John Masters autobiographies - "Road to Mandalay", "Road Past Mandalay", "Bugles and a Tiger" - all made me wish I had been able to serve as British officer in the Indian Army - but in those days from my background I would have been a private - not so hot! Did have the pleasure and privilege as Grd Def Cdr at RAF Mount Pleasant having 2/2GR as my ground defence battalion. Brilliant guys, Brit and Gurkha.