In 1970 at the height of the Cold War the young Sandhurst-trained Sultan Qaboos of Oman with secret British military backing took on the communist rebels in a fierce but little known war. Along with regular British Army & contract officers the SAS played a key role in this bitterly fought but ultimately successful campaign. The value of winning the Hearts & Minds of the local population was quickly recognised & this is where a select band of Royal Army Veterinary Corps officers came in. The local economy was a primitive one based on agriculture & the author freshly qualified & by his own admission somewhat naive particularly in military matters found himself solely responsible for the veterinary care of a territory the size of Hungary. Attached to A Squadron 22 SAS Andrew Higgins learnt how to respond to the Jebali peoples love & concern for their animals who provided their livelihood
- goats camels sheep & cattle. Then there were the Sultans horses dogs birds & even bears. His first-hand experiences & anecdotes of life dealing with every level of Omani society from rulers to black slaves & their varied livestock make for wonderfully atmospheric & often amusing reading. In short With the SAS & Other Animals is an unusual & potent mix of Special Forces action & veterinary experiences. Readers may well conclude that it really shouldnt have happened to a vet even in a desert war!