Novelist Seeking Assistance

Hello everyone. I hope I've found the right place.
I'm researching my third book and the main character is English. I'm trying to establish his age. Can you advise if this timeline seems appropriate?
Born, 1914.
Joins the British Army 1939.
Continues in service when WW2 ends.
Serves in Malaya 1948-1952.
The novel will be set in 1962 but does his service record seem appropriate?

Many thanks.
Sean

 

In my personal opinion I would expect someone born more in the 1918 - 1922 era to see it through to 1952 but it would depend on his 'job' in the Army, was it physical or desk bound? what was his family life, was he married - some of this I would suspect will alter his thoughts about continuing in the military after 1945, and 5+ years of war. If he was frontline infantry perhaps he would have had enough, I would guess there are many considerations for you to take into account in forming this 'character'

TD

 

Oh, thank you so much. I'm thinking he might have been active in the army and also, if possible, SOE. After the war he returns to Army service and gets sent to Malaya. Is that too much?

 

Sounds as though the goal posts are shifting a little

So its now SOE - you would need to decide if he was operational (going on missions) or background (training) or desk based. You would also need to understand the mindset of someone who had been SOE, and also the mental make up of such a person - in a similar way to someone in the SAS to someone in the Infantry - at the end of the day its a character you are creating

If he was SOE then its possible he was from any of the 3 services or even a civilian at the time

Might be worth researching what units (regiments) etc where employed in Malaya - in fact what Intelligence agencies were employed there, maybe the spin off from SOE was there

TD

 

Good thinking. Thank you. I will do that.

 

Isnt going with SOE/Special forces just following the same old route

Heroic soldier dah de dah deering do


Most of the men and women who serve are just normal persons getting on with their lives, ups and downs and some curve balls.

But what do I know.
They say there is a book in all of us but me I could barley muster a foreword

 

Hello,

This chap fits the bill. Robert Grainger Ker Thompson - Wikipedia

Sir Robert G. Thompson

Regards,

Dave

 

Thank you, Dave. I need to do some more reading before I come back to you guys. Apologies if I offended you CL1.

 

If you do go down the SOE route, you could consider his having served with the Malayan Police Force or Special Branch from 1948-52. That era in Malaya was mostly prior to the conflict there getting 'organised', so there's more scope then for somebody more free-wheeling or unconventional to be involved.

Agree with Tricky Dicky that great many soldiers who served 39-45 or 46 had had their fill of soldiering and left the service; many of those who did carry on were more senior officers, those with less active service overseas and those who had had a 'break' with home postings, staff college or something else. Big generality here, but it's just my impression.

 

Welcome to the site, Sean. I wish you well with your work, I dabble in historical fiction myself and I know how hard it can be to get it right. It's not just getting the nuts and bolts types of things down, it's doing the same for the attitudes and psychology. Maybe try mixing up the guy's career, alternate active service with staff and instructional postings, etc. I think that was fairly common. But carry on regardless, it's worth doing.

 

Sean you have not offended me at all
just saying a lot of books out there about heroes in all wars just though a normal joe with added zest might make more interesting reading

regards
Clive

 

Sean
I would think your timeline not unlikely. My father, admittedly a regular soldier, was born 1916, joined the army 1936. served throughout the war (surprisingly, without leaving UK) and went to Malaya in, I think, 1951. Retired 1970 or thereabouts.
Chris

 

A lot of former soldiers after WW2 remained in Uniform joining the Palestine Police . When the British mandate for Palestine ended in May 1948 they were withdrawn along with all other British personnel . Some were posted to other `hotspots` some returned home?
During the Malaya Emergency 1400 of them formed the Malaya Special Constabulary and served throughout the emergency.

An old soldier born 1914 who soldiered on through WW2 but perhaps due to advancing years or wounds may have found a job with the regimental discipline of the army but without the requirement needed to be A1 (fitness). May fit your brief ?

Just an observation

Kyle

 

Good morning, gentlemen. I feel so much better today than I did last night. So, here's the deal. I'm just beginning this book and nothing is set in stone. My previous novel was set in Battersea and I learned so much that I decided to set this man's life in the same place in 1962, for no other reason than I had accumulated so much information. The previous novel was a caper story about ordinary men doing extra-ordinary things as was my first book, actually). I have no idea where the thought for this novel came from other than I wanted to make it about a man with neurological problems living his life in London. He has some amorphous connection with the security services and is given occasional work, but it's not a spy novel. I doubt it will have a happy ending. But it is not an adventure or action. I want it to be about the psychological affects on him that last so long from war. So, the point is, it is 1962, he has some kind of military background (I chose Malaya because the military was involved long after WW2), otherwise I thought it too long since 1945. What I have learned (and enjoy so much), is that for someone who has little expertise (my background is maritime and easy to write), the way to learn is to talk to people who know the subject. I spend a lot of time getting the 1962 London geography correct. Thank good ness for the internet. My last book I learned how to drive a West Country Light Pacific train on UK RailForum - great! I have been spending time learning this man's gun which he uses on one occasion - I chose the FN 1910, which I never knew was very famous (as you guys probably know). So, please don't think this is an action adventure novel. I want it to be much more subtle, and I want to involve a female character (which is difficult for me - I did quite well in the last book, I think). Background. I'm retired three years, live in Washington DC. Born in England originally, eons ago . I really respect your comments. Maybe I will just keep his background vague, but it will involve Malaya. It's in there now. Again, thank you so much for your comments.
Sean

 

This might have some possible reference material...

John Davis February 12

There's also a book about him, I think, called "Our Man in Malaya" along with various other web references if you google the name.

Edit: Our Man in Malaya

 

Sean might be worth looking through this thread re Post Traumatic Stress

Regards
Clive

 

Thank you, gents. I've been reading about Robert Thompson and David Smiley. There's a lot out there. I've also been reading about PTSD (a big, difficult subject), or it's pre-curser, Combat Stress Reaction. I have a lot of reading to do. I appreciate your comments.

 

I'd say that your dates of service are plausible if by 1952 he's a major, lieutenant-colonel or, if you don't want him to be an officer, a senior NCO or warrant officer.

 

Pity the date amended to 1952 from 1052 as I had an image of a Game of Thrones scenario.

 

He will not be an officer. He will be a Sergeant.