What are you reading at the moment?

Discussion in 'Books, Films, TV, Radio' started by Gage, Mar 12, 2006.

  1. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Next up, just arrived: "Unarmed into Battle" The story of the Air Observation Post by Major General H.J. Parnham and M.G. Belfield
    with a foreword by Field Marshall Lord Alanbrooke Master Gunner.
    This book whilst described as "used" is in perfect condition and obviously never been opened. On par with many that I buy from this uk supplier.
    It cost less than "a coffee and a biscuit"
    I won't name them as it might be classed as biased advertising.
    Hard cover with a good few photo's, it looks appealing, but we shall see later.
    I have many references to AOP's in my 67th Field Regt notes, from Tunisia to Anzio and the Gothic Line. Perhaps some of them might turn up in the book.
     

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    Last edited: Nov 26, 2022
  2. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

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  3. Orwell1984

    Orwell1984 Senior Member

    [​IMG]

    The bibliography is very impressive. Lots of Japanese sources used to give a great coverage of both sides of the action.
     
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  4. Markyboy

    Markyboy Member

    Finally got a copy of The Mint by T E Lawrence. Halfway through and not sure what to make of it to be honest. I’ve got an old edition without the swear words included which makes it a bit hard to follow in places as you’re second guessing the blanks and it ruins the flow! Very descriptive writing of the degradation and pointless tasks the new recruits are subjected to, which makes it nice and gritty. No punches pulled. I just find it all a bit odd, like he’s a class tourist. Pulps - Common People springs to mind in fact. I enjoyed seven pillars of wisdom so thought this would be great as it’s RAF so more aligned with my particular interests, but it’s not proved to be the case so far.
     
  5. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Previous posting: Bought with much enthusiasm last week. Paddy Mayne by Hamish Ross
    I am going to have to give it a rest. 20 pages in, I have hit a wall. Partly because the text font is too small for my eyes. I need to read it in daylight which is in short supply.

    Still struggling, the more I read the less I like it. Very self-centred on Paddy Mayne not really about the SAS. Becoming disillusioned with it.
    A huge chunk seems to come from a website about Commandos. No11 (Scottish) in particular.
    I won't be mentioning this book again unless I experience a "Road to Damasus" enlightenment.
    Sorry, it just doesn't cut the mustard I'm afraid. At least not for me.

    Edit:
    This book has been loaned to a friend who is keen to read about Paddy Mayne.
    Let's see what he makes of it
     
    Last edited: Dec 2, 2022
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  6. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    "Born of the Desert": with the SAS in North Africa by Malcolm James
    I thoroughly enjoyed it.
    He reveals his full name at the end Malcolm James Pleydell.
    It began to drift a little towards the end almost as if he had become tired of writing it.
    So many friends failed to survive, with no antibiotics and in such remote places, chances of survival were slim.
    All in all, a good story told well. More about the men and their life in the desert than the battles they fought.
    It also answers many questions asked on the forum recently about "Rogue Heroes" like why Stirling wore sunglasses.
    But I will leave it to the readers to find out.

    The kindle version was probably the better option for me, not just the price but the readability as well.
     
  7. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Prisoners of Hope by Mike Calvert.
    Having failed to take a liking to the Paddy Mayne book, I sent it off into temporary exile with a friend.
    I had read bits and pieces, Including the back of the book, to find that Calvert had taken over the SAS Brigade towards the end of the war.
    I was not aware of this but knew that he was instrumental in reconstituting the Regiment in Malaya.
    I read Prisoners of hope forty or so years ago, so decided to see how Calvert's "Mad Mike" reputation
    looked against Paddy Mayne. the Champion Boxer v the Rugby International.
    I don't think that Steven Knight will be able to write a series in the jungle but you never know!

    Again, a kindle version
     
    Last edited: Dec 6, 2022
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  8. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    Whenever Calvert's name comes up, I mention the marathon interview he gave to the IWM.

    10.5hrs long and fascinating throughout:
    Calvert, James Michael (Oral history)

    A second one of only an hour and a half covers just his work with the SAS:
    Calvert, James Michael (Oral history)
     
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  9. Orwell1984

    Orwell1984 Senior Member

  10. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    I'm reading Return Via Rangoon by Phillip Stibbe. He was captured during Chindit 1 (No. 5 Column) and survived his time as a prisoner of war. This is part of my re-read marathon of Chindit books in order to find new anecdotes and other snippets to add to my website in the near future.
     
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  11. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    The Knights of Bushido
    Managed to purchase at market stall for £4

    very interesting info re pre war politics in Japan followed by the war crimes.
     
  12. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Excellent book. One of the first titles I ever read once I realised my grandfather had been a prisoner of the Japanese.
     
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  13. papiermache

    papiermache Well-Known Member

    The "Knights of Bushido" was published in 1958 after a joint body of public librarians stated that library users wanted to read about the Japanese war and there was very little published about the subject so they had nothing to satisfy their readers. The book would benefit from footnotes tying the text to the Kew references for the cases, which were lacking when I read it years ago. The International Military Tribunal for the Far East ( The Tokyo trial: equivalent of the Nuremberg Trial ) received a lot of evidence about Japanese pre-war policies and transcripts can now be read online from the International Criminal Court website.

    Lord Russell was Deputy Judge Advocate General in Germany but returned to England sooner than planned because of a "traffic incident" on 31st March 1951 on the occasion of the re-opening of a bridge over the Weser River. A crowd was holding a torchlight procession to celebrate the new bridge and some "over-jubilant" folk decided to attack Lord Russell and his wife in their car and wanted to turn it over and set it on fire. They also grabbed at Lady Russell by her coat and tried to drag her on to the road. Lord Russell complained that the German police ran away, according to a press report. It was reported that Lord Russell had driven into the crowd. A Rhine Army spokesman said that it was a "storm in a teacup," although Russell was beaten about the head, and eventually managed to drive away: Germans were carrying torches and shouting: "Death to the British."

    HANSARD 1803–2005 → 1950s → 1951 → April 1951 → 30 April 1951 → Commons Sitting → GERMANY
    Lord Russell of Liverpool

    "HC Deb 30 April 1951 vol 487 cc834-6 835
    §52. Mr. Marlowe asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will publish a summary of the evidence upon which it was decided to withdraw Lord Russell of Liverpool from his appointment in Germany.
    §The Minister of State (Mr. Younger) As my right hon. Friend stated in reply to the hon. Member for Brightside (Mr. R. Winterbottom) on 17th April, Lord Russell is to be withdrawn from Germany because it was felt that in consequence of the publicity already given to the case he may find himself, however much he may desire to avoid it, becoming a focus of political feeling in Germany, and it was considered wise to take account of this possibility. Lord Russell is not being withdrawn because of the original traffic incident, in regard to which the Lord Chancellor takes the view that it would be unfair to blame him.
    There is no evidence to publish with regard to the withdrawal of Lord Russell because the whole matter was dealt with by the Lord Chancellor who subsequently had discussions with my right hon. Friend. I may add that the High Commissioner and Lord Russell have agreed between themselves that the incident should be regarded as closed and I would commend this conclusion to the hon. and learned Member as eminently sensible."

    Lord Russell resigned his post in 1954 on publication of his book "The Scourge of the Swastika":

    LORD RUSSELL OF LIVERPOOL (RESIGNATION) (Hansard, 19 October 1954)

    LORD RUSSELL OF LIVERPOOL (RESIGNATION)

    HC Deb 19 October 1954 vol 531 cc1027-8 1027
    §49. Mr. Harold Davies asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement on the circumstances in which Lord Russell of Liverpool, Assistant Judge Advocate General, resigned his position after refusing to withdraw his book, "The Scourge of the Swastika," containing a factual account of activities under the Nazi regime.
    §The Prime Minister I have carefully considered this case and I do not think that any special statement upon it is required from me. The Lord Chancellor took the view that publication by Lord Russell of a book which was clearly calculated to affect public opinion on a matter of political controversy was incompatible with his holding an office under the Courts Martial (Appeals) Act, 1951, and informed Lord Russell accordingly. In these circumstances Lord Russell chose to resign his appointment and publish the book, as he had every right to do. Had he not resigned his office the Lord Chancellor would have given him full opportunity of being heard before taking any action in the matter.
    §Mr. Davies Is the Prime Minister aware that some British subjects, while not denouncing or ever having denounced the German people, feel that efforts by the Lord Chancellor to prevent the publication of a book which is historical fact—[Interruption.]—which is historical fact, and to which the Lord Chancellor, in 1951, apparently offered no objection if it were historical fact, are worried—people of all parties—at this gradual intrusion on the civil liberties of our people; and we consequently believe that had the House of Commons been sitting, this would not have happened to the Assistant Judge Advocate General?
    §The Prime Minister The Lord Chancellor made no effort to prevent publication of the book—
    1028
    §Mr. Davies But he punished the man—
    §The Prime Minister —but only to prevent publication of it while Lord Russell held the office that he did.
    §Mr. Davies In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the answer, I wish to give notice that at the first opportunity I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment of the House."
     
    Last edited: Dec 6, 2022
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  14. Markyboy

    Markyboy Member

    Wings of War - Rudolph Stark, WW1 German fighter pilot diary for 1918. This one starts a bit gung ho and biggles in style but gets much better as it goes on and Stark begins to realise the tide is turning and the military start to lose support from the home front. The eye opener for me was the final confusion for the staffel on Armistice day as they believed they’d be redeployed to fight against the Italians or simply moved back to defend Germany. Well written but I’m trying to control my ever expanding bookshelves so PM me if anybody would like it!
     

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  15. riter

    riter Well-Known Member

    Just finished W. Carlisle's Red Arrow Men about the 32nd Infantry Division (US) and the capture of Yamashita on Luzon. Very Ernie Pyle in writing style.
     
  16. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    Yesterday I finished reading Double Duty: Sketches and Diary of Mary Lamb Bobak, Canadian War Artist edited by Carolyn Gossage. Mary Lamb (later Mary Lamb Bobak) was a member of the CWAC or "quacks" - Canadian Woman Army Corps. An art student, she progressed from regular duties to painting sets for the Canadian Army Show (also winning 2nd place in an Army art contest) to being appointed an official war artist and sent to Europe after VE Day. Her diary is very funny, written and drawn in the style of a mock newspaper. It also gives a great idea of what it was like to be part of the CWACs in Canada.

    Nothing is better than what she wrote after being notified that she was accepted to the war art program:

    Lamb's Fate Revealed!
    2/Lieutenant Reels in Street!
    Ottawa ... Scoop ...
    (May 24 1945)

    It was officially disclosed this morning that after 2 1/2 years of hope, 2/Lieutenant Lamb, CBI (Can't Believe It) (nee L/Cpl Lamb and before that, reverted L/Cpl Lamb) was told by Colonel Thomas, 2i/c of the Historical Section that she was GOING OVERSEAS WITHIN 3 OR 4 WEEKS! W110248 reporters found the officer reeling down Bank Street returning salutes to traffic lights.

    e011161138-v8 Lamb fate revealed.jpg
     
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  17. riter

    riter Well-Known Member

    Omar Bradley's A Soldier's Story
     
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  18. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    I prefer to read books in order but I wanted something funny for the holidays so I am reading Milligan's Mussolini: His Part In My Downfall. I will have to go back to read books 2 and 3 - I read 1 in the past year or two.
     
  19. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    I was given a copy of The 17/21st Lancers, 1759–1993 by R.L.V. Ffrench Blake and finished that yesterday. Honestly - well, it covers the whole regimental history, so not a lot of WW2 content. To be honest, I didn't feel like reading about fighting in India, so I skipped those bits. Reading about the dysfunction in the British Army in the Crimean was kind of staggering.
     
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  20. Don Juan

    Don Juan Well-Known Member

    There was a Lt. Col. ffrench-Blake who commanded the 17/21st Lancers in Tunisia IIRC. Sadly he died just before that campaign ended. One of the REME diaries I have for North Africa insists on referring to him as "French-Bloke".
     
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