Focusing on the role of the police services abroad, this book follows the author's experiences in Tanzania during World War II, interning Nazi sympathizers; as Superintendent of Police in Dar Es Salaam coping with civil and industrial unrest; and in Uganda dealing with rebellion and mutiny.

Born into overseas service, the author trained in the Metropolitan police and joined the Colonial Police service in Tanganyika. This book examines the role of the police service in parts of the British empire abroad, based upon the author's experiences. During World War II, he was involved in the internment of Nazi sympathizers, and as Superintendent of Police in Dar Es Salaam he had to cope with civil and industrial unrest resulting from the end of the war and demobilization. However, as Inspector General of Police in Uganda, the author faced independence campaigns, rebellion, mutiny, incursions from unstable neighbouring states, influxes of refugees and the effective localization of the Ugandan police.

Part 1 Introduction: the evolution of the police services in the Commonwealth. Part 2: childhood days in China
student days 1929-1938
prelude to a career in the police service overseas - 1938-9
introduction to Africa - 1939
the war years
postwar and the "Wind of Change" - 1945-1959
transition to independence - a retrospective study of Uganda in turmoil - 1959-1964
post-retirement assigments - re-employment and consultancies - 1965-1979
overseas interludes. Part 3 Appendices: German political organizations in Tanganyika - 1925-1939
prewar Nazi penetration of East Africa and its potential threat - 1939-40
the Todd mission - Madagascar - 1941-2
episodes from upcountry Tanganyika - 1945-7
the Sanya Corridor incident - a shameful chapter in the history of Tanganyika
Anguilla - a decolonization fiasco
responsibilities of Overseas Police Adviser/Inspector General of Police, Dependent Territories Foreign and Commonwealth Office.