Two Alpha Lima First Ten by Clayton Peter (2 results)

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. The first and apparently only edition, with "First published in Great Britain 1994" stated to the copyright page. Original gilt-titled burgundy cloth in colour illustrated jacket 15x23cm. ix pp prelims, (6)pp b/w maps, 196pp text, (16)pp colour and b/w photos on glossy paper. Covers very good with a couple of marks to the cloth, gentle bumping to the extremities, and slight lean to the spine. Interiors fine. Jacket very good, lightly creased at the edges, not price clipped. Peter Clayton adopts the form of an unfolding intelligence report to describe the activities of the TOL and TOS in protecting territories in present day UAE from Saudi incursions, including the Buraimi Oasis Dispute. He draws on his own experiences, having served with them as a squadron commander on special duties and a patrol-force commander in various outstations from January 1954, then as TOS' first Political and Intelligence Officer during March 1956 to March 1957, when he also raised and commanded the Dubai Police Force. In August 1959 he returned to the region as Senior Intelligence Officer at Land Forces Persian Gulf HQ in Bahrain (p3).

First edition, first impression, of this chronological account encompassing the blockade of the Buraimi Oasis - the author was awarded an MBE for helping resolve the crisis - and two Omani revolts. Peter Clayton (1928-2011) joined the Trucial Oman Levies in 1954 and served in the Emirates for three years. In 1956, he was appointed the Scouts' chief political and intelligence officer, in which role he established Dubai's first police force. Clayton spoke excellent Arabic and was on intimate terms with Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his family. Martin Croucher, "Police founder was devoted to the UAE", The National, 5 August 2011. Octavo. With 16 plates (8 colour); full-page maps to the text. Original purple boards, spine lettered in gilt. With dust jacket designed by Harold King. Binding clean, edges foxed, book block slightly cockled throughout; jacket unclipped, spine sunned: a very good copy in like jacket.