Unscathed

In 2000 the civil war in Sierra Leone escalated to horrible proportions, and the United Nations sent in a multinational peacekeeping force in the attempt to restore some semblance of order. Major Phil Ashby of the Royal Marines was part of the British contingent. All of his training barely prepared him for what was to happen: he and his companions escaped unarmed from the irregular army of a local warlord that surrounded their camp in the dense jungle. Ashby devotes several chapters to his life outside the Army, and his love of all things outdoors. His marriage (the determination to see his wife and family keeps him alive in the jungle) and Marine training are explored in some detail; although this is padding to a certain extent, it is interesting and necessary to understand the psyche of somebody pushed to the limit of his endurance. Indeed, these early chapters portray a clumsy, likeable character, always doing mad things, who is a team player - so much so that although he agonises whether he can leave his colleagues and make his own way to safety, he decides they will succeed or fail as a group. His attempts to integrate into the increasingly volatile situation in Freetown meets with mixed success; as he goes for morning jogs he is called 'chicken legs', but this same man is able to face down gun-toting children with little more than bravado and a firm stare. He ends up in a compound bravely defended by Kenyan UN soldiers (who later fight their way out), and realizes that, as Westerners, he and his companions are prime propaganda prizes. He seeks permission to break out and is given a 20% chance of success. The harrowing account of the escape into the jungle is not without its intimate moments; the sharing of a single piece of chewing gum (each man takes it in turns to chew it); the luxurious spoonful of Heinz baked beans from a small can Ashby's wife gave him as a reminder of home; the risks taken by people they befriend en route. All combine to add a human touch to a war that has set Sierra Leone back decades. Overall this is a fascinating insight into what makes the author tick; it also shows a pragmatic character whose training, fitness and determination ensure the whole party survives. The narrative is smoothly constructed, and at times the humour emphasizes the ludicrous situation in the country. Less Bravo Two Zero, more a military rites of passage, and a very readable one at that. (Kirkus UK)