This is a fascinating read, giving us a priceless account of the fall of Laos to the communists, backed up by the author’s professional analysis of what was going on, what was going wrong, and what, if anything, might have been done to produce a different outcome.

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History of War

First published in 1992, this welcome new edition describing two episodes in the authors extraordinary career has an introduction by Hew Strachan.

Military Historical Society

This is a very unusual story of a great eccentric. A linguist who developed extensive knowledge of Malaya and Indo-China. A fascinating read – Highly Recommended.

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Firetrench

The book 'First in, Last out' by Col J P Cross describes two episodes, one as a young officer taking part in counter-insurgency operations in French Indo-China, and later, as the Military Attache in Laos. A unique position to watch, hear and gather military intelligence while under diplomatic cover. Some fifteen Embassy's were based in Vientiane, the country's capital: all with a quota of spooks. It was a city of intrigue and rivalry.

In the late sixties, Vientiane was more a large Asian village and took only ten minutes to walk from one side to the other. The town was packed with staff from the Embassies. Almost everyone carried side-arms, and in the warm evenings, politics forgotten, foreigners would gather at Lulu's, drinking and listening to its owner Lulu, previously a madam with the departed French foreign Legion, sing slow, sultry French songs.

However, unlike his counter-parts, Cross didn't visit the flesh spots but made a point of learning the language, and would stop and chat with the local people. He didn't drink, was a bachelor and always immaculately dressed, with his dog at his heels. He was the image of a very British Colonel. He gained the confidence and trust of local politicians,and developed a relaxed friendship with Russian and Chinese Embassy staff which helped him to produce top quality intelligence for his masters in London.

In addition to his counter-insurgency operation in French Indo-China and intelligence gathering role in Laos, his 40 year military career included search and kill operations against SOE trained, communist guerrillas in north Malaya during the Malayan Emergency, and later with the Border Scouts in Borneo,

He retired to Nepal and was a member of the university staff at Kathmandu.

Richard Gough - Military Author and historian

As featured in

The Daily Mail 20/3/17