Aidan Hartley Aidan Hartley

Friendly fire

Aidan Hartley's Wild Life

issue 31 July 2010

Laikipia, Kenya

My cousin Charlie Williams is a young Irish Guards captain about to deploy in Afghanistan. The other day he came to stay on our farm in Kenya’s highlands and I got a glimpse of what he’s about to go through in an exciting yet poignant way.

Charlie brought the British Army along. In fact, they ‘attacked’ us in an airborne assault. The evening before, I was astonished when a British officer pointed at Celestina and said, ‘You’re a suicide bomber.’ In reality, Celestina works on the farm with me. ‘And you, Aidan, are a truly horrible man. You’re the Taleban boss of the suicide bombers.’

At night, we were told reconnaissance teams were scouting the farmstead and eavesdropping on our radio communications. ‘Let’s blow up the British,’ Celestina happily announced on his walkie-talkie, method acting a little too enthusiastically.

Comments

Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.

Already a subscriber? Log in