As a 19-year old Black Watch conscript Tom Renouf's war began with some of the most vicious fighting of the conflict - against Himmler's fanatical 'Hitler Youth' SS Division. It ended with the capture of Himmler himself and Tom taking a trophy he still treasures - the Gestapo commander's watch. Seriously wounded and later decorated with a Military Medal for gallantry, Tom Renouf witnessed the death and maiming of countless of his teenage comrades and saw the survivors transformed into grizzled veterans. Tom Renouf draws on his own personal experiences - as well as his unique archive of interviews with veterans amassed over twenty years as secretary of the 51st Highland Division Veterans' Association - to paint a vivid picture of the Battle of Normandy, the liberation of Holland, the Battle of the Bulge and many more memorable WW2 events.
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'Triumphant . . . A remarkable wartime story' --Tim Newark, FINANCIAL TIMES
Book Description
* A personal story of the Second World War brought to life against the backdrop of the Black Watch - Scotland's best-known regiment
--This text refers to the
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a fascinating read. The author has managed a rare feat in weaving his personal story as a soldier fighting his way across Europe against the fanatical Hitler Youth, alongside the remarkable story of the famous 51st Highland Division and those comrades who fought alongside him.
He tells how the 51st Highland Division were captured during the debacle at St Valery at the start of the war, before rebuilding, and going on to restore their honour, with incredible bravery at historic battles, including El Alamein, D-Day and Normandy, Holland, before fighting their way across the Rhine into Nazi Germany and playing a huge role in ending the war.
Renouf writes with an elegant simplicity of the horrors of war and brings to life his upbringing in the small Scottish coastal town of Musselburgh, his army training, and own war which ends in the capture of one of the world's most wanted men, Heinrich Himmler.
A cracking tale that will appeal to a wide range of readers.
He tells how the 51st Highland Division were captured during the debacle at St Valery at the start of the war, before rebuilding, and going on to restore their honour, with incredible bravery at historic battles, including El Alamein, D-Day and Normandy, Holland, before fighting their way across the Rhine into Nazi Germany and playing a huge role in ending the war.
Renouf writes with an elegant simplicity of the horrors of war and brings to life his upbringing in the small Scottish coastal town of Musselburgh, his army training, and own war which ends in the capture of one of the world's most wanted men, Heinrich Himmler.
A cracking tale that will appeal to a wide range of readers.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By J. Kemp
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a campaign history written by a veteran of 5th Bn Black Watch who later became the secretary of the Highland Division Association. Direct personal accounts, both from the author and other veterans, are used to tell the story of the 51st Highland Division in a very personal way. This book offers some new perspectives on the battles of the 51st, especially those in the final months of the war in which the author was personally involved.
The book starts with some background on the author's family and his early life. His link to the Highland Division starts with his father's WW1 service. When war comes he is still too young to be involved, but at the earliest opportunity he volunteers for service in the hope that he can join the 51st Highland Division. However the ways of the Army don't work out as he would have preferred, and he ends up in a replacement company of the Tyneside Scottish (a Black Watch battalion) and spends the first few weeks after D-Day in Normandy waiting to be assigned as a replacement. Eventually though he is assigned to a rifle company and blooded.
After the breakout his battalion is broken up and he is assigned to the 5th Black Watch. Shortly afterwards he is wounded and spends time recovering and then working his way through the replacement system to re-join his company in the Autumn. All the period when he is out of the line he uses other veterans stories to tell what happened to the Division (and indeed also for context around his personal accounts too).
Whether you have an interest in the Highland Division, in the infantry experience in the Second World War or the campaigns it is well worth reading.
The book starts with some background on the author's family and his early life. His link to the Highland Division starts with his father's WW1 service. When war comes he is still too young to be involved, but at the earliest opportunity he volunteers for service in the hope that he can join the 51st Highland Division. However the ways of the Army don't work out as he would have preferred, and he ends up in a replacement company of the Tyneside Scottish (a Black Watch battalion) and spends the first few weeks after D-Day in Normandy waiting to be assigned as a replacement. Eventually though he is assigned to a rifle company and blooded.
After the breakout his battalion is broken up and he is assigned to the 5th Black Watch. Shortly afterwards he is wounded and spends time recovering and then working his way through the replacement system to re-join his company in the Autumn. All the period when he is out of the line he uses other veterans stories to tell what happened to the Division (and indeed also for context around his personal accounts too).
Whether you have an interest in the Highland Division, in the infantry experience in the Second World War or the campaigns it is well worth reading.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By ladymac
Format:Hardcover
This book is a real page turner, and I just could not put it down as I read about Tom's incredible life. The writing style is so gripping and the subject so fascinating, it pulls you right in to the heart of the story. Filled with wonderful anecdotes and deeply moving accounts, this is one of the most insightful books I have ever read about WW2. Anyone who is interested in or studying this period of our history should read Tom's story. Wonderful, simply wonderful.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ww2
Brilliant would read again recommend to ww2 enthusiasts all over the world and in Scotland Holland England and the world over
Published 1 month ago by drammylou
1.0 out of 5 stars
Pithy and badly written
Not a great war diary. I couldnt finish which is a rare thing. Lots of repeated phrases like 'massive casualties' with a general lack of detail. Read more
Published 3 months ago by .kjhb.k.k
2.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting to very few people.
In order to enjoy this book you really, really have to be interested in the Highland division. If you don't have an undying intrest in that, this is not the book for you!
Published 18 months ago by Jesper
5.0 out of 5 stars
great book
really enjoyed this book. written by someone there and brought it to life.
would recommend to all ages, especially young historians.
would recommend to all ages, especially young historians.
Published 20 months ago by fussy
5.0 out of 5 stars
History as it happened.
This book brings out the reality of the 2nd world war from the ordinary soldiers memory of it. I started reading and found it hard to put down.
Published 23 months ago by John Macdonald
5.0 out of 5 stars
A New Kind of WW2 Memoir
'BLACK WATCH' is, in many ways, a new type of Second World War memoir, and a welcome departure from the increasing formulaic yarns now beginning to saturate the bookshelves of... Read more
Published 24 months ago by Matthew D. Low
5.0 out of 5 stars
Black Watch
Tom Renouf's book "Black Watch " is not only an account of the Second World war , but also a deeply personal observation of the atrocities that men can inflict on their fellow... Read more
Published on 17 May 2011 by Mr. Ian G. Thomson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Riveting and factual
A must read for everyone! There are many 2nd World War books out but this is definitely one of the better ones, very well researched and full of great historical facts. Read more
Published on 9 May 2011 by C. Beharrie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent and an informative read.
A friend came to visit me for a few days and I picked up this book, just for a browse. I had to make sure he finished it before his departure. Read more
Published on 8 May 2011 by James Ross
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nicky Dorrian
This is an excellent book that brings to life the Second World War in Western Europe in addition to vividly recalling the social history of this time. Read more
Published on 24 April 2011 by Nicky Dorrian
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