Dunkirk to Belsen

This latest publication from John Sadler had got me very exited, as you may be able to see from this blog: http://www.hoddereducation.co.uk/Schools/Nests/Hodder_History_Subject_Nest/nest_blog_history.aspx

From Dunkirk to BelsenDunkirk to Belsen

The Soldiers’ Own Dramatic Stories

John Sadler

  • Based on the remarkable personal accounts of veterans of the Durham Light Infantry: encompassing the horror, hardship, boredom and camaraderie of war
  • The real story of a ‘band of brothers’ in wartime, from Dunkirk, through the desert in North Africa, to the liberation of Bergen-Belsen
  • Covers all the major campaigns, and includes extraordinary, original photography

‘It was Christmas Day; I was one of hundreds of 16th Battalion, the Durham Light Infantry soldiers aboard a troopship. We were all excited – not at the thought of festive celebrations but because, that day, we were setting sail and our ultimate destination was the battle field’

This is a taster of the extraordinary accounts provided by soldiers of the Durham Light Infantry, painting a vivid picture of the real horror, boredom, hardship, sacrifice, heroism, and camaraderie of World War Two.

As we follow the Battalion on manoeuvres across the theatres of war, the tales are funny and harrowing by turns. Whilst on latrine duty with only petrol to stave off the germs, one private accidentally blows up the toilet.  In another instant, a private is shot on an Italian hillside, just out of reach of his comrades: ‘You couldn’t rely on the Germans, it wouldn’t be any good taking a Red Cross flag…’ He was ‘unlucky’ – that meant he would eventually die of shock and blood loss where he fell.

And so the remarkable story unfolds, from conscription to demob, following the Battalions through Dunkirk, the desert in North Africa, Sicily and the Italian Campaign, the celebrations of D-Day and the liberation of Belsen.

This reads like a real-life Spielberg movie. Revealing, educational, down-to-earth and accessible, this very human tale has a wide readership.

John Sadler is an accomplished military historian and has written over 20 books. He is a regular contributor to magazines such as BBC History magazine, Military Illustrated and the National Trust for Scotland magazine. He lectures at Sunderland University, the Imperial War Museum and the National Army Museum.

Publication: October 2010

Extent: 352pp

Price: £20.00

Format: 234x153mm

ISBN: 978-1-906779-87-0

Illustrations: Photography

Classification: Military History

BIC Code: HBW

Binding: Hardback

Territory: World English

Agent/Serial: JR Books

JR BOOKS LIMITED

10 Greenland Street, London, NW1 0ND

Tel: 020 7284 7163  ·  Fax: 020 7485 4902

Email: sales@jrbooks.com

Web: www.jrbooks.com

8 thoughts on “Dunkirk to Belsen”

  1. If you think you are beaten, you are.
    If you think you dare not, you don’t.
    If you’d like to win but think you can’t,
    It’s almost certain you won’t.
    Life’s battles don’t always go
    To the stronger or faster man,
    But sooner or later, the man who wins
    Is the man who thinks he can.

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