The British Empire Library


A Chequered Career

by W. P. Mathieson


Courtesy of OSPA


Review by Roy Henry (Colonial Police - Malaya, Sarawak, Fiji, Hong Kong - 1948-1967)
'Chequered' aptly describes William ('Jock') Mathieson's career which he records in diary-like precision. After serving in the army in India, Malaya and Indonesia from 1944 to 1947 he was demobbed in the rank of Colour Sergeant and then joined the Malayan Police as a Police-Sergeant, An eventful seven years was spent mostly in anti-terrorist operations, and included promotion to Assistant Superintendent and being wounded in an ambush. In 1955 he was transferred to Tanganyika and he recounts in detail his seven years Police service there. By the time Tanganyika was granted independence he had been advanced to Senior Superintendent and, under the policy of 'Africanisation' he retired and returned to his native Scotland. There followed a new career with the Ministry of Defence and then as a Security Manager for a North Sea terminal.

This is a well documented account of a varied occupation. It will be of particular appeal to those interested in post-war policing in Malaya and Tanganyika.

British Empire Book
Author
W. P. Mathieson
Published
1993
Pages
208
Publisher
Janus Publishing Company
ISBN
185756135X
Availability
Abebooks
Amazon


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