire was achieved in Bosnia, 10/1995; outcome of Dayton Agreement on Bosnian populace; reports received from military observers on Serbian mortaring of market place in Sarajevo; question of return of United Nations' military observers to Serbian side and American reaction; leaving organisation, 11/1996.
REEL 39 Continues: character of United Nations safe areas in Bosnia; situation in Bihac Safe Area; sale of United Nations' equipment by Bangladeshi Battalion in Bihac Pocket; character of Zepa Safe Area; behaviour of Dutch peacekeepers at time of fall of Srebrenica Safe Area; behaviour of 1st Bn Royal Fusiliers in Gorazde Safe Area, 1995; story of shooting down of British Aerospace Sea Harrier in Bosnia, 1994; question of role of United Nations' peacekeepers in Bosnia.
REEL 40 Continues: Aspects of period as Assistant Director of Intelligence for Current and Crisis with Defence Intelligence Staff, Ministry of Defence, London, GB, 1996-1997: role and duties; reporting on death of President of Nigeria; amusing story of spelling mistakes in intelligence report; over-watch duties on former Yugoslavia; visit to former Yugoslavia; problems of obtaining entrance to American base at Tuzla and briefing received from American officer; visit to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) military observers at Tuzla; visit with Admiral Alan West to Sarajevo, 1997; French move towards adopting English; description of visits to Serbia; situation during visits to Kosovo, 1997-1998; reaction to outbreak of hostilities in Kosovo. Recollections of period as Chief Faction Liaison Officer with Headquarters, Stabilisation Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (SFOR), North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in Sajajevo, Bosnia, 1998: role of Chief Faction Liaison Officer; basing near Sarajevo.
REEL 41 Continues: American command structure at headquarters; problems getting Croatian and Serbians to adopt the same number plates; deputy commanders; arrival of new French general deputy commander; composition of his staff and arrival of French officers; military observer teams; character of his driver Corporal Giles; visit to Bosnian Serb general and his presentation of pistol; story of jeep crash in blizzard, 11/1998; wife's premonition of his accident, 11/1998; situation in Bosnia after Dayton Agreement; visit to Bosnian Serb training area in Bosnia.
REEL 42 Continues: cutting down of Bosnian Serb forces; setting up training areas for Federation Army; relations between American liaison officer and American contractor; headquarters staff; question of removal of junk cars from streets of Sarajevo; formation of Federation Army; visits to Federation Air Force; suggesting joint meeting for Federation Army chief of staff; opinion of how North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) got situation right in Bosnia; contrast in reports from French, British and American sectors; question of Russian military adopting English language; how his perception of situation in Balkans changed over tours of Balkans.
REEL 43 Continues: leaving Bosnia. Aspects of period as student with Australian Defence College in Canberra, Australia, 1999: background to move to Australia; amusing news stories in Canberra; composition of course; cultural character of Canberra; Australian fixation on People's Republic of China; opinion of course; course visits; return to GB. Aspects of period as Chief of Strategic Policy at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Mons, Belgium, 1999-2000: duties and role; command structure; enlargement of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO); promotion to brigadier. Aspects of period as Deputy United Kingdom to the European Union in Brussels, Belgium, 2001-2002: appointment; winding down of Western European Union; Russian general's reaction to visit to Reichstag in Berlin; role and duties; languages used by European Union; role of European Union military staff.
REEL 44 Continues: opinion of Finnish officer of languages used in European Union; British ambassadors in Brussels; composition of his staff; opinion of role. Recollections of period as Head of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Military Liaison Mission in Moscow, Russia, 2002-2005: background to posting to Moscow; reconnaissance trip to Moscow to obtain accommodation; drive from Belgium to Moscow; status of mission; bureaucratic problems taking delivery of pet dog from airport in Moscow; problems of getting dog back to GB, 2005; frustrations of Russian life.
REEL 45 Continues: background to reasons for need for North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) military liaison mission in Moscow; requirements for successful multi-national organisation; UK commitment to provide his role; mission accommodation; North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) information office; protest aimed at office; approaches to Russian staff from Russian security services; character of his Russian opposite number; composition and character of his staff; Russian liaison officers; suicide of German staff member.
REEL 46 Continues: Russian staff members; recruitment of local Russian secretary; liaison with defence attaché of Serbia and Montenegro; last enlargement of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) during period and liaison with new defence attaches; prior close links of defence attachés from Baltic States; North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) policy towards Russia; visit to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Defence College in Rome with Russian officers; financial constraints of role.
REEL 47 Continues: Russian asking for North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) funding for demilitarisation project; British and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) funding of training for Russian officers leaving armed forces; question of how funding should have been spent; Russians attitude to prospect of joining North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO); liaison duties with press and his attitude towards them; visits by American North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) ambassador; academic duties; Western aid to help Russians with redundant nuclear weapons; attending Russian exercise to demonstrate anti-terrorist measures relating to nuclear containers, 8/2003.
REEL 48 Continues: number and character of activities mission involved with from 2002-2003; attitude of Russian media towards North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO); British and American submarine rescue aid to Russians; visit of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) minesweepers to Murmansk; amusing question he asked Russian Admiral during Murmansk visit; visit to Russian Black Sea Fleet and interest of Russian Navy to participate in North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) exercises in Mediterranean; question of communication in Russian Navy; passing on letter from Russian Chief of Staff to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in Brussels, Belgium.
REEL 49 Continues: fields of shared interest between North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and Russians; invitation from Russians to attend exercise to demonstrate anti-terrorist measures relating to nuclear containers, 8/2003; visit to new Russian peace-keeping brigade in Siberia; sending Russian officer to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Defence College in Rome; opinion of dysfunctional nature of Russian military; incident of having to provide Russians with fax paper and eventually a fax machine; question of extending his role for sake of continuity; American and German reluctance to provide staff for mission; composition of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) military mission after he left; question of obstacles to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)/Russian co-operation.
REEL 50 Continues: Reflections on military career: lack of interest by British Army in his experiences; importance of languages in military; question of military being able to mend all equipment used; question of accuracy of memories.
REEL 51 Continues: story of meeting former British NCO in Canberra, Australia, 1999.