Stu, Did you get yourself a copy? I've got a hard copy 1989 reprint by Presidio Press if you'd like it. Regards Tom
Hi Tom, that is most unexpected and I have to say no thanks has I've bought it and (what a top chap you are for the offer). What I've read at the moment, its a shame that he was German.. I think (we could of done with him batting for us). He just slates the cock-ups of the mistakes that was made. One hell of a chap for walking around and visiting his Regiments. He also did much driving. A decent chap. Hope all is well at your end after our last conversation? Have you made contact with the Squire about Cassino, and Anzio for Next year? They will be back-to- back. Hope to meet again if you have decided to do either of them. Thanks again for the offer. Regards, Stu.. See you later hopefully. You can have a bash at being a driver.
Hi Stu, No worries about the von Senger book - as a cynical old git I’d love to spend some time comparing the story he relates to the original records. I’m re-reading it at the moment and he is annoying me to be honest. To much about being a simple soldier and not being responsible for supporting the Nazi regime by fighting for it. Yes, thanks, life beginning to settle back down to normal again and yes, I’m coming to Anzio next May. Really looking forward to that and like the thought of seeing terrain around Cassino and then north at Anzio. I’d have a bash at driving - probably best on the flatter bit! It will be good to see you again and have a cool glass or two. I’ll start sending you some German stuff!! All the best, Tom
Battle Axe Blenheims - S Scott. Last few pages of this one, which covers 105 squadron from 1940 to 41. A blow by blow account of all the raids and personnel involved from the Battle of France, strikes from the UK and then the period in Malta largely for anti shipping. I think the author has done a great job mixing the cold hard stats with accounts from the crews and any newsworthy episodes. Highly recommended.
A Sailors Survival - Catlow. Submarine commander who was shot down on a flight to Malta. Escaped from Marlag and ended up in Colditz. Halfway through and have finished the WW2 stuff but will carry on reading as this book is written in such an engaging style. I got this for the POW element having very little interest in the navy but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this so far!
https://www.amazon.ca/World-War-II-Snipers-Stories/dp/1636240984/ref=sr_1_1?crid=FWOSVYDOUKQ&keywords=world+war+II+snipers&qid=1661269902&s=books&sprefix=world+war+ii+snipers,stripbooks,71&sr=1-1#customerReviews Originally thought this would be a lightweight book a la Osprey titles. A friend who bought it set me straight. It's a hardcover with over 350 pages of text. Lots of information on training, tactics and weaponry from all the major belligerents (Even Italy gets a discussion). Many first person accounts too. Very well illustrated with interesting historical techniques. For example in a discussion on sniping on the Eastern Front, it is revealed that German snipers were trained used captured Soviet manuals and even watched captured Soviet training movies to kickstart their sniping program . If you're looking for a good synthesis and overview of sniping in WW2 this is it.
Recently finished 'The Tank War' by Mark Urban and thought it a good read. Ignore the 'British band of brothers' moniker the publishers put on the cover. It is a nicely put together story of a unit that served throughout the war built largely around several of the 5th Tanks men who left diaries, interviews', letters and the like. The beginning was not great as the author seemed a little soft on the technical side of tanks but I persevered and by the time the book went through the Desert War I was pretty hooked. 5th Tanks, by the later years of the war, seemed to have had a reputation as a solid regiment but not gung ho and this book really looks in depth at the successful officers and more importantly the importance of solid and experienced NCOs. It is a bit of a warts and all book but all the better for it. Scott
Sounds good Scott. I read his Rifles book years back when I was going through a ‘Sharpe’ obsession. I liked his style.
Beyond the Wire - Roy Marlow. Excellent addition to my POW collection. Roy was a Wellington gunner shot down in Libya and captured at the age of 17 (having lied about his age to join up). He made several escape attempts before the Italian Armistice, then went on the run for several months, being captured by the Germans at one point but eventually gaining his freedom and getting an MM. A harrowing tale focusing on the privations of life behind the wire and whilst being on the run for a prolonged period.
I finished reading the Osprey book on the PIAT. Good subject, good book. If I had one quibble, it would be that the coverage of incidents in NWE seemed to end around December 1944 - I don't know if there were mentions of use in February-April 1945. But that's pretty minor.
And - defeating my backlog a little - I finished Strick. Very good book, but as I think I said before, a bit hagiographic. Also all the "we can imagine" (how a particular meeting might have taken place) got a bit tiresome. However, both of those reflect that the book is a labour of love - literally, since it was written by his son - but it is very well written, with accounts of in and out of action for North Irish Horse and 145 RAC, and is just generally an extremely good book.
Chris, Was there much, if any, mention of the British 1st Armoured Division or the Queen's Bays? Mark
If a unit makes an unexpected appearance I would say it is 1st Canadian Infantry Division. To elaborate, Strick commanded NIH at the Hitler Line and 145 RAC at the Gothic Line, in support of the Canadians. In Tunisia he was in NIH.
I couldn’t care less - Anthony Phelps 1945. One of the bunch of books I got at an air show, 12 for £10. A ferry pilots experiences in the ATA. A superb book focusing on the continual fight against weather conditions (without radios), the varied types to fly and the struggles to get home when constantly cross crossing the UK. One of those books that’s so highly readable due to the writers amusing style. I’d love to know more about the author if anybody has any info. He was in the RAF before the ATA and then became a test pilot later in the war but I can’t find much info online bar a couple of dead links from 2016 and an apparent DOD of 1967.
Recently read Evelyn Waugh’s novel ‘Scoop’. Not WW2, but not too far off it. It is set in the fictional “Ishmaelia” which is based upon Abyssinia, where Waugh was a war correspondent during the Italian invasion of 1935. The book is a sledge at the press and in many parts is quite funny and just as to relevant to how the media operates today as it was when it was originally published in 1938. Although I enjoyed it I won’t be rushing back to read it again. It is of its time and I’m not sure how satire fares with the modern reader. I recently watched the Jack Whitehall version of ‘Decline and Fall’ which I found amusing but my wife just didn’t get. One of those shows that you had to watch all the way through to get to the point of what Waugh was saying. ‘Scoop’ has a bit of racism contained within it, which if you don’t realise is of its time might put some readers off. I have the ‘Sword of Honour’ trilogy in the TBR pile and thought this might be worth reading first before I commit to that one. I think I’ve been put off jumping into it because of the old ‘Brideshead Revisited’ series reminding me of Downton Abbey. Anyone read the ‘Sword of Honour’ trilogy? Scott