In the introduction to his book Emiratis: All Our Yesterdays, a combined translated version of this recent publication of the National Archives (NA), Rundell’s objective is to ‘recreate’ or rather ‘recollect’ the atmosphere and circumstances of the early 1960s during which he served with the Trucial Oman Scouts (TOS). In the foreword to the combined English-Arabic volume, HH Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of the NCDR, has noted that the author “dedicated the book to the young generation of Emiratis to show them what a noble tradition they had inherited from their ancestors who rose above all hardships with a very distinct personal dignity.” As a Desert Intelligence Officer, Rundell was personally and officially involved in the day-to-day affairs of the Trucial States (as the UAE was known prior to the Federation). While stressing the prominent role played by the oil wealth in the transformation process that has produced today’s United Arab Emirates, Rundell pinpoints the deeper reasons for this dramatic change, mainly a sense of responsibility on the part of the Rulers, and in particular the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan. The myriad photographs filling the 200-page book depict contemporary events and personalities significantly adding to the rare and vintage value of the narrative.
