Thank you for your suggestions. The problem I have, is that there is only the option to "MOVE TO" the Google Account ~ not "SAVE A COPY TO" Google. This implies that all of my contacts will be literally shifted from my phone across to Google, leaving the phone's memory empty.
I don't want this, because I'm sometimes in areas where there is no WI FI coverage or network coverage, therefore would not have access to my contacts. So...my reason for wanting them stored on both locations, simultaneously. In this case, I use HF radio for comm's, but need the contact details stored in my phone. I'm all for cloud storage ~ use it all the time, but this is perhaps an exception.