A Long Way from Home

The year is 1955. A time when international travel is reserved for the privileged few, Andy Marshall, an 18 year old National Service conscript from Plymouth, finds himself posted to the other side of the world. Soon after his arrival at RAF Changi, Singapore, he is sent on detached duty to a staging post on a remote island in the South China Sea, close to the mainland of Borneo. His nine month tour of duty there is filled with a succession of bizarre experiences as he attempts to adjust to living and working with the 30-strong complement of Airmen, led by an eccentric Station Commander. Andy returns to Changi where his unusual exploits, both on and off duty, continue unabated. Throughout his service in the Far East, he is left to reflect on the wisdom of a last-minute marriage proposal prior to his departure from England. His two years of service for Queen and Country completed, he returns home to re-adjust to civilian life, only to discover the lengthy period of separation from his fiancée has had a profound effect on their relationship. Meanwhile, his thoughts are filled with memories of the his time overseas, particularly the camaraderie amongst his fellow men. A re-union of former colleagues takes place but with surprising consequences... A Long Way from Home is a work of fiction inspired by the author’s personal experiences. It paints a wickedly humorous and perceptive picture from an era when National Service was accepted almost without question. Given the continuing debate of the desirability of re-introducing some form of compulsory military service, this novel throws a light on how, over half a century ago, one young man coped a long way from home.