Coming Soon to a Bookshelf Near You

I had no idea that this had even been discovered, let alone that some enterprising chap had published it:

The Dowding Papers: The previously unpublished personal memoir of Air Chief Marshal Lord Dowding written for a biographer. Hardcover – 27 May 2022
by Lord Hugh Dowding (Author), Sir Donald M Spiers FRAeS (Editor), & 1 more

This is the previously unpublished personal memoir of Air Chief Marshal Lord Dowding written for a biographer. The fascinating papers cover his early life at School, in the Army and later the Royal Air Force, including the termination of his tenure as C-in-C Fighter Command, and his subsequent interest in Spiritualism.

The loose-leaf typed manuscript was found in one of the drawers of Lord Dowding’s desk at RAF Bentley Priory (which had been Headquarters Fighter Command) when the site was to be redeveloped. In the event, the headquarters building was saved and now hosts the Bentley Priory Museum.

The papers were apparently put away and forgotten until they resurfaced in early 2020 and were sent to Sir Donald Spiers TD, FRAeS who decided to publish these hitherto unseen papers.

Available here (with brief preview):
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dowding-Pa...swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1658671526&sr=8-6

And here (direct from publisher):
THE DOWDING PAPERS (Revised September 2021)

Article about their discovery here:
Lord Dowding original typed papers preserved by benefactor of Old Sarum Airfield come to life in new book | Old Sarum Airfield

 

Looks excellent and a must-buy - until I caught site of the price!

 

Here's my latest book, to be published on 31 August by Austin Macauley. This one won't break the bank!

Vitellino

 

Out now, apparently, but Amazon lists a later date:

Operation Market Garden was Major Digby Tatham Warter’s first action. As the OC of ‘A’ Company, 2 Para, he led the advance to the Arnhem road bridge, brushing aside German resistance to reach the objective. Over the course of the next four days, Digby - a well-known eccentric - enhanced his reputation further by displaying solid leadership and a fearlessness that left everyone who witnesses it in awe. Picking up an umbrella and bowler hat from one of the houses, Tatham Warter strolled around the perimeter oblivious to shot and shell, instilling confidence in his men and inspiring them to battle on in the face of overwhelming odds. Wounded and captured at the battle’s end, Digby escaped and linked up with the Dutch Resistance. For weeks he strutted around the area disguised as a deaf and dumb Dutchman to fool the Germans. He collected over hundred paratroopers (‘evaders’) and forged a plan to lead them through enemy lines to safety. His post-war years are just as exciting. This is his story.



Publisher (offering a discount code):
Arnhem Umbrella: Major Digby Tatham Warter DSO

See longer preview: photo section looks well reproduced:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Arnhem-Umbrella-Major-Tatham-Warter/dp/1781558825/ref=sr_1_1?crid=OMI3CRHWC86P&keywords=Arnhem+Umbrella:+Major+Digby+Tatham+Warter+DSO&qid=1662304943&sprefix=,aps,1153&sr=8-1

 

For those interested in this figure, a high-quality scan of his 40-page private memoir is available here:

https://vriendenairbornemuseum.nl/public/docs/Tatham_Warter_Memoir.pdf

 

Another one for my collection is on the horizon:

Forgotten Warrior:
The Life and Times of Major-General Merton Beckwith-Smith
Hardcover – 18 May 2023
by Professor Michael Snape (Author)

Major General Merton Beckwith-Smith, DSO, MC, Commander of the 18th Division, was the most senior British officer to die as a prisoner of war in the Far East during the Second World War. Yet he is one of the most neglected figures in the history of the British Army.

On 4 October 1914, as a young officer of the Coldstream Guards, Beckwith-Smith was wounded while leading one of the first British trench raids of the First World War - a daring night attack against a German position known as 'Fish Hook Trench', for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. He later earned the Military Cross as a staff officer in the Guards Division.

During the inter-war years, Beckwith-Smith rose swiftly through the ranks, commanding the Welsh Guards before serving in India as commander of the Lahore Brigade. Recalled to Britain before the outbreak of war, he commanded the 1st Guards Brigade with distinction during the retreat to Dunkirk and was one of the last allied soldiers to be evacuated.

On his return to England, Beckwith-Smith was appointed Commander of the 18th Division, a territorial division which he trained with great thoroughness before it went overseas. Ostensibly it was bound for the Middle East, but in October 1941 it was diverted to India, and then to Malaya. Following the outbreak of war with Japan, the 18th Division was controversially sacrificed in the hopeless defence of Singapore.

Amidst great adversity, Beckwith-Smith showed inspiring leadership in the prison camp at Changi on Singapore Island, an example that was deeply and widely admired among the men of 18th Division. In August 1942 he was exiled to Formosa, present day Taiwan, where he died of disease at Karenko Camp on 11 November that year.

For reasons examined in this book, Beckwith-Smith remains a strangely forgotten warrior. Using exclusive access to family archives, Michael Snape tells the story of a man who was remarkable for his personal charm, heroism, and extraordinary leadership - all of which was rooted in his unwavering Christian faith.

No More Detail Yet:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Forgotten-...&sprefix=major+general+,stripbooks,379&sr=1-1

This is the subject:
Merton Beckwith-Smith - Wikipedia

 

New on the 2023 list for Helion:

 

I was already in love with Helion, but this is too much! (specially the NEI volume)

 

It is expensive, John but It's also an excellent investment. A quick glance at ABE shows the cheapest copy of Autumn Gale is currently £190.

Really looking forward to getting my copy of this. Their other two books are available in the shop at Overloon and I'm there in early November. Hopefully, I'll be able to get it then.

 

This is out in a matter of days:



Gavin at War:
The World War II Diary of Lieutenant General James M. Gavin (AUSA)
Hardcover – 15 Sept. 2022
by Lewis Sorley (Editor)

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Casemate Publishers; Annotated edition (15 Sept. 2022)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1636240240
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1636240244

General Gavin was a very brave man who had great faith in his men. The battle or the weather never stopped him from going to check the troops. He would go in the rain or snow. If the battle was severe, he would crawl from foxhole to foxhole to talk to his men to let them know he was with them. Words cannot explain the love and pride I had for General Gavin." - Walter Woods, World War II aide to General Gavin

Lieutenant General James Gavin, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division during WWII, is one of the best-known figures of the war. Beginning as the commander of the 505th Parachute Combat Team that spearheaded the American assault on Sicily in July 1943, Gavin advanced to division command and finally command of US forces in Berlin. Throughout this time he kept a wartime diary that starts in April 1943, as the unit was preparing to go to northern Africa, and continues through to his final entry on 1 September 1945 during the occupation of Berlin.

During the war years, Gavin came into close contact with virtually all the leading airborne commanders and many others who would advance to the top levels of Army leadership. His diary includes observations on fellow military and political leaders, such as General Dwight Eisenhower and the British Field Marshal Montgomery, Army operations, and the general's personal life. Gavin was an officer who led by example: on four combat jumps - into Sicily, at Salerno, then Normandy and the Netherlands - he was the first man out the door. Two Distinguished Service Crosses, two Silver Stars, and the Purple Heart rewarded his service.

For decades, Gavin kept the existence of the journal a secret; the general's family discovered it among his belongings after his death. Editor Lewis "Bob" Sorley has worked closely with the Gavin family and the Army Heritage Center to prepare the diary for publication. His edited and annotated version includes a prologue and epilogue to frame the entries within the wider scope of the general's life.

No Preview Yet:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gavin-War-World-Lieutenant-General/dp/1636240240/ref=sr_1_19?crid=AGKEXGOHKUX6&keywords="Lieutenant+General"&qid=1663080631&sprefix=lieutenant+general,aps,343&sr=8-19

 

Gavin is now seen as the person responsible for not ensuring the Nijmegen Bridge was captured on the first day of Market Garden contrary to Brereton's operations order. Interesting to see what Gavin says about this in his diary.

 

That part will not be included. Lest he was posthumously found treasonous

 

Tally-Ho

Very interested in this. Looks at the unit level tactics and choices squadron leaders made. Also Group Commanders. More medium picure than big picture or individual pilots.

 

This will be available sometime during the next few weeks:

 

Cover now available:

 

Interesting. I did a fair bit of research on him as part of my PhD. One tale is that he offered a monetary prize (tales vary from ten bob to a guinea) to any Guardsman who could shoot down a "Stuka" on the beach at Dunkirk (probably any dive-bombing aircraft, in fact). When told this was difficult, he was said to have replied "It's quite simple, treat it like a high pheasant".

 

Out now.

From Submariners to Tank Killers

Submariners to Tank-Killers (U-Bootmänner als Panzerjäger)

 

For the track heads in the crowd this may be of interest.
April 2023
Tank Gun Systems


April 2023 too

Two Dieppe books from the German perspective