Product Description

No one who has read of Arnhem can have failed to have been inspired by gallantry of the 2nd Parachute Regiment, which held the north end of the key road bridge over the Rhine not for 24 hours for which it was equipped, but for 3 days and 4 nights. Commanded by the then Lt-Col Frost, they beat off repeated armoured and infantry assaults by far greater numbers, until forced out of the ruined and burning positions by losses, lack of ammunition, and the failure of the whole Arnhem operation. Their sacrifice stands as one of the most heroic defences of all time.

General Frost's story is, in effect, that of the battalion. His tale starts with the Iraq Levies and goes on the major airborne operations in which he took part - Bruneval, Tunisia, Sicily, Italy, Arnhem - and continues with his experiences as a prisoner and the reconstruction of the battalion after the German surrender.

Though written with modesty and humour, the book is shot through with the fire and determination of the fighting solider, and throws important new light on many controversies, not only those of Arnhem.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #59288 in Books
• Published on: 2008-10-16
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Customer Reviews

Original Red Devil
Very readable account of the wartime career of one of Britains outstanding fighting officers and one who probably did more than any other to forge the aggressive ethos of one of the Worlds' premier fighting forces. Charts his career from the outset of the war when he was in Iraq( for whos' soldiers, incidentally, he had profound respect) and frustrated at his inability to get into the fighting before the British Armys' defeat in France. After joining the fledgling Parachute Regiment he was very rapidly promoted and selected to lead the successful Brunval raid which enabled Britain to keep up with Germany in the "Radar" war. Later fought against considerable odds against some of the most formidable German Army units in North Africa which led to a deeply impressed foe labelling him and his men "Red Devils". The account goes on to describe actions in Sicily before moving onto a possibly somewhat understated account of 2Paras action at Arhnem. Written with gusto this entertaining and very informative book is highly recommended to anyone with an interest in Airborne forces.

A great read!
I loved this book. He tells of the problems faced by the Paras at Arnhem in such fine detail and highlights the areas that other accounts (i.e. the film) failed to pick up on.

It's well worth a read if only to understand the mountanous task faced by the men at the start of the battle and the desperation they experirenced after slowly being burned out of their positions.

Well recommended, if a little slow in getting going.