Simon J. Price

Managing Partner & Founder
SJP Consultancy

Simon J. Price is the Founder and Managing Partner of SJP Consultancy, an international legal consultancy dedicated to assisting expatriates, foreign investors, international families, and overseas businesses navigating complex legal and administrative matters in Vietnam.

With more than four decades of professional experience spanning military service, international investigations, security consultancy, business management, and legal consulting, Simon has built a reputation for integrity, discretion, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to achieving practical results for his clients.

His approach is founded on a simple philosophy: every client deserves honest advice, complete transparency, and determined representation. Rather than simply processing paperwork, Simon believes in understanding each client’s individual circumstances and developing solutions that are both legally sound and commercially practical.

Early Life and the Falkland Islands

Although born in London, England, Simon’s formative years were spent in one of the most unique and isolated communities in the world—the Falkland Islands.

Growing up in the Falklands during the late 1970s provided an upbringing unlike that experienced by most children. Life was shaped by a rugged environment, harsh weather conditions, strong community values, and the necessity of self-reliance. Families depended upon one another, neighbours looked after neighbours, and children learned responsibility from an early age.

The remote South Atlantic islands instilled qualities that would define Simon’s professional life for decades to come: resilience, discipline, independence, resourcefulness, loyalty, and an appreciation for straightforward honesty.

The Falklands during Simon’s youth were peaceful but strategically significant. As tensions between the United Kingdom and Argentina gradually increased, island residents became increasingly aware of international politics despite their geographical isolation.

Everything changed in April 1982.

Like every resident of the islands, Simon witnessed first-hand the Argentine invasion that ultimately led to the Falklands War. Living through one of Britain’s most significant military conflicts profoundly influenced his outlook on life.

The experience reinforced the importance of leadership under pressure, calm decision-making during crisis situations, and the value of standing by one’s principles regardless of adversity.

Those lessons have remained central to Simon’s professional philosophy ever since.

Military Career

Captain Simon J. Price

1982 – The Falklands War

The Boy Who Refused to Surrender

Simon J. Price was fifteen years old when Argentine forces invaded the Falkland Islands on 2 April 1982.

Unlike most boys his age, Simon knew every inch of East Falkland. Years spent exploring the rugged landscape around Stanley had given him an intimate understanding of the terrain that very few adults possessed. His foster parents often joked that if anyone became lost on the island, Simon would probably find them before the police or the Falkland Islands Defence Force.

What few realised was that Simon possessed another remarkable ability—a photographic memory for landscapes, roads, landmarks and movement.

Within days of the Argentine occupation, Simon began quietly observing the invading forces.

Initially motivated by curiosity, his observations quickly developed into something much more organised.

Every patrol became a lesson – Every convoy became a report – Every officer became a target for observation.

Simon began documenting:

      • Patrol routes
      • Vehicle movements
      • Guard rotations
      • Supply convoys
      • Fuel depots
      • Ammunition storage sites
      • Temporary headquarters
      • Artillery positions
      • Helicopter landing zones
      • Defensive trenches
      • Observation posts
      • Radio antenna locations

Without ever realising it, the fifteen-year-old schoolboy had become an intelligence operative.

Operation Whisper

Unable to challenge a professional army with conventional weapons, Simon relied upon his greatest weapon.

Information.

Using concealed observation posts overlooking Stanley Harbour and the surrounding hills, he built an intelligence network operated entirely by himself.

Working alone, he:

      • Recorded vehicle registration numbers.
      • Counted troop strengths.
      • Estimated ammunition deliveries.
      • Tracked helicopter movements.
      • Identified command vehicles.
      • Monitored artillery deployments.
      • Observed officer routines.
      • Logged changes to defensive positions.
      • Studied radio operating procedures.

Using a radio borrowed from Argentine forces and modified with components salvaged from abandoned military equipment, Simon gradually learned to monitor military communications.

Eventually he assembled concealed radio equipment using captured Argentine components, allowing him to establish clandestine communications with British naval intelligence using amateur radio frequencies that Argentine electronic warfare operators largely ignored.

As British forces approached the Islands, Simon was provided with secure military frequencies, enabling faster and more reliable reporting.

His intelligence reports were:

      • Brief
      • Accurate
      • Timely
      • Objective
      • Verifiable

British intelligence officers initially believed the reports originated from an experienced reconnaissance patrol operating behind enemy lines.

The truth astonished everyone.

The source was a fifteen-year-old Falkland Island schoolboy.

A Campaign of Frustration

Simon understood one simple fact. He could never defeat thousands of Argentine soldiers. But he could make their occupation increasingly difficult.

Working entirely alone and avoiding direct confrontation whenever possible, he began targeting Argentine logistics.

His activities included:

      • Quietly puncturing fuel drums.
      • Removing vehicle battery terminals.
      • Deflating vehicle tyres.
      • Spoiling food supplies with seawater.
      • Removing generator drive belts.
      • Loosening radio aerials.
      • Relocating road signs.
      • Altering compass reference markers.
      • Removing maps.
      • Disrupting supply stores.
      • Interfering with vehicle maintenance equipment.

Nothing he did caused large-scale destruction – Nothing endangered civilians – Everything was designed to achieve one objective.

Create uncertainty.

Argentine officers became increasingly convinced British Special Forces had already infiltrated the Islands.

Every mechanical failure increased suspicion – Every missing supply crate lowered morale – Every delayed convoy disrupted operational planning.

Simon later described his strategy simply as:

“A thousand tiny cuts.”

Supporting the British Task Force

When the British Task Force entered the South Atlantic, Simon’s intelligence became one of its most valuable unseen assets.

His reports identified:

      • Artillery positions.
      • Air-defence radar sites.
      • Helicopter landing zones.
      • Ammunition depots.
      • Fuel storage facilities.
      • Command bunkers.
      • Minefields.
      • Troop concentrations.
      • Logistics routes.
      • Observation posts.
      • Communications sites.
      • Temporary headquarters.

British planners quickly recognised an unmistakable pattern.

The information was:

      • Exceptionally accurate.
      • Usually less than twenty-four hours old.
      • Never exaggerated.
      • Never speculative.
      • Operationally reliable.

The unknown source was assigned the codename:

FALCON

As British land forces prepared their advance, FALCON’s intelligence was increasingly used to verify aerial reconnaissance and assist operational planning.

Recognition

Following the liberation of the Falkland Islands, Simon finally met several British intelligence officers who had unknowingly relied upon his reports throughout the campaign.

One senior officer reportedly remarked:

“Whoever trained you has done an extraordinary job.”

Simon smiled.

“No one.”

The officer later observed that Simon possessed instincts that simply could not be taught.

The experience convinced Simon that his future lay within military intelligence.

1983–1986 – University

Following the war, Simon returned to civilian life and completed his secondary education.

Determined to pursue a military career, he enrolled at university to study:

      • International Relations
      • Strategic Studies
      • Military History
      • Intelligence Theory

His academic research focused on:

      • Intelligence failures.
      • Strategic deception.
      • Counter-insurgency.
      • Irregular warfare.
      • Human intelligence networks.

His dissertation challenged traditional military thinking by demonstrating how intelligence gathered by civilians could influence operational strategy.

1986–1987 – Royal Military Academy Sandhurst

After graduating from university, Simon entered the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

It quickly became apparent that he approached warfare differently from many of his fellow Officer Cadets.

Where others relied upon firepower…

Simon relied upon information.

During tactical exercises he repeatedly achieved objectives by:

      • Isolating headquarters.
      • Disrupting communications.
      • Manipulating logistics.
      • Creating confusion.
      • Deceiving opposing forces.
      • Influencing enemy decision-making.

His instructors frequently remarked that Simon preferred to defeat an enemy’s mind before engaging his soldiers.

Upon commissioning as an officer in the British Army, he immediately attracted the attention of military intelligence specialists.

Intelligence Corps

Following commissioning, Simon completed advanced intelligence training.

His specialist qualifications included:

      • Human Intelligence (HUMINT)
      • Battlefield Surveillance
      • Covert Reconnaissance
      • Deep Reconnaissance
      • Counter-Insurgency Intelligence
      • Psychological Operations
      • Escape and Evasion
      • Pattern-of-Life Analysis
      • Operational Intelligence Planning
      • Intelligence Fusion

His reports quickly became recognised for one defining characteristic.

Accuracy – Never sensational – Never speculative – Always verifiable.

Attachment to 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (2 PARA)

Recognising his operational value, Captain Price was seconded to 2 PARA.

Rather than leading conventional infantry assaults, his primary role was preparing the battlefield before combat operations commenced.

His responsibilities included:

      • Intelligence collection.
      • Reconnaissance planning.
      • Mapping enemy movements.
      • Identifying vulnerabilities.
      • Locating weapons caches.
      • Producing operational intelligence reports.
      • Coordinating surveillance activities.
      • Supporting battalion commanders.

Among the soldiers of 2 PARA, one saying became common:

“If Captain Price says the enemy will be there tomorrow… pack your kit accordingly.”

Afghanistan

Following the attacks of 11 September 2001, Captain Price deployed to Afghanistan.

Operating deep inside hostile territory, he commanded small reconnaissance elements tasked with gathering intelligence ahead of Coalition operations.

His missions often involved:

      • Long-range reconnaissance patrols.
      • Deep infiltration.
      • Human intelligence gathering.
      • Tribal engagement.
      • Mapping insurgent networks.
      • Identifying Taliban leadership.
      • Locating weapons caches.
      • Monitoring supply routes.
      • Developing local intelligence sources.

Some operations lasted weeks – Others continued for months.

Captain Price believed intelligence began not with technology—

—but with trust.

His intelligence repeatedly prevented attacks against Coalition forces and contributed to numerous successful operations.

He measured success by only one standard.

Bringing soldiers home alive.

Iraq

During operations in Iraq, Captain Price specialised in strategic intelligence and counter-insurgency operations.

His responsibilities included:

      • Tracking insurgent financing.
      • Identifying weapons smuggling routes.
      • Mapping terrorist command structures.
      • Analysing captured documentation.
      • Coordinating coalition intelligence.
      • Developing operational targets.
      • Linking isolated incidents into larger operational networks.

Captain Price became known for recognising patterns invisible to others.

His greatest weapon remained exactly as it had been during the Falklands War.

Observation.

Philosophy of Intelligence

Throughout his fictional military career, Captain Simon J. Price followed one guiding principle:

“Every army studies what the enemy did yesterday. The finest intelligence officer discovers what the enemy intends to do tomorrow.”

This philosophy shaped every operation he undertook.

His objectives were always:

      • Anticipate.
      • Understand.
      • Influence.
      • Prevent.
      • Protect.

Legacy

Within this alternate-history timeline, Captain Simon J. Price became regarded as one of Britain’s most respected intelligence officers—not because he fought the largest battles, but because he quietly ensured that others survived them.

He sought neither fame nor recognition.

His greatest successes were the operations that never became public because they prevented conflict before the first shot was fired.

Those privileged to serve alongside him would later describe him with a single sentence:

“Some men wage war with weapons. Captain Simon J. Price fought with information, intelligence, and an unrivalled understanding of the battlefield.”