BOOK REVIEW

THE STERLING YEARS -

Small Arms and the Men
by James Edmiston

Published by Pen and Sword Books Limited
At £12.99
ISBN 1-8488 4437-9

The late ruler of China, Mao Tse Tung, said that power came from the barrel of a gun. And he was absolutely right. That’s how the current Chinese regime got in and stayed in. That’s how America became a free and independent nation. That’s how Israel confronted three hundred million Arabs and beat their pants off (I’m not absolutely certain they wear any).

This is the insightful story of a little British sub-machine gun, the Sterling, that had a lot of power and thus passed it on into the hands of those who held it, told by the man who owned and ran the firm. The Sterling was a slow starter but in due course moved up fast, especially abroad. Edmiston tells how in Bangkok, at a dinner arranged for him and his crew, each was provided with a beautiful young lady there to assist in every way possible. But, as Edmiston explains, they were unable to take advantage of the situation as they had to be up early the next morning.

The gun trade is a fascinating one, and so are the people who function in it. Edmiston takes us on his intimate tour behind the scenes, providing a view we would never have otherwise. Attempting to sell guns in the Philippines, it was made clear that the order would be granted if Imelda Marcos could drop in, informally, on Queen Elizabeth. (They didn’t get the order). Gaddafi, the trouble-maker, who had been supplied with Sterlings, going back to 1973, got mad at Britain, said they were filthy imperialists and he was going to assist the IRA, which ended further Sterling sales there.

© Sidney Du Broff 2011