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Author: John Hatchard Publisher: Xlibris Corporation ISBN: 1465396063 Category : Biography & Autobiography Languages : en Pages : 315
Book Description
. . is the story of a young English lad, still in his teens who, between 1950 and 1952, underwent that rite of passage into adulthood called national service but with a difference. Half of it was spent with the Welch Regiment, part of the Commonwealth Division of the United Nations forces in Korea. Luckily, it was during the quieter middle phase of that war, the Forgotten War and the last to be fought from trenches. He experienced moments of unexpected pleasure, ennui, abject terror, boredom, utter weariness and despair, sadness, joy, laughter and profound revelation all of which are part of this tale. There is some blood and guts but, through great good fortune, none of his personal experiencing. This is a story of how it was for one reasonably well educated boy sent halfway across the world on His/Her Majesties business to an uncertain fate. He returned a man in one sense at least!
Author: John Hatchard Publisher: Xlibris Corporation ISBN: 1465396063 Category : Biography & Autobiography Languages : en Pages : 315
Book Description
. . is the story of a young English lad, still in his teens who, between 1950 and 1952, underwent that rite of passage into adulthood called national service but with a difference. Half of it was spent with the Welch Regiment, part of the Commonwealth Division of the United Nations forces in Korea. Luckily, it was during the quieter middle phase of that war, the Forgotten War and the last to be fought from trenches. He experienced moments of unexpected pleasure, ennui, abject terror, boredom, utter weariness and despair, sadness, joy, laughter and profound revelation all of which are part of this tale. There is some blood and guts but, through great good fortune, none of his personal experiencing. This is a story of how it was for one reasonably well educated boy sent halfway across the world on His/Her Majesties business to an uncertain fate. He returned a man in one sense at least!
Author: Steven McLaughlin Publisher: Random House ISBN: 1780572026 Category : Biography & Autobiography Languages : en Pages : 230
Book Description
From the harsh realities of basic training to post-war chaos in Iraq and knife-edge tension in Northern Ireland, Squaddie takes us to a place not advertised in army recruitment brochures. It exposes the grim reality of everyday soldiering for the 'grunts on the ground'. After the tragic death of his brother, and in the dark days following 9/11, McLaughlin felt compelled to fulfil his lifelong ambition to serve in the army. He followed his late brother into the elite Royal Green Jackets and passed the arduous Combat Infantryman's Course at the age of 31. Thereafter, McLaughlin found himself submerged in a world of casual violence. Squaddie is a snapshot of infantry soldiering in the twenty-first century. It takes us into the heart of an ancient institution that is struggling to retain its tough traditions in a rapidly changing world. All of the fears and anxieties that the modern soldier carries as his burden are laid bare, as well as the occasional joys and triumphs that can make him feel like he is doing the best job in the world. This is an account of army life by someone who has been there and done it.
Author: Ken Wharton Publisher: Grub Street Publishers ISBN: 1907677607 Category : History Languages : en Pages : 524
Book Description
The author of Bloody Belfast delivers “a vivid and unforgettable record” of the Northern Irish conflict that captures the “true horrors of war” (Best of British). There are stories from some of the most seminal moments during the troubles in Northern Ireland—the Crossmaglen firefights, the 1988 corporals killings, the Ballygawley bus bombing, and more—told from the perspective of the British soldiers who served there between 1969 and 1998. This was a war against terrorists who knew no mercy or compassion; a war involving sectarian hatred and violent death. Over 1,000 British lives were lost in a place just thirty minutes flying time away from the mainland. The British Army was sent into Northern Ireland on August 14, 1969, by the Wilson government as law and order had broken down and the population (mainly Catholics) and property were at grave risk. Between then and 1998, some 300,000 British troops served in Northern Ireland. This is their story—in their own words—from first to last. Receiving a remarkable amount of cooperation from Northern Ireland veterans eager to tell their story, the author has compiled a vivid and unforgettable record. Their experiences—sad and poignant, fearful and violent, courageous in the face of adversity, even downright hilarious—make for compelling reading. Their voices need to be heard. “One of the first and only books to offer the perspective of regular British soldiers serving in the Northern Irish conflict . . . a valuable addition to the extensive literature about the Irish Troubles.” —Choice
Author: Publisher: ISBN: 9781846830747 Category : War Languages : en Pages : 183
Book Description
"Contributed by military personnel from the British Army, Navy and Air Force, some of the descriptions of the mad, bad and dangerous antics of servicemen on and off duty to be found in Pull Up a Sandbag are enough to scare the living daylights out of the average civilian, whilst others would cause even a hardened RSM to blush--but they will all be recognised as true to life by anyone who has served in the armed forces." "The daft pranks that military types like to play on one another and especially on 'sprogs' and 'newbies' -- the disastrous results of mixing stupidity with lethal weaponry -- the havoc caused by the infamous Emperor Mong, who whispers in the ears of unwary servicemen and tells them to do things they will later regret -- the misunderstandings between those in command and the men they are commanding -- the misfires, mishaps and mistakes--all are recorded here for the reader's education and amusement."--Back cover.
Author: Simon Akam Publisher: ISBN: 9781922310279 Category : Languages : en Pages :
Book Description
A revelatory, explosive new analysis of the British military today. Over the first two decades of the twenty-first century, Britain has changed enormously. During this time, the British Army fought two campaigns, in Iraq and Afghanistan, at considerable financial and human cost. Yet neither war achieved its objectives. This book questions why, and provides challenging but necessary answers. Composed of assiduous documentary research, field reportage, and hundreds of interviews with many soldiers and officers who served, as well as the politicians who directed them, the allies who accompanied them, and the family members who loved and -- on occasion -- lost them, it is a strikingly rich, nuanced portrait of one of our pivotal national institutions in a time of great stress. Award-winning journalist Simon Akam, who spent a year in the army when he was 18, returned a decade later to see how the institution had changed. His book examines the relevance of the armed forces today -- their social, economic, political, and cultural role. This is as much a book about Britain, and about the politics of failure, as it is about the military.
Author: Ken Wharton Publisher: The History Press ISBN: 0752475983 Category : History Languages : en Pages : 302
Book Description
Former soldier Ken Wharton witnessed the troubles in Northern Ireland first hand. Bloody Belfast is a fascinating oral history given a chilling insight into the killing grounds of Belfast's streets. Wharton's work is based on first hand accounts from the soldiers. The reader can walk the darkened, dangerous streets of the Lower Falls, the Divis Flats and New Lodge alongside the soldiers who braved the hate-filled mobs on the newer, but no less violent streets of the 'Murph, Turf Lodge and Andersonstown. The author has interviewed UDR soldier Glen Espie who survived being ambushed and shot by the IRA not once, but twice, and Army Dog Handler Dougie Durrant, who, through the incredible ability of his dog, tracked an IRA gunman fresh from the murder of a soldier to where he was sitting in a hot bath in the Turf Lodge, desperately trying to wash away the forensic evidence. Wharton's reputation for honesty established from previous works has encouraged more former soldiers of Britain's forgotten army to come forward to tell their stories of Bloody Belfast. The book continues the story of his previous work, presenting the truth about a conflict which has sometimes been deliberately underplayed by the Establishment.
Author: Warren Fitzgerald Publisher: Kings Road Publishing ISBN: 1786061805 Category : Biography & Autobiography Languages : en Pages : 234
Book Description
The crew of the Norland were having a whale of a time in 1982, ferrying passengers between Rotterdam and Hull. Especially the 'girls' in the catering crew: Wendy, Frankie and Candy, all stewards and all gay men. So when their ferry was requisitioned by the government to transfer nine hundred paratroopers to Ascension Island for the war in the Falklands, the 'girls' jumped at the chance to be part of the crew. Shockingly, they were asked to carry on right into the heart of the Falklands, where they were to be the very first ship of the entire Task Force to make a landing. Untrained and unprepared, the crew faced heavy bombardment from the Argentinian air force. Miraculously, the Norland survived intact as many other ships were destroyed around it. And, just as miraculously, the paratroopers eventually looked on their camp catering staff as the heroes of their war. Written with the real-life protagonists, this book relates their incredible experiences in a war they never signed up for, while demonstrating how lasting bonds can be formed between the unlikeliest of people.
Author: Joe P. Plant Publisher: Paragon Publishing ISBN: 1782220542 Category : Biography & Autobiography Languages : en Pages : 352
Book Description
The beginning of the Cold War began within days of the end of the Second World War, yet conscription still continued to replace the demobilisation of the existing armed forces still serving in war-torn Europe, the middle and Far East territories of the British Empire. Who better to replace them than over two million eligible eighteen year old young men who were thoroughly enjoying their freedom until a brown envelope fluttered through the letterbox informing: YOU'RE CONSCRIPTED LADDIE. This is a factual and personal story about the camaraderie that quickly developed among many during their enforced National Service. They did not want to do it, but I am sure that they, like me, had some great times apart from the shit that was dished out! I sincerely trust that the chapters within my story do relate to similar incidents, albeit under different circumstances, that occurred to thousands of others. For all of us it was a period of you had to do it. No ifs or buts and for many that did enjoy that way of life, and did re-enlist, good luck to them. Nevertheless, I can honestly say that I now look back with pride that I became one of the millions of young conscripts who did survive to tell the tale.
Author: Karl Coates Publisher: Troubador Publishing Ltd ISBN: 1780885431 Category : Biography & Autobiography Languages : en Pages : 176
Book Description
“I’ve seen an A-list celebrity making love, been spat at, bricked, attacked and had a gun pointed at my head. I’ve been up in a helium balloon and worn a parachute, been down the deepest mine in Europe, covered some riots, avoided several petrol bombs, watched a princess break down and filmed a junkie shooting up. I’ve sat in the Prime Minister’s kitchen and had a look through his wife’s cookbooks, talked to a murderer, a cocaine-fuelled professional footballer and a dodgy copper, and discussed art with a member of the cabinet and helped look for a lost wig for the secretary state for Northern Ireland. “A missile has locked on to the helicopter I’ve been flying in, I’ve watched dead bodies being taken out of a house and told the wife of an ex-president of the USA to eff off. I’ve had a knife pressed against my throat and nearly drowned trying to swim a lake whilst under the influence. I’ve walked an elephant through the town centre, been on the lash with some popstars and passed out on the balcony of a five-star hotel. I’ve been threatened with arrest, got stuck in the mud 400ft down at the bottom of the lake in a submarine, drunk tea with Paul Gascoigne and had a documentary I worked on in Panama before nominated for a BAFTA.” These are just some of Karl Coates’ fascinating stories. A Cameraman’s Tale is a compilation of anecdotes from his life during his time spent as a TV news cameraman, both with the BBC, where he worked for four years, and Sky News, where he has worked for over 20 years. He has travelled the world, met the great and the good – including kings and queens – covered war, death and destruction and seen and experienced life like no other. Karl was at Lockerbie and he covered Princess Diana’s death. He was also in Bosnia, covering part of the war. A decade was spent covering Blair and Mandelson, and he has many stories about both – most unprintable. A Cameraman’s Tale gives a behind-the-scenes insight to the events that the general public see on the news. Karl has lived a life like no other, and his sometimes humorous and often unbelieveable stories create an unmissable collection that will be enjoyed by everyone, including fans of books similar to John Snow’s Shooting History.
Author: John Hatchard
Author: John Hatchard
Author: Steven McLaughlin
Author: Bob Coombs
Author: Ken Wharton
Author: 
Author: Simon Akam
Author: Ken Wharton
Author: Warren Fitzgerald
Author: Joe P. Plant
Author: Karl Coates