My Friends the Enemy

Life in Military Intelligence During the Falklands War

By Nick Van der Bijl

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40 years on from the Falklands War much can now be said about what happened during the conflict. This hardback book My Friends the Enemy: Life in Military Intelligence During the Falklands War seeks to shed light on one particular facet of the conflict.

Little was known about the Argentine threat and so the Intelligence Section was very heavily involved in collecting, collating and distributing intelligence from a variety of sources, initially from the UK and after landing at San Carlos Water, also from documents, prisoners of war, and a counter-intelligence operation. While the intelligence proved to be accurate throughout the campaign, some has been controversial, particularly relating to the Battle of Goose Green. Van der Bijl was one of the first into Stanley after the Argentinian surrender and was part of an intelligence operation that searched enemy HQs for documents and selected several hundred officers for further interrogation. As the author recounts, on the beach the Lieutenant asked if he could say a prayer before being shot. "Don't be so bloody silly," I replied, "get into the boat."

Seen from the viewpoint of the only Intelligence Corps in HQ 3 Commando Brigade and serving with its Intelligence Section of Royal Marines, this is a personal account of a role meant to provide accurate intelligence to Brigade Headquarters. My Friends, The Enemy is the first time that this story has been told by a witness to events in the Falklands from the start of the campaign to the finish.

Hardback
Size 155 x 236mm, 288 pages
ISBN: 9781445694184

*** Discontinued ***