Britain at War 1939 to 1945
What was life like during the war?
by
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He and another officer volunteered for special duties. Could any such duty be more dangerous than driving a cumbersome landing craft on to a heavily defended beach? Well - yes. Maurice was to command a landing craft modified to contain one tank and three guns - all with their barrels in fixed positions to fire straight ahead at a target one thousand yards away. He had orders to search out a shore battery; aim the guns by stearing straight at it, then fire at 1,000 yards. D-Day dawned and Maurice and his sister craft went in at full speed ahead - such as their craft could manage - well in advance of of the invasion fleet. The beach had been heavily bombed, but it seemed as though they were alone against the might of an invisible German army. A mile out and no target identified. Suddenly, a loud explosion to port. A quick glance - the sister ship had received a direct hit and exploded into pieces. Zigzag. Just in time. Another battery closer to Maurice fired at him. This is it. He headed directly for it. Hold on - 1100 yards. Steady. Wait for it - fire. Maurice and the battery fired more or less simultaneously. They missed; he did not. The shell from the tank hit the concrete bunker, but made precious little impression on it. The shells from the three guns exploded - - and produced red smoke. Red smoke! Maurice swore as he turned away from the beach to try another attack. Suddenly, a tremendous explosion. The battery had gone - not only the battery but the low cliff on which it stood had collapsed into the sea. Time to take on the second battery which had sunk his sister craft. Maurice had to cover half a mile before he was in range. Random zigzags and a lot of prayer. They fired, but he made it. Once again red smoke; once again a huge explosion and the battery had half gone. He received a signal: 'Leave immediate'. No need to be told twice. He turned back out to sea - a sea now covered with scores of ships. As he did so, he saw the flash of heavy guns - a Rodney class battleship firing another broadside at the remains of the battery. Could there be any survivors from the sister craft? Another signal: 'Get out of the *** way.' Dozens of landing craft were powering directly at him on their way to the beach and glory. He made it back - many of the others did not.
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About the Book
This history of the Second World War is written from the standpoint of people directly involved. What was it like to live through such a war? This book aims to bring the period alive for the reader. However, facts and figures are historically accurate rather than the propaganda then fed to the public. Some personal experiences are slightly dramatised, but all are based on actual events. The reader may be surprised at how close the Allies came to disaster. Written by a leading lawyer with a lifelong interest in history, BRITAIN AT WAR 1939 to 1945: · Is written from the standpoint of people directly involved and aims to bring the period alive for the reader. · Provides a concise, readable but comprehensive overview of the war. · Shows how close the Allies came to disaster. · By slightly dramatizing some personal experiences (based on actual events), adds human interest. · How can a family with a small child caught up in such a war survive? The book is ideal for all who want to know about the war but lack the time to study more weighty tomes. Its entertaining insights will add interest to educational courses.
About the Author
JAMES LINGARD
PROFILE
I was educated at Dulwich College and subsequently at University College London where I obtained an LL.B. (Hons) degree.
After qualifying as a solicitor - with honours - in 1956, I became a partner in what was then a small city firm, before joining Norton Rose in 1972. There, I specialised in banking law and set up an insolvency practice.
I wrote Lingard's Bank Security Documents (Butterworths) - a leading work in its field now in its 4th edition – Corporate Rescues and Insolvencies (Butterworths) and Tolley’s Commercial Loan Agreements.
I served for a number of years as a Council Member of the Association of Business Recovery Professionals and of the European Association of Insolvency Practitioners (now known as Insol Europe) - being the first English solicitor to do so. I also became the Chairman of the Joint Insolvency Examination Board and of the Banking Law and the Insolvency Law Sub Committees of the City of London Law Society.
On retirement from practice, I was appointed a judicial Chairman of the Insolvency Practitioners Tribunal and wrote 'Cauldron of Hate' published by Vanguard Press, an imprint of Pegasus Elliot MacKenzie Publishers Limited.