A remarkable true tale of the first soldiers to go to war in 1939 including the founding of the SAS.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1587861 in Books
• Published on: 2004-09-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 316 pages

Synopsis
This is the book about a group of men who soldiered for their country from September 1939 until liberated in May and June 1945. The historical issues opened by these diaries were substantial: Could they really have been the first unit to go to France in 1939 and did some not leave until after the fall of france? Could this small unit have played a significant role in the battle of El Alamein even though they were struggling to survive as POWs by the time the battle took place? Were they present at the birth of the legend that has become the Special Air Service? The answer to all these questions I believe is 'Yes'. Did British soldiers take over and run a death camp when the war ended as they waited for liberation by US 101st Airborn Division.? The photos to prove it. The three subjects recorded their stories and representatives of all the men from Doncaster and surrounding district who formed 106 Army Troops Company Royal Engineers.

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Customer Reviews

More than just another unit history
This book is about the railwaymen and miners who formed 106 Army Troops Company. Mobilized in 1939 they did not return home until mid 1945. It is a very readable account of what happened to the Doncaster railwaymen, the first to go to France with the BEF, returned home, went to North Africa and trained as commandos in the embryo SAS. They were captured at Tobruk and the latter part of the book deals with their time as prisoners-of-war. These were the men who built The Flying Scotsman locomotive so they were something special.

The book explains how and why the defences at El Alamein were built with some useful background material for those interested in the battle and the embryonic SAS by the men who were there.
Charles Jones has done an amazing job of linking the stories together with background information, maps and photographs. He interviewed the men who were there as well as delving into official archives.

The chapters on life in the prison camps are particularly interesting and illuminating. POW books and films rarely start with the moment of capture - a poignant moment for a soldier as it involves laying down ones arms, but this one does in great detail. There are plenty of vignettes of life in the camps so the reader gets a real feel for what the men were going through. This is a fine tribute to a remarkable body of men, and if you are thinking 'just another unit history' - you should think again.