Post by Diarist on Sept 27, 2016 1:56:26 GMT 1
At RAF Hinaidi in Baghdad WgCdr William Sowrey was waiting to greet us. They rarely get visitors there so Sally and I were almost treated like royalty. "Now you are a cabinet minister! Sir Robert really does sound good."
"They finally recognized my potential."
"Bob, may I introduce AVM William Mitchell. He is the AOC, British Forces in Iraq."
"Pleased to meet you. I hope we are not disturbing your slumber. Don't worry. we are just passing through and not inspecting anything. This part of my trip is more private than official. I hope you have a club here somewhere and a place to sleep."
"How many are you? You mentioned six on the telephone."
"Six it is, Bill."
After a bowl of tajine (similar to a stew) and a glass of cold beer I felt a lot better. We've been travelling for almost a week now and it was beginning to tire me.
"So how did you become a minister? Did the FTX have anything to do with it?"
"It helped but the after-action meeting the following Monday at the MoD put the last nail in the coffin of the trench-warfare advocates."
"You were the commander of the airborne forces during the exercise?"
"All five and a half hours of it. It was supposed to be a three-day exercise. The top brass were not at all amused."
"Bill told me about his adventures with your unit. He really enjoyed himself," the AVM said.
"I was in a different world. We were breaking all the rules. Taking off from RAF airfields without permission, no flight plan, simply starting and getting out of there. That was different."
"At night there are few aircraft in the air so we considered it safe enough but this is still early days, Bill. We don't have the right transport aircraft yet nor do we have the ideal weapons for the parachute troops."
"So what brings you here, Sir Robert?"
"Bill started the ball rolling. He told me about the political situation in this part of the world. Afterwards I asked my father if we have any business in Iran/Iraq. We do because our bank owns the firm that owns AIOC. We are heavily involved so I'm here to ensure that the problems are being fixed."
"Who's your father?"
"Edward Mitchell Jr., the Chairman of London and Midlands Bank. Are we related?"
"Not that I know of."
"Darling, why don't you stay in Baghdad while I'm in Iran? There's nothing in Abadan but I'm sure there is lot to see here."
"I'm going with you. We're a team, remember?"
"Then let's get some sleep. Is breakfast served here?"
"Starting at 06:00," Bill answered.
"Thanks. Goodnight." I really am tired.
"They finally recognized my potential."
"Bob, may I introduce AVM William Mitchell. He is the AOC, British Forces in Iraq."
"Pleased to meet you. I hope we are not disturbing your slumber. Don't worry. we are just passing through and not inspecting anything. This part of my trip is more private than official. I hope you have a club here somewhere and a place to sleep."
"How many are you? You mentioned six on the telephone."
"Six it is, Bill."
After a bowl of tajine (similar to a stew) and a glass of cold beer I felt a lot better. We've been travelling for almost a week now and it was beginning to tire me.
"So how did you become a minister? Did the FTX have anything to do with it?"
"It helped but the after-action meeting the following Monday at the MoD put the last nail in the coffin of the trench-warfare advocates."
"You were the commander of the airborne forces during the exercise?"
"All five and a half hours of it. It was supposed to be a three-day exercise. The top brass were not at all amused."
"Bill told me about his adventures with your unit. He really enjoyed himself," the AVM said.
"I was in a different world. We were breaking all the rules. Taking off from RAF airfields without permission, no flight plan, simply starting and getting out of there. That was different."
"At night there are few aircraft in the air so we considered it safe enough but this is still early days, Bill. We don't have the right transport aircraft yet nor do we have the ideal weapons for the parachute troops."
"So what brings you here, Sir Robert?"
"Bill started the ball rolling. He told me about the political situation in this part of the world. Afterwards I asked my father if we have any business in Iran/Iraq. We do because our bank owns the firm that owns AIOC. We are heavily involved so I'm here to ensure that the problems are being fixed."
"Who's your father?"
"Edward Mitchell Jr., the Chairman of London and Midlands Bank. Are we related?"
"Not that I know of."
"Darling, why don't you stay in Baghdad while I'm in Iran? There's nothing in Abadan but I'm sure there is lot to see here."
"I'm going with you. We're a team, remember?"
"Then let's get some sleep. Is breakfast served here?"
"Starting at 06:00," Bill answered.
"Thanks. Goodnight." I really am tired.