Dear Mr. Cornwell, Let me first start by congratulating you on your latest book which I enjoyed very much and found I were unable to put down. My name is Ian Campbell and until recently I was Rifleman Campbell of the First Battalion of the Royal Green Jackets a Battalion of which Im sure you are very knowledgeable of. I served three and a half years with the Green Jackets and saw operational service in Northern Ireland from 1999 to 2001. Initially when I joined the Army I had no idea what the battalion I was joining was and never appreciated how much it meant to be a Rifleman. I had heard of your work but was too wrapped up in music and chasing girls to truly learn about the battalion I had joined. Of course the army tried to educate me but while serving in Ireland duties required me to focus more on the work at hand rather than who I was serving. It wasnt until after my year and a half tour in Ireland that I found myself promoted to a signaler and was tasked with learning how to play the Bugle in line with regimental traditions that the history of the Rifle Brigade begin to sink in . I listened to the music of John Tams and found myself purchasing all your Sharpe books and of course the television series of which Im still a huge fan. Im sure you have heard this before but you turned my three and a half years serving in the Army to the most important years of my life of which Im still immensely proud and find Im unable to forget. I had no real reason for contacting you other than to say thank you for your work and for the pride that you have helped install within me. Yours sincerely Ian Campbell
Thank you Ian, not only for your kind words, but for your service.