The Unconventional Soldier

CONTENTOur guest on this podcast is John Tulloch who served in Vietnam with the New Zealand Army and later transferred to the British Army. John advised and instructed on the British Army’s Jungle Warfare Instructors’ Course (JWIC) in Brunei and supported major jungle exercises in Belize.  Retiring from the Army in 2003 and becoming a MOD Civil Servant, John continued to instruct on JWIC until May 2015.John was honoured with the MBE in 2003 and the Royal Artillery Medal in 2011.  An author of several articles about the Vietnam War and Borneo, he also gives talks on these subjects to the military, history groups and schools. Since retiring from the Civil Service in 2015, John began writing ‘The Borneo Graveyard 1941-1945’, the product of 12 years of research. This is his first book.THE BOOKBorneo, the land of the head hunters, was a World War II graveyard for POWs, internees, locals, Javanese and Japanese. John's book follows the raising of five Royal Artillery air defence regiments in 1939, their deployment in late 1942 to South East Asia, their short campaign in the Netherlands East Indies and eventual captivity as POWs in Java and North Borneo.The account describes the invasion of Borneo and the subsequent four years of Japanese occupation.  It depicts the sadistic treatment of Australian, British, Dutch and Indian POWs in the various POW camps in North Borneo at Jesselton, Sandakan, Ranau, Labuan and Batu Lintang.  It also describes the three Death Marches from Sandakan to Ranau.The internee account covers the men, women and children from all over Borneo interned in Batu Lintang.  They experienced the unspeakable behaviour of the guards.  Several internees were killed trying to escape the Japanese regime or gratuitously executed before liberation.The locals of Borneo suffered terribly.  Torture, executions and massacres occurred throughout. Malnutrition, starvation and death were endemic.  Tribes exacted their revenge and over 8,000 Japanese died during their withdrawals in Sabah.The secretive Z Force gathered intelligence, trained local guerrilla fighters who harassed and exacted a heavy toll on the Japanese. They also engaged in bitter fighting for the liberation of Borneo.Finally the book finishes with POW convalescence at Labuan followed by repatriation to the UK and the dreadful wall of silence experienced by so many of the returning Far East POWs and internees to the UK.You can order a copy of John's book by contacting him by email:   johntulloch4145@gmail.com SOCIAL MEDIAFollow us on social media and don't forget to like, share and leave a review.Instagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download on other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: unconventionalsoldier@gmail.com. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CONTENTThis is the second part of our podcast with Vietnam veteran John Tulloch.  If you have listened to the first part of this podcast (#023) you would be advised to do this first.  DESERT ISLAND DITSJohns choice of book on desert island dits is The Old Man And The Sea by Ernest Hemingway and his film is The Longest Day.  The team's choice this week is Delta Four: Australian Riflemen in Vietnam by Gary McKay and Britain's Treasure Islands: A Journey to the UK Overseas Territories by Stewart Mcpherson.A complete list of the books we have reviewed with our guests can be found here.SOCIAL MEDIAFollow us on social media and don't forget to like, share and leave a review.Instagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download on other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: unconventionalsoldier@gmail.com. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest on this podcast is Vietnam veteran John Tulloch.  John's military career began in 1965 and he was commissioned into the Royal New Zealand Artillery (RNZA) in 1966. John developed his jungle warfare expertise whilst serving in Vietnam with 161 Battery from July 1968 to July 1969 as a Forward Observation Officer (FOO) nowadays referred to as a Fire Support Team commander.John transferred to the British Army and Royal Artillery in March 1973 and completed two tours in Northern Ireland , followed by a two year secondment to the Sultan of Oman’s Artillery in 1978. In 1994 John began as a visiting advisor and instructor for the next 21 years on the British Army’s Jungle Warfare Instructors’ Course in Brunei. He also supported major jungle exercises in Belize for 10 years.Retiring from the Army in 2003 and becoming a MOD Civil Servant, John continued to instruct on Jungle Warfare Instructors Course until May 2015.  John was honoured with the MBE in 2003 and the Royal Artillery Medal in 2011.An author of several articles about the Vietnam War and Borneo, he also gives talks on these subjects to the military, history groups and schools. This is the first of two podcasts in which John discusses why he joined the Army, his pre deployment training in preparation for active duty in Vietnam and what it was like fighting in the jungles of South East Asia. Follow us on social media and don't forget to like, share and leave a review.Instagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download on other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: unconventionalsoldier@gmail.com. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest on this podcast is Ali Macdonald Co-founder & CEO - Resilient Nutrition who served in the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, the HAC and the London Scottish. On this episode we discuss a short history of rations in the British Army, how modern nutrition techniques are influencing training and feeding of soldiers both in camp and in the field.  Finally we look at how intelligent use of appropriate nutrients assists not only those in the military but endurance sports athletes.You can find Ali at:www.resilientnutrition.com  and on Instagram @resilientnuts. We finish with Ali's book choice on Desert Island dits Team Of Teams New Rules Of Engagement For A Complex World  by General Stanley McChrystal.  His film choice is The Bourne Identity.  The teams book choices this episode are Tunnel 29: The True Story of an Extraordinary Escape Beneath the Berlin Wall and Beyond Possible: One Soldier, Fourteen Peaks — My Life In The Death Zone.Follow us on social media and don't forget to like, share and leave a review.Instagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download on other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: unconventionalsoldier@gmail.com. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest is Army veteran Simon Vincent.  On this episode we discuss the war films we rated back in the day when everything was on VHS.  Some golden oldies and a few lesser known (in our eyes) classics.If you have enjoyed the podcast we would really appreciate a review especially on Spotify or ITunes.You can follow us on social media on the following platforms and don't forget to like, follow, share. Instagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download on other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: unconventionalsoldier@gmail.com. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest is Chris Harvey who served as a reserve STA patrols soldier in the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC).  On this episode we discuss non-military PTSD from Chris's very personal experience.How is non-military PTSD (also known as Non-Combat post-traumatic stress disorder) different from the PTSD we most often hear about related to military combat? The reality is, it's the same disease, the same symptoms, the same debilitating condition. The precipitating traumas, specific symptoms and severity of symptoms may be different, but millions of both veterans and civilians live with PTSD. Individuals may develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder when they experience, witness or learn about an event involving actual or threatened death, sexual violation, or serious injury. Non-Combat PTSD can affect all ages, genders, income levels, ethnicities and lifestyles.We finish with Chris's book choice on Desert Island dits Among You by Jake Wood.  His film choice is Resurface.  The teams book choices this episode are Legionnaire by Simon Murray and The Super Cops by LH Whittemore.You can follow Chris's stand up paddle boarding charity on Instagram here https://instagram.com/servicesupport19?utm_medium=copy_linkFollow us on social media and don't forget to like, follow, share and leave a review.Instagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download on other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: unconventionalsoldier@gmail.com. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the second part of our podcast with mountaineer Andy Kirkpatrick.  If you haven't already download "S2 #019 Andy Kirkpatrick Mountaineer Part 1" first.   Follow us on social media and don't forget to like, follow, share and leave a review.Instagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download on other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: unconventionalsoldier@gmail.com. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our first civilian guest on the podcast is Andy Kirkpatrick.  Described by John Humphreys as the Ranulph Fiennes of British climbing.  He’s a professional mountaineer, award-winning writer, film maker and host of the Psychovertical podcast. Andy has climbed all over the world but is viewed as an expert in big wall climbing having summited El Capitan over 30 times including 5 solo ascents and two   one day ascents.  Andy was kind enough to email and tell us he enjoyed the pod and it got us thinking how much small unit, dismounted soldiering and climbing had in common.  Both involve highly trained individuals capable of operating equally well on their own or as part of a team. There is also the need for focused training, the honing of skills, an obsession with gear, great photos in inaccessible parts of the world and the discomfort of wet/dry drills before getting in or out of a sleeping bag. We finish with Andy's book choice on Desert Island dits About Face by David Hackworth.  His film choice is Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.  The teams book choices this episode are Picking Up The Brass by Eddie Nugent and Serpico by Peter Maas.Follow us on social media and don't forget to like, follow, share and leave a review.Instagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download on other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: unconventionalsoldier@gmail.com. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest on this pod is Steve Kiely who served 20 years as a reserve soldier in the HAC rising in the ranks from Trooper to Captain.  The HAC is the Army Reserve’s Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Regiment and exists to support the Regular Army on operations.  They work closely and train with two paired regiments; 5th Regiment Royal Artillery and 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery in order to provide the reserve support to 4/73 Battery in the STA patrols role and airborne trained soldiers for 7 RHA.  On this pod Steve discusses the history of the HAC, the reserve STA patrol selection process, training, the attributes required of a reserve forces soldier and deployed operations.We finish with Steve's book choice on Desert Island dits The Falklands War by The Sunday Times Insight Team.  His film choice is Kajaki.  The teams book choices this episode are The Forgotten Soldier by Guy Sajer and All Quiet On The Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque.Follow us on social media and don't forget to like, follow, share and leave a review.Instagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download on other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: unconventionalsoldier@gmail.com. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest on Pod #016 is Scott the serving Officer Commanding 4/73 (Sphinx) Special OP Battery.On this episode we talk about his unique journey to head up the Army's STA patrols unit from the ranks of the Royal Military Police's Close Protection Unit where he carried out tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.  Being selected for commissioning as an officer and attending the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst.  Finally passing P Company in order to serve with Airborne Forces before he completed the STA Patrols Selection course for his first tour with 4/73 as a Troop Commander .Scott then covers the role of the unit today including operational commitments, training and selection in order to deliver surveillance, reconnaissance and joint fires in high risk environments.  We then move on to discuss the future of STA patrols in a shrinking Army with increasing demands.  We finish with Scott's book choice on Desert Island dits In the Service of the Sultan: A First Hand Account of the Dhofar Insurgency by Ian Gardiner.  His film choice is A Bridge Too Far.  The teams book choices this episode are Berlin: The Downfall 1945 by Antony Beevor and The American Civil War by JohnKeegan.Find out about the current serving unit at STA Patrols Special Observer.Follow us on social media and don't forget to like, follow, share and leave a review.Instagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download on other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: unconventionalsoldier@gmail.com. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.