Alastair Grant, whose father and both grandfathers served in The Royal Marines, was succeeded by his son as a fourth generation. Alastair joined in 1961 aged 17 ½ and served for 26 years. His first operational tour was in Tanganyika stabilising the government after army mutinies, followed by a posting to The Aden Protectorate, now Yemen, where he was wounded and evacuated to the UK. Other overseas tours included Singapore and the USA and six winters in Norway. He served in Northern Ireland during the troubles. His civilian career was as a consultant helping firms win new business, presentation skills and other communication challenges. He is a keen sailor with one twin-handed Trans-Atlantic under his belt.[
'Grant sets an historical context but his achievement lies in recounting the detail - some mundane, some terrifying – of a small group of men led by the remarkably resourceful Jameson as they make their small mark on events of Tolstoyan scale. It’s a story that deserves its own record and in Grant it has found an author who has blended personal investment and historical objectivity in perfect balance.'