Book excerpt: "The so-called Coconut War began on 27 May 1980 when a rebel faction took control of the island of Espiritu Santo. British Commando Royal Marines, combat police from the French Garde Mobile and Papua New Guinean troops invaded the New Hebrides, prepared to do battle with an army of bow and arrow warriors led by Jimmy Stevens, an aging village chief. It began as a light-hearted affair and ended in tragedy less than 4 months later with the arrest of Jimmy and the death of his son. In the first account of the war Richard Shears describes the sad-funny story of one man's defiant stand against the might of Britain, France and the local authorities. He also presents a sardonic picture of how the press dealt with the crisis that briefly captures the world's attention." --Back cover.