The Sabre Squadron
Encyclopedia
The Sabre Squadron is Volume III of the novel sequence Alms for Oblivion by Simon Raven
, published in 1966
. It was the third novel to be published in The Alms for Oblivion sequence and is also the third novel chronologically. The story takes place in and around Göttingen
in 1952.
Dirange – Colleague of Mond.
Roger Constable – Tutor of Lancaster College. Appeared in Fielding Gray
and later in The Rich Pay Late
.
Jacquiz Helmut – Historian.
Aeneas von Bremke – German scientist.
Earle Restarick – American historian.
Coronet Julian James – Old friend of Mond. Does his national service.
Captain Fielding Gray – Stationed in Göttingen. Protagonist of Fielding Gray.
Major Giles Glastonbury – Stationed in Göttingen. Appeared in Sound The Retreat
.
Lieutenant Motley – Stationed in Göttingen. Doctor.
Jack Lamprey – Troop Commander.
Piers Duggan – Troop Commander.
Michael Lamb – Grey’s chauffeur
Leonard Percival – Officer.
Rupert Percival – Politician and uncle of Leonard. Just mentioned.
Pappenheim – German officer.
Von Augsburg – Antisemite. Hurt in a duel with Giles Montgomery.
Tuck – Member of the control commission. Maybe the same Tuck that appeared in Fielding Gray.
Captain Detterling – MP. Appeared in Fielding Gray.
Bunce – Soldier who protects Mond for some days.
Chead – Soldier who protects Mond for some days.
Mugger – Soldier who protects Mond for some days.
Ivan Blessington – Appeared earlier in Fielding Gray. Former schoolmate of Gray, Morrison and Lloyd-James.
Alfie Schroeder – Journalist on Billingsgate Press.
Max de Freville – Gambler. Visiting Captain Detterling in Baden-Baden.
Cantaloupe – Cousin of Detterling. Visiting him in Baden-Baden.
in 1952. The young mathematician Daniel Mond (of Jewish-German descent but born in England) arrives to study “The Dortmund papers”, a collection of notes left by the German mathematician Dortmund (died 1938). Mond is a student of Lancaster College which appeared in Fielding Gray
. Early during his stay he gets to know the American historian Earle Restarick who is friendly for a while and then withdraws.
Mond meets a large number of soldiers from The Sabre Squadron in the Earl of Hamilton’s 10th Regiment, among them his comrade from Lancaster, Julian James. Fielding Gray is also in this group and the two men have many discussions. Mond follows the soldiers during a “night on the town” (the first of many) but goes on picnic with Gray and his chauffeur Michael Lamb the next day. Gray tells Mond about the reason for the army’s presence in the area: to handle a nuclear war. A big exercise called “Apocalypse” will be held in September in which the soldiers will practice what to do after a nuclear war.
Mond is present at several dinners with the squadron and meets a former German officer, Pappenheim, who is very curious about Mond's research. His German colleague, Dr von Bremke, is also rather curious. Mond is trying to reveal the story about Fielding Gray and his failure to attend Lancaster, but the rumours are too vague after seven years. During a meeting with the officers Leonard Percival and Pappenheim, Mond is told that his friend Restarick (and the US) are supporting former Nazis to save West Germany from influence from the Soviet Union
. They offer Mond protection if he reveals what he has found in the Dortmund papers.
During an evening on the town Mond is humiliated by the antisemite von Augsburg, who is challenged to a duel by the officer Giles Glastonbury. This results in von Augsburg ending up in hospital and Glastonbury in jail. As a key witness, Mond is now prohibited from leaving Germany. This news is delivered by Tuck (from Fielding Gray
) who is now a member of the Allied Control Commission. As Mond will later discover, the whole affair was arranged to keep him in Germany. Glastonbury is, however, freed when his friend Captain Detterling (from Fielding Gray
) arrives on his way to Baden Baden. Detterling can’t prevent Glastonbury from being sent to Hong Kong
and Fielding Gray is suddenly head of the Squadron.
During a visit to Dortmund's grave, Mond is harassed by Restarick and a number of soldiers. Shaken, he tells the truth to Fielding Gray. In the papers, Mond has found a way to create atomic chain reactions much more powerful than those of an atomic bomb. Mond is really scared about what this knowledge could lead to and will not tell a single person something of substance about how to achieve this.
Gray and his squadron show a touching loyalty to Mond and promise they will help him escape. Mond gets a guard consisting of soldiers Lamb, Bunce, Chead and Mugger and he is dressed up as “Trooper Lewis.” In this guise he will escape during Operation Apocalypse, earlier mentioned by Gray. All goes well except for the fact that Mugger is severely beaten up in a fight with fusiliers. During the trip Mond also meets the genial journalist Alfie Schroeder, who recognises him but is persuaded to keep quiet. Mond is handed over to Captain Detterling who, after some hesitation, smuggles him out in an ambulance.
Mond is put in an anti-radiation costume, but the zipper jams and he is, for a while, afraid that he will not get out of the suit before the oxygen expires. When, after a long trip, he steps out of the ambulance he finds himself face to face with Restarick and Percival. He faints but wakes up without the suit and in Strasbourg. Percival and Restarick try to threaten him into giving away what he knows. When Mond refuses they threaten to destroy the career of Mond and his squadron since they’ve broken a number of rules to get Mond out of Germany. Mond gives up and asks for his paper. When he is alone he thinks about the motto of the Squadron (Res Unius, Res Omnium – one for all and all for one) and, touched by the loyalty of Gray and his men, he cuts his throat with a penknife.
Simon Raven
Simon Arthur Noël Raven was an English novelist, essayist, dramatist and raconteur who, in a writing career of forty years, caused controversy, amusement and offence...
, published in 1966
1966 in literature
The year 1966 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*February 14 - Dissident writers Yuli Daniel and Andrei Sinyavsky are sentenced to hard labour for "anti-Soviet activity"....
. It was the third novel to be published in The Alms for Oblivion sequence and is also the third novel chronologically. The story takes place in and around Göttingen
Göttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
in 1952.
Characters, in the order of appearance
Daniel Mond – Mathematician with Jewish and German roots.Dirange – Colleague of Mond.
Roger Constable – Tutor of Lancaster College. Appeared in Fielding Gray
Fielding Gray
Fielding Gray is Volume IV of the novel sequence Alms for Oblivion by Simon Raven, published in 1967. It was the fourth novel to be published in The Alms for Oblivion sequence though it is the first novel chronologically...
and later in The Rich Pay Late
The Rich Pay Late
The Rich Pay Late is Volume I of the novel sequence Alms for Oblivion by Simon Raven, published in 1964. It was the first novel to be published in The Alms for Oblivion sequence though it is the fourth novel chronologically. The story takes place in and around London in 1956 and culminates with the...
.
Jacquiz Helmut – Historian.
Aeneas von Bremke – German scientist.
Earle Restarick – American historian.
Coronet Julian James – Old friend of Mond. Does his national service.
Captain Fielding Gray – Stationed in Göttingen. Protagonist of Fielding Gray.
Major Giles Glastonbury – Stationed in Göttingen. Appeared in Sound The Retreat
Sound The Retreat
Sound The Retreat is Volume VII of the novel sequence Alms for Oblivion by Simon Raven, published in 1971. It was the seventh novel to be published in The Alms for Oblivion sequence though it is the second novel chronologically. The story takes place in India from November 1945 to June...
.
Lieutenant Motley – Stationed in Göttingen. Doctor.
Jack Lamprey – Troop Commander.
Piers Duggan – Troop Commander.
Michael Lamb – Grey’s chauffeur
Leonard Percival – Officer.
Rupert Percival – Politician and uncle of Leonard. Just mentioned.
Pappenheim – German officer.
Von Augsburg – Antisemite. Hurt in a duel with Giles Montgomery.
Tuck – Member of the control commission. Maybe the same Tuck that appeared in Fielding Gray.
Captain Detterling – MP. Appeared in Fielding Gray.
Bunce – Soldier who protects Mond for some days.
Chead – Soldier who protects Mond for some days.
Mugger – Soldier who protects Mond for some days.
Ivan Blessington – Appeared earlier in Fielding Gray. Former schoolmate of Gray, Morrison and Lloyd-James.
Alfie Schroeder – Journalist on Billingsgate Press.
Max de Freville – Gambler. Visiting Captain Detterling in Baden-Baden.
Cantaloupe – Cousin of Detterling. Visiting him in Baden-Baden.
Plot summary
The story takes place in GöttingenGöttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
in 1952. The young mathematician Daniel Mond (of Jewish-German descent but born in England) arrives to study “The Dortmund papers”, a collection of notes left by the German mathematician Dortmund (died 1938). Mond is a student of Lancaster College which appeared in Fielding Gray
Fielding Gray
Fielding Gray is Volume IV of the novel sequence Alms for Oblivion by Simon Raven, published in 1967. It was the fourth novel to be published in The Alms for Oblivion sequence though it is the first novel chronologically...
. Early during his stay he gets to know the American historian Earle Restarick who is friendly for a while and then withdraws.
Mond meets a large number of soldiers from The Sabre Squadron in the Earl of Hamilton’s 10th Regiment, among them his comrade from Lancaster, Julian James. Fielding Gray is also in this group and the two men have many discussions. Mond follows the soldiers during a “night on the town” (the first of many) but goes on picnic with Gray and his chauffeur Michael Lamb the next day. Gray tells Mond about the reason for the army’s presence in the area: to handle a nuclear war. A big exercise called “Apocalypse” will be held in September in which the soldiers will practice what to do after a nuclear war.
Mond is present at several dinners with the squadron and meets a former German officer, Pappenheim, who is very curious about Mond's research. His German colleague, Dr von Bremke, is also rather curious. Mond is trying to reveal the story about Fielding Gray and his failure to attend Lancaster, but the rumours are too vague after seven years. During a meeting with the officers Leonard Percival and Pappenheim, Mond is told that his friend Restarick (and the US) are supporting former Nazis to save West Germany from influence from the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. They offer Mond protection if he reveals what he has found in the Dortmund papers.
During an evening on the town Mond is humiliated by the antisemite von Augsburg, who is challenged to a duel by the officer Giles Glastonbury. This results in von Augsburg ending up in hospital and Glastonbury in jail. As a key witness, Mond is now prohibited from leaving Germany. This news is delivered by Tuck (from Fielding Gray
Fielding Gray
Fielding Gray is Volume IV of the novel sequence Alms for Oblivion by Simon Raven, published in 1967. It was the fourth novel to be published in The Alms for Oblivion sequence though it is the first novel chronologically...
) who is now a member of the Allied Control Commission. As Mond will later discover, the whole affair was arranged to keep him in Germany. Glastonbury is, however, freed when his friend Captain Detterling (from Fielding Gray
Fielding Gray
Fielding Gray is Volume IV of the novel sequence Alms for Oblivion by Simon Raven, published in 1967. It was the fourth novel to be published in The Alms for Oblivion sequence though it is the first novel chronologically...
) arrives on his way to Baden Baden. Detterling can’t prevent Glastonbury from being sent to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and Fielding Gray is suddenly head of the Squadron.
During a visit to Dortmund's grave, Mond is harassed by Restarick and a number of soldiers. Shaken, he tells the truth to Fielding Gray. In the papers, Mond has found a way to create atomic chain reactions much more powerful than those of an atomic bomb. Mond is really scared about what this knowledge could lead to and will not tell a single person something of substance about how to achieve this.
Gray and his squadron show a touching loyalty to Mond and promise they will help him escape. Mond gets a guard consisting of soldiers Lamb, Bunce, Chead and Mugger and he is dressed up as “Trooper Lewis.” In this guise he will escape during Operation Apocalypse, earlier mentioned by Gray. All goes well except for the fact that Mugger is severely beaten up in a fight with fusiliers. During the trip Mond also meets the genial journalist Alfie Schroeder, who recognises him but is persuaded to keep quiet. Mond is handed over to Captain Detterling who, after some hesitation, smuggles him out in an ambulance.
Mond is put in an anti-radiation costume, but the zipper jams and he is, for a while, afraid that he will not get out of the suit before the oxygen expires. When, after a long trip, he steps out of the ambulance he finds himself face to face with Restarick and Percival. He faints but wakes up without the suit and in Strasbourg. Percival and Restarick try to threaten him into giving away what he knows. When Mond refuses they threaten to destroy the career of Mond and his squadron since they’ve broken a number of rules to get Mond out of Germany. Mond gives up and asks for his paper. When he is alone he thinks about the motto of the Squadron (Res Unius, Res Omnium – one for all and all for one) and, touched by the loyalty of Gray and his men, he cuts his throat with a penknife.