It seems that - if you can believe it - a library elevator required to access some of their reserve collection will be under maintenance for months. I was hoping to check their copy of Seaforth Highlanders to locate a quote, but now I can't. If anyone has a copy, I was wondering if you could find where it is talking about 8 January 1945. There should be a passage which starts, "We started at 0800 hours in a world that was grey, and windy, and hopeless. There was a foot of new snow on the road, covering the ice of the previous week". It's talking about their move to the Ourthe Valley to begin an offensive there. I just need to know what page number that is on, so I can properly cite it. Thanks!!
I went through Sym’s history for that period and could not find the quote. Maybe it was from another source.
The passage you mention is from Alastair Borthwick's book with the short title & endless subtitle: "Battalion. A British Infantry unit's actions from El Alamein to the Elbe, 1942 - 1945. The 5th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders". (page 200).
... I had just looked up the exact title... you were a bit faster, stolpi. I could not have come up with the page numbers, though, because I only have the Kindle copy. The 5th Seaforth fought a Rees/Groin, hence my interest...
Thank you very much! The reviews of the book seem very positive and it's not too dear so I might buy a copy out of interest at some point PS I note that the original title was about equally long-winded: "Sans Peur : the history of the 5th (Caithness and Sutherland) Battalion, the Seaforth Highlanders 1942-1945"
It is very well written - and he has first-hand knowledge of his topic. Borthwick was an intelligence officer in the batallion. Before he joined the Army he was already established as a journalist for the Glasgow Weekly Herald. After the war he worked as a broadcaster.
While it is commendable to give the veterans a forum this undoubtedly interesting film contains some inaccuracies... but the overall story is correctly and impressively told.
By the way, Colonel Jon Munro Sym (1907 - 1980) is an interesting figure. He was taken prisoner by the Germans in Sicily, escaped and was recaptured by the Italians. Eventually he made it to the Vatican where he received shelter and sanctuary. From there he made it back to Gerat Britain to take command of the 5th Seaforths in 1944. It would be worth to make a movie based on that story...
[It would be worth to make a movie based on that story... View attachment 302113 [/QUOTE] Yes, but he would have to be an American
