Just to let anyone in Belfast know that this book is available in bargain books....at the pricely sum of £1..
Originally posted by markinbelfast@Nov 4 2004, 03:54 PM Just to let anyone in Belfast know that this book is available in bargain books....at the pricely sum of £1.. [post=29150]Quoted post[/post] Is this his book on Army commandos or Royal Marine? I'd be interested in buying it at that price.
If it’s Durnford-Slaters’ book it’s well worth a pound - more. If it’s the Channel 4 programme spin-off or the recent one by Parker, IMHO, you’d be paying 100p too much. Kiwi, if you don’t have either and would like a good book on the Commandos in W.W.II, suggest ‘The Green Beret’ by St.George-Saunders and/or ‘The Commandos:1940-1945’ by Messenger. Neither book will tell you everything, then it’s a big subject. Slight problem with Green Beret is some find the author expects too much pre-knowledge. Also, the paperback edition doesn’t have an index. Can be found in a compendium with another Saunder’s book, ‘The Red Beret’ - equally worth having. Messenger’s book is more reader friendly with broader content. However, The Green Beret was the first proper book on the Commandos and all later writers (who attempt proper research) crib from it. Slater’s book is his memoir from starting No.3 Commando onwards. Expectedly its subjective, (Slater was not the first Commando officer, Tod was), but very worthwhile. No.9
Also, the paperback edition doesn’t have an index. I have quite a lot of books from the fitites and sixies and it is rather frustrating because they do not have Indexes! Also, the paperback edition doesn’t have an index. Can be found in a compendium with another Saunder’s book, ‘The Red Beret’ - I have both books but there is also " Assault from the Sea" I cannot remember the name of the author. However, I was in Bargain books in Glasgow yesterday and I did not see it in there. In fact I had to go to "The Works" before I found any decent books.
You couldn’t have better books morse, with the Green and Red. I guess ‘Assault from the sea’ is the title by James Ladd? I don’t currently have a copy as some years ago I loaned it to a chap who was with Combined Ops and looking into landing craft, and thereafter let him keep it. What I remember of it, it dealt with various assault craft and operators, rather than major on the Commandos. Useful from that aspect and I suppose I should get hold of another copy at the right price. I have some other Ladd books and note he is best on Royal Marines matters, being a former Marine himself. Useful illustrations and schematics but poor verification of detail in places leading to inaccurate data. Again, plenty of cribs from ‘The Green Beret’ for Army Commandos. Agree totally about paperbacks. Shame an index is often sacrificed for publishers adverts for other titles. However, a cheap paperback as well as a good hardback means you’ve got something to use as a working copy for adding notes, folding back the spine for copying etc. No.9
I haven't got any of the above, but I have Peter Young's "Storm From the Sea" and Robin Neillands' "By Land and Sea," which are pretty good.
‘Storm From the Sea’ is an excellent title, well worth holding on to Kiwi. Author Peter Young was a remarkable character and a Commando officer of note. Veterans who served under him continue to speak highly of him. A couple of stories relayed to me by reliable Veterans: (1) No.3 were engaged inland in Normandy. During an enduring fire-fight the narrator was behind some trees and bushes exchanging fire. A burst of fire did some pruning around him and gave him a face-full of shavings and leaves. Staying in position he closed his eyes, turned his face to one side and spat out the debris in his mouth. When he opened his eyes he saw a comrade not too far from him receive a direct mortar hit and literally blow apart. Facing front again he continued to fire, then was aware of someone standing behind and to the side of him. It was Peter Young, bolt upright, viewing the German position while consulting his map and using his binoculars. After a few minutes he moved off and continued his surveillance further along the line. After the battle when mentioning this to a comrade, the other Commando said there was a similar occurrence with Young where he was firing from. This time he had Lord Lovat with him and they both stood bolt upright pointing at the enemy positions discussing the situation. (2) Another member of No.3 said post war he used to bump into Young on the train from time to time. On one occasion he asked him if he was ever scared? “Of course I bloody was”, said Young, “but I couldn’t show you lot that, could I?” Post war Young continued with his passion for English Civil War history, lectured, advised, founded the Sealed Knot Society (English Civil War), and was instrumental in establishing the National Army Museum, Chelsea. He has a lot books published under his name, English Civil War and W.W.II, though some titles are ‘quickies’ and some he probably just leant his name to, for a fee. However, ‘Storm From the Sea’ is the real McCoy and a great personal account of No.3 which augments the overall story of the Commandos. Neillands is another prolific writer, and like Ladd a former Marine and very bias in that respect, and blatantly so. Fine perhaps when writing about Royal Marines, some might say, but awful to disingenuous when writing about Army Commandos. Approximate quote: “The Royal Marines didn’t form the first Commandos because no one asked them.” - Really? wow, no one asked the Somalian Camel Corps either??? Seriously though, I fail to see the relevance of such a comment in a book that presumably want’s to be taken a seriously? Consequently I find his work of use to point me towards areas for serious research. He put together ‘The Raiders’ about Army Commandos, which stands out as a ‘cobble for cash’. However, if you have such as ‘The Green Beret’ and/or Messengers’ ‘Commandos’, you can find very useful reprints of Battle Reports in ‘The Raiders’, usually under the guise of “X X takes up the story” - these are almost invariably NOT interviews with the author - go read them in PRO records! ‘By Sea and by Land’, does appear to have had more thought and research put into it. No.9
Yes, Peter Young was quite an officer and a pretty good writer, too. A real renaissance man. The Neillands books are all worth reading. I also have his books on the 7th Armoured, The Bomber War, The Conquest of the Reich, and D-Day.
Originally posted by Kiwiwriter@Nov 9 2004, 02:40 PM I haven't got any of the above, but I have Peter Young's "Storm From the Sea" and Robin Neillands' "By Land and Sea," which are pretty good. [post=29311]Quoted post[/post] Sorry i was thinking of Storm from the Sea by Peter Young, it s somewhere amongst the books in my hall cupboard!
Excellent trio morse. If you have a taste for No.3 perhaps add Durnford-Slaters’ ‘Commando’? If newer releases interest you, Jimmy Dunning (No.4) published ‘The Fighting Fourth’ this year and Mike McConville (No.43 RM) is close to finishing a book about 43’s exploits in the Yugoslav islands. Title expected to be something like ‘The Vis Island Raiders’ or similar. No.9
