16 Facts About Tim Spicer

Tim Spicer served in the Falklands War and in Northern Ireland.

Tim Spicer founded Sandline International, a private military company which closed in April 2004.

Tim Spicer is the author of three books: An Unorthodox Soldier: Peace and War and the Sandline Affair, A Dangerous Enterprise: Secret War at Sea and A Suspicion of Spies: Risk, Secrets and Shadows - the Biography of Wilfred 'Biffy' Dunderdale will be published on 12 September 2024.

Tim Spicer tried to join the Special Air Service prior to joining the Scots Guards, but failed the entry course.

In 1992, Tim Spicer was awarded the OBE "for operational service in Northern Ireland".

In reaction to their conviction, Spicer organised a lobbying campaign to free Wright and James, arguing that the two had legitimately believed that their lives were in imminent danger due to McBride's actions.

Tim Spicer was eventually released and sued the PNG government for money not paid.

When employed by Sandline International, Tim Spicer was involved in military operations in the Sierra Leone Civil War, which included importing weapons in apparent violation of the United Nations arms embargo.

Tim Spicer had been contacted by Rakesh Saxena, an Indian financier hoping that a new government would grant him diamond and mineral concessions.

The controversy over this incident, and whether the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office knew of Sandline's actions; inquiries into it concluded that the FCO had known of the actions, and that Tim Spicer believed he was not breaking the embargo.

However, former British diplomat Craig Murray claims that he was present at a Foreign office meeting when Tim Spicer was explicitly read the text of UN Security Council Resolution 1132 which obliges member states to prevent their nationals from importing arms to Sierra Leone.

Tim Spicer has claimed that he always has called for greater involvement of the British government in the PMC issue.

Tim Spicer said that six weeks before the arms-to-Africa affair blew up, Sandline had submitted a paper to the Foreign Office calling for greater regulation, but had not yet received a response.

In late 1999, Tim Spicer left Sandline, which kept operating until 2004.

In 2002, Tim Spicer established Aegis Defence Services, which around the beginning of the Iraq War was consulting for the Disney Cruise Line.

Tim Spicer was Chief Executive of Aegis Defence Services, a PMC based in London, until replaced by Major General Graham Binns in 2010.