Michael Mustard was born in India. His father a Captain in the British Army, was
stationed near the city of Lahore at the time. An army brat, at age eight young
Mustard’s carefree days ended abruptly after engaging in fisticuffs with the
commanding General’s son. Mustard was shipped off to military school in
England to be educated and disciplined. The lad was not a remarkable student,
so it was expected that after his schooling was completed, he would follow in
his father's footsteps. Unfortunately, those footsteps were stopped short. The
elder Mustard was returning to the barracks late one evening, when he was
accidentally shot and killed by a nervous sentry.

Several officers, who had served with his father, helped young Mustard gain his
first commission in 1967. He proudly joined the Hampshire Regiment known as 
the “Tigers.” However, Mustard was not to remain a fighting “Tiger” for long.
An unfortunate incident – in which an enlisted man was shot – resulted in
Mustard being transferred to a signals unit in the Royal Engineers.

In spite of this incident Mustard's military career was not undistinguished. He
served mainly in Africa and the Middle East, from the Sudan to South Africa,
Egypt and Syria. He was decorated several times and had, on two occasions, 
been the only surviving member of his detachment. Mustard was promoted to
Colonel in 1993 and then assigned to Military Intelligence where he worked in
the cartographic division. Mustard retired from the Army after The Gulf War, 
and later convinced a publisher that his military tales would make good 
reading. With little modesty, he likens much of his military thinking to the
maxims of Napoleon. He has received several advanced payments from his
publisher, but has produced only one chapter.