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NEW SIGNED PAPERBACK COPY OF WWII DIARY OF A RED DEVIL - By Glider to Arnhem with the 7th Kings Own Scottish Borderers - Author: Albert Blockwell, edited by Maggie Clifton
- Unique personal account of the formation of Britain's airborne forces and their epic actions during Operation Market Garden .. THE BATTLE OF ARNHEM.
- Features a large number of rare photographs and documents
- This version is now out of print.
- The copy is personally signed by the authors daughter, editor Maggie Clifton
Many books have been written about the Second World War and the majority of them either concentrate on a particular battle, campaign or unit. Individual accounts are certainly in a minority and those from the lower ranks are even more scarce.
This book relates to the war time experiences of a young man, Albert Blockwell from the north-east of England, who in February 1940 was called up for service with the Army. Initially conscripted into the Royal Army Ordnance Corps and trained as a vehicle mechanic, he was then posted in March 1940 to a pre-war Territorial unit - The 7th Kings Own Scottish Borderers, then a home defence unit based near London.
His diary is a most interesting account of a young vehicle mechanic who also had to learn to be a infantry soldier. Albert remained with this unit for all his war-time service, later going to the Shetland Islands when the 7th KOSB were part of OSDEF (Orkney and Shetlands Defence Force). Then in late 1943 much to their surprise the unit was posted to Lincolnshire to become the third infantry unit in the 1st Airlanding Brigade then in the process of returning from Italy with the rest of the 1st Airborne Division. Swapping their glengarries for red berets Albert and his comrades had to adapt to their new way of getting to war by glider.
The diary continues with a down to earth account of the highs and lows of the next few months. Then in September 1944 Albert flew to Holland on Operation Market-Garden and his account (written in PoW camp) describes the savage nine days fighting at Arnhem from the slit trench level. Taken prisoner on the last day his account then describes the spartan life in PoW camp without pulling any punches.
Sadly Albert died in 2001 but his diary survived and his daughter Maggie Clifton has edited a unique account of the fighting at Arnhem from the frontline soldier's perspective.
N.B. I ALSO HAVE A SIGNED HARDBACK VERSION OF THIS BOOK, ALONG WITH ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE OF ARNHEM FOR SALE, A BRIDGE TOO FAR by CORNELIUS RYAN.
PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR FURTHER DETAILS.
P & P - £2.99