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Post office strike 1970

Video of my dad telling people about the 1970 post strike in the uk

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Malek Al-Gebali (Dad) Escaping From Lebanon

Malek Al-Gebali Telling His Story About Escaping From Lebanon

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PREPARATIONS FOR THE IRAQ WAR

The British army were hampered in their preparations for war because the politicians did not want it to be thought that they had made up their minds ahead of a UN Resolution. And when James heard Rumsfeld say "we don't do nation-building" he knew it would all go wrong.

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BOSNIA

Major General Shaw reflects on the issues involved in being responsible fo communications between 36 different countries involved in Bosnia - and how he cheered up the men by ordering 20,000 bottle of wine on his credit card!

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BRITISH ARMY IN NORTHERN IRELAND

At 6'7", James stood out a bit as an Intelligence Officer in Northern Ireland. His friends included H Jones and Robert Nairac. Here he tells of an IRA bomb in The Knicker Factory in Lurgan and "talking to the enemy".

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THE IMPRISONMENT OF RUDOLF HESS

In 1983, James was a Major in Berlin and among his responsibilities was taking care of Hitler's former deputy, Rudolf Hess. He met Hess frequently, and tells of the extraordinary relationship between the Allied Powers in Cold War Berlin.

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INVASION OF CYPRUS

When the Turks invaded Cyprus, James led a team charged with the job of bringing the High Commissioner out safely. It's a pity that a man he had to punch turned out to be a very senior officer......

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BRITISH ARMY PAY AND ACTIVITIES IN THE 70s

In 1973/4 an Army Captain was so badly paid that he was entitled to state benefits. Nevertheless, when there were strikes, the army took over the jobs of emptying dustbins and putting out fires with enthusiasm - and revolutionised both jobs in the process!

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FLYING TO INDIA IN 1961

Aged 10, James returned to India from boarding school on board a BOAC flight from Heathrow, which was then in a nissan hut. He talks about the journey, Calcutta in 1961, and the legendary Tolly Gunge Club