|
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
This is a valuable addition to the literature on the 79th Armoured Division, `Hobo's Funnies'. The division had a range of exotic vehicles, which were intended to help the allies ashore and through the German defences on D-Day (and were to do sterling service in the remainder of the NW Europe campaign). The 79th had such vehicles as Sherman Crabs, to deal with mines, Churchill Crocodile flamethrowers and Sherman DD swimming tanks. Richard Anderson's book focuses on the engineer tank, the Churchill AVRE, which was looked after by the 1st Assault Brigade, Royal Engineers, of the book's title. This tank carried various devices like bridges and fascines for bridging gaps and climbing… Read more
|
|
|
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
This is a wonderful historical novel from first time author William Daysh. He takes as his background the first 18 months or so of the First World War. His characters are drawn from different strata of society, some real, some fictional, but all are well drawn and believable, and their dialogue convincing. They are caught up in the sweep of international events and personal emotions, and we follow their fate in these dramatic and terrible months. In the upper echelons of society we follow the British prime Minister, Asquith, trying to come to terms with the demands of the war at the same time as his feelings are directed towards a much younger woman. Churchill is there too, `Jacky'… Read more
|
|
|
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
This is a very readable account of the author's service in the Royal Engineers. He was in France in 1940 on the retreat to Dunkirk, and tells about blowing bridges and the evacuation from the port. He was involved in the anthrax expeiments on the island of Gruinard, and was then transferred to the Assault Engineers for D-Day. His unit was equipped with specialised tanks to clear obstacles from the beaches and make routes inland for the following troops. Injured on D-Day he returned for the Scheldt operation and the Rhine crossing. He took a leading role in this and vividly describes the event. In the last days of the Reich he visiited Belsen. After the war he served in Malaya and… Read more
|
