In 1970 at the height of the Cold War, the young Sandhurst-trained Sultan Qaboos of Oman, with secret British military backing, took on communist insurgents in a fierce but little known war. Along with regular British Army and contract officers, the Special Air Service played a key role in this bitterly fought but ultimately successful campaign.The value of winning the Hearts and Minds of the local population was quickly recognised and this is where a select band of Royal Army Veterinary Corps officers came in. The local economy was a primitive one based on agriculture, and the author, freshly qualified and, by his own admission, somewhat naive, found himself solely responsible for the veterinary care of a territory the size of Hungary.Attached to A Squadron, 22 SAS, Andrew Higgins learned how to respond to the Jebali peoples love and concern for the animals that provided their livelihood goats, camels, sheep and most importantly their cattle. Then there were the Sultans horses, pedigree dogs, exotic birds and even bears and hyenas.His first-hand experiences and anecdotes of life dealing with every level of Omani society, from the Ruler and his Court to the humblest refugees and their varied livestock make for wonderfully atmospheric and amusing reading. It also provides a thoughtful insight into the value of hearts and minds campaigns in other military operations where the support of the civilian population is crucial to success.With the SAS and Other Animals is an unusual and potent mix of Special Forces action and veterinary experiences. Readers may well conclude that it really shouldnt have happened to a vet even in a desert war!
