Very good article about this outstanding soldier on the BBC website today: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-30685433
The memoirs of Lieutenant-General Sir Adrian Carton de Wiart called: “Happy Odyssey” , first published 1950, are uplifting and often hilarious ( and available in electronic form.) For example, he was wounded in the second battle of Ypres in 1915: “ My hand was a ghastly sight; two of the fingers were hanging by a bit of skin, all the palm was shot away and most of the wrist. For the first time, and certainly the last, I had been wearing a wrist-watch, and it had been blown into the remains of my wrist. I asked the doctor to take my fingers off; he refused, so I pulled them off myself and felt absolutely no pain in doing it………… For the rest of 1915 life crawled by……….. By December, 1915, my patience was running out. My hand showed no sign of healing, I could stand it no longer, and I insisted that it should come off. As I detest anaesthetics and am a very bad subject, the surgeon said he would amputate simply with gas. The whole entertainment was no worse than having a tooth out, and an hour afterwards I was sitting up eating a meal…..” Gloriously outspoken, well worth a read.
Hi papiermache, I might take a look at his memoirs, he certainly caught my eye as a real character, when I glanced over the BBC article. Best wishes Steve
With a quick glance on Amazon, I might cough up the £100 needed to acquire an original copy signed by the man himself. http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B0000CHOYH/ref=sr_1_2_twi_1_olp?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1420579383&sr=1-2&keywords=happy+odyssey
good day bamboo43,very senior member.today.05:23.re:prewar and beyond:adrian carton de wiart.he was a true hero.nothing would stop him. his troops would be proud to serve with him.great post.thank you,regards bernard85
Happy New Year Steve, I think the book will appeal to you, given your motto about boldest measures. In January 1914 his father could no longer afford to continue paying him an allowance, but after getting over the shock he writes in his memoirs: “ My second reaction found me almost glad, for it opened out the whole wide world again to me; it meant I could not afford to soldier in England, could sever my ties, begin a new life and possibly see active service abroad….. Before leaving for Somaliland I had to go for my examination for promotion to major. I failed gloriously, achieving a record in obtaining 8 marks out of a possible 200 in Military Law. How lucky that wars wash out examinations and I have never been asked to do another since.” John
Happy New Year John, Thanks for the heads up, I'm going to heat up my Kindle and take a chance. Best wishes Steve
