The Sheikh and the Dustbin

Last updated

The Sheikh and the Dustbin
The Sheikh and the Dustbin.jpg
First edition
Author George MacDonald Fraser
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
SeriesMcAuslan
Genre short stories
PublisherCollins/Harvill
Publication date
1988

The Sheikh and the Dustbin is the third and last collection of short stories by George MacDonald Fraser, featuring a young Scottish officer named Dand MacNeill. It is a sequel to The General Danced at Dawn and McAuslan in the Rough and concerns life in a Highland Regiment after the end of the Second World War. [1] [2]

Plot Summaries

The Servant Problem. Lieutenant MacNeill, having been overseas much longer than the other junior officers of the battalion due to his prior enlisted service, is sent home from North Africa on Leave In Advance of Python, "Python" being the code word for demobilization. As was the custom of the time, he visited the families of a number of his fellow officers and the men of his platoon, telling the families about their sons, husbands, and brothers. Along the way, he muses about being looked after by servants, his grandmother running a Highland lodge with a large staff of servants, and his own experiences with the batmen he has had since becoming an officer candidate and a commissioned officer.

Captain Errol. Just assigned to the battalion as the Intelligence Officer, Captain Errol — not his real name, but rather a reflection of the fact he bears a passing resemblance to Errol Flynn in physical appearance, and more than a passing resemblance to him in his personal mannerisms, panache, and style — is what the Jocks refer to as a "gallus man," someone who is simultaneously an extrovert, indifferent to his effect on others, and reckless. Highly decorated, he holds both a Military Cross and a Military Medal, as well as Balkan decorations for valor and several campaign stars and medals. He started the war as a commissioned officer, was broken to the ranks by court-martial, and subsequently was re-commissioned for outstanding service. Master of all the military arts, he is a sniper-grade marksman, expert in infiltration, a wizard at hand-to-hand combat, and an outstanding observer of the human condition and the psychology of command, yet he is an enigma. Like George Patton or Chesty Puller, Errol is one of those rare men born to excel as warriors. Worshiped by some, despised by others, regarded by a few as a menace to be avoided at all costs, he proves himself to Dand MacNeill and the other officers when the battalion is called on to assist the civil authorities when an Arab nationalist demagogue whips up a riot in the Suk and sends it against the modern town outside the walls of the Old City.

The Constipation of O'Brien. Following an Army Education session in which MacNeill teaches all of his men how to read a compass and a map, he is sucked into bets with half the mess that his men, dropped by pairs out of enclosed trucks along the Mediterranean coast at night, cannot reach a selected point within a reasonable time. And specifically, that Private McAuslan, the British Army's answer to Peking Man, cannot do it. Plus which, to make life more interesting, the Royal Artillery will be providing an opposing force that the Jocks have to sneak past. And just to make it more interesting yet, the Colonel puts a bet on with the Gunners' C.O. that his Highlanders will be able to extinguish a lantern on a bridge that is "home base" without being detected.

The Sheikh and the Dustbin. The battalion is tasked with keeping Suleiman bin Aziz, a notorious native brigand who has been at war with the French his entire life, secure until the French colonial authorities can take custody of him and ship him off to Devil's Island. The dignified, perpetually smouldering sheikh quickly earns the respect and affection of the Scots, especially after hearing the pipes and connecting the sound with the legendary soldier of fortune Sir Harry MacLean, who had been commander of the Sultan of Morocco's army. But before being taken away by the French, bin Aziz gives the Colonel a most precious gift.

McAuslan, Lance-Corporal. The rank of Lance-Corporal in the British Army was described by Rudyard Kipling as being "... 'arf o' nothin', an' all a private yet," [3] but a lance-jack is the one who is in charge of details or a squad in the absence of the real non-commissioned officers. A Brigadier who had been present on the occasion of McAuslan's answering an utterly improbable question about soccer encounters him on fatigues, remembers him, and promotes him to lance-corporal. Hilarity ensues.

The Gordon Women. Dand MacNeill's aunt owns Wade's House, named after the British general who built the first road system north of the border with England through Scotland. Now a hotel, she is still Lady of the Manor of the estate that the family owns. While officer-in-charge of a detail transferring ammunition and explosives about in a deuce-and-a-half truck, Dand MacNeill stops to visit his aunt and rest his men—and finds himself stuck in the middle of a battle of wits between local stillers, poachers, the Excisemen who are out to catch the illegal makers of the malt whisky, and members of the local gentry who want to catch both the stillers and the poachers — plus, of course, the contribution to the chaos of the inimitable Private McAuslan.

Ye Mind Jie Dee, Fletcher? Dand MacNeill muses over the fortunes, mostly ill fortunes, of the Scottish national soccer team in the 1978 World Cup tournament in which Scotland was clobbered by Peru 3–1, drew against Iran, and suffered the indignity of having a player sent home on drug violations. He imagines the debacle being analyzed by Privates McAuslan and Fletcher in Glesca dialect.

Extraduction. George MacDonald Fraser retracts the statement he made in the introduction to The General Danced at Dawn, in which he said that the battalion in which MacNeill, McAuslan, Wee Wullie and the rest served never existed, and that the characters themselves were fictitious. He goes on to tell the story of meeting the Colonel at a book-signing, reminiscing with him over drinks afterwards, and being astonished when the Colonel correctly names the two Jocks whose composite is the infamous Private McAuslan. He also at the very end identifies his allegedly fictional battalion as the Second Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders, and the supposedly fictional Colonel who had commanded it (and him) as Lieutenant Colonel R.G. "Reggie" Lees.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George MacDonald Fraser</span> English-born author of Scottish descent (1925–2008)

George MacDonald Fraser was a Scottish author and screenwriter. He is best known for a series of works that featured the character Flashman. Over the course of his career he wrote eleven novels and one short-story collection in the Flashman series of novels, as well as non-fiction, short stories, novels and screenplays—including those for the James Bond film Octopussy and an adaptation of his own novel Royal Flash.

<i>Soldier Soldier</i> British television drama series (1991–1997)

Soldier Soldier is a British television drama series. The title comes from a traditional song of the same name, an instrumental version of which was used as its theme music.

Robert Gordon McBeath, VC was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious medal that can be awarded to members of British military forces. Following the end of the First World War McBeath married and emigrated to Canada where he was killed in the line of duty while working as a police officer in Vancouver, British Columbia.

<i>Battle Cry</i> (film) 1955 film by Raoul Walsh

Battle Cry is a 1955 Warnercolor film, starring Van Heflin, Aldo Ray, James Whitmore, Tab Hunter, Nancy Olson, Anne Francis, Dorothy Malone, Raymond Massey, and Mona Freeman in CinemaScope. The film is based on the 1953 novel by former Marine Leon Uris, who also wrote the screenplay, and was produced and directed by Raoul Walsh. The film was shot at Camp Pendleton, California, and featured a large amount of cooperation from the United States Marine Corps.

<i>Tunes of Glory</i> 1960 British film by Ronald Neame

Tunes of Glory is a 1960 British drama film directed by Ronald Neame, starring Alec Guinness and John Mills, featuring Dennis Price, Kay Walsh, John Fraser, Duncan MacRae, Gordon Jackson and Susannah York. It is based on the 1956 novel and screenplay by James Kennaway. The film is a psychological drama focusing on events in a wintry Scottish Highland regimental barracks in the period immediately following the Second World War. Writer Kennaway served with the Gordon Highlanders, and the title refers to the bagpiping that accompanies every important action of the battalion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">42nd Regiment of Foot</span> Military unit

The 42nd Regiment of Foot was a Scottish infantry regiment in the British Army also known as the Black Watch. Originally titled Crawford's Highlanders or the Highland Regiment and numbered 43rd in the line, in 1748, on the disbanding of Oglethorpe's Regiment of Foot, they were renumbered 42nd, and in 1751 formally titled the 42nd (Highland) Regiment of Foot. The 42nd Regiment was one of the first three Highland Regiments to fight in North America. The unit was honoured with the name Royal Highland Regiment in 1758. It's informal name Black Watch became official in 1861. In 1881, the regiment was amalgamated with another unit under the Childers Reforms into The Royal Highland Regiment , being officially redesignated The Black Watch in 1931. In 2006, the Black Watch became part of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

<i>The Trench</i> (film) 1999 British film

The Trench is a 1999 war film written and directed by William Boyd and starring Paul Nicholls and Daniel Craig. It depicts the experiences of a group of young British soldiers in the 48 hours leading up to the Battle of the Somme in 1916.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Forces casualties in Afghanistan since 2001</span> List of British casualties in Afghanistan since 2001

The United Kingdom was one of the first countries to take part in Operation Enduring Freedom against the Taliban regime in autumn 2001.

In 1983 the British and Irish Lions toured New Zealand for the first time since 1977. The Lions went down to a 4–0 whitewash for only the second time in history – the previous was also inflicted by the All Blacks on the 1966 Lions. Overall the Lions played eighteen matches, winning twelve and losing six. In addition to their four test defeats they also lost to the Auckland and Canterbury provincial unions.

<i>The General Danced at Dawn</i> 4th episode of the 12th season of Comedy Playhouse

The General Danced at Dawn is a collection of short stories by George MacDonald Fraser, narrated by Lieutenant Dand MacNeill, a young officer in a fictional Scottish battalion of the British Army, part of the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division. It is a generally fond depiction of army life in the period just after World War II. It was published first during 1970. The stories were based on Fraser's own time as an officer of the Gordon Highlanders in Libya at that time.

The Lae War Cemetery, established in 1944, is located adjacent to the Botanical Gardens in the centre of the city of Lae, the capital of Morobe Province, in Papua New Guinea. The cemetery is managed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

<i>McAuslan in the Rough</i>

McAuslan in the Rough is the second collection of short stories by George MacDonald Fraser featuring a young Scottish officer named Dand MacNeill. It is a sequel to The General Danced at Dawn and concerns life in a Highland regiment after the end of World War II.

The plan of raising a fencible corps in the Highlands was first proposed and carried into effect by William Pitt the Elder, in the year 1759. During the three preceding years, both the fleets and armies of Great Britain had suffered reverses, and it was thought that a "home guard" was necessary as a bulwark against invasion.

Privates is a 2013 BBC One drama television series set in 1960 which follows the stories of eight privates who are part of the last intake of National Service, and their relationships with their officers and non-commissioned officers, civilian staff and families. The series was written by Damian Wayling, directed by Bryn Higgins and produced by Nick Pitt.

The New Year Honours 1915 were appointments by King George V to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by members of the British Empire. They were announced on 1 January 1915.

Colonel Henry James Wilson CBE TD, known as both Harry and Jock, worked in the London County and Westminster Bank prior to his military career. After the war was over he worked in the War Office Commission reviewing sentences on war criminals. At this time he was appointed an OBE. He retired in 1949 and made a new career as a farmer in Battle in Sussex and was then appointed a CBE for his services to agriculture. His successful career and promotion through the ranks are noteworthy.

The 1915 Birthday Honours were appointments by King George V to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of the British Empire. The appointments were made to celebrate the official birthday of The King, and were published in The London Gazette and in The Times on 3 June 1915.

The 1917 New Year Honours were appointments by King George V to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of the British Empire. The appointments were published in several editions of The London Gazette in January and February.

The 1919 King's Birthday Honours in New Zealand, celebrating the official birthday of King George V, were appointments made by the King on the recommendation of the New Zealand government to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by New Zealanders. They were announced on or dated 3 June 1919.

References

  1. Stanley Reynolds, "George MacDonald Fraser: He created Harry Flashman, tormentor of Tom Brown turned comical anti-hero", The Guardian, 4 January 2008 accessed 23 November 2012
  2. The guy who takes trouble downtown: Fiction Barnes, Hugh. The Observer (1901-–2003) [London] 07 Aug 1988: 43.
  3. https://www.readbookonline.org/readOnLine/2689/. Kipling, Rudyard. Poem, "The 'eathan." Retrieved June 1, 2015.