New read for my shelves.

Just arrived pretty fast Intl postage from Amazon another H/C first Ed though think I'll have to be 250 y/o to read all of what I have.

Brought the book due to a thread on here and this title was mentioned along with the first one he wrote but that is no longer in print but this expanded version is.
It was $85/Aud landed here so a mid range cost but I am looking forward to it as from what was said here the man was certainly a thorn in the Axis powers sides as a sniper.

More needs to happen before all of the WWII vets are gone from our world but I can fully appreciate why they do not want to relive those episodes again.
My father was one whom only once spoke to my brother in law a VN vet of his o/s service all dad said to me about his experience was working on the Merlin engines.
He said it was quote "The sweetest sounding aero-engine you will ever hear."

I'm retiring in a few months Cinders and I plan to make a serious dent in reading all the books I have accumulated over the years. There are few pleasures as great, simple as they might be, as sitting in a comfortable over-stuffed chair, glass of aged Port or Whisky on the side table, cat with his paws tucked in at your feet purring away in your wife's studio as she paints and works on her handicrafts. Here's my next read:

I'll be interested to hear what you think of it Cinders.

I have been organizing the three rooms that contain the majority of my books and was just thinking the other evening how nice it would be to sit down and actually read some of them. I just got two more tonight, one I didn't order unfortunately. The one I ordered did not come. First time this has ever happened from Naval and Military Press. I hope they handle it right, the shipping costs more than the individual books do and I don't want to have to ship this one back. Middle of the night there so I have to wait until tomorrow for a reply. The book I ordered was Soviet Cavalry Operations in WWII, the book I got has something to do with Donitz's snorkels. It unfortunately doesn't look that interesting to me. Other book I got is Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, Warrior Queen of the USAF. I normally don't go for "modern" stuff but this damn bird has been flying longer than I've been alive and I'm 60 now.

Just up to page 30 Tom has just left school he was a typical child of the period born to poor parents who's father worked as a farm labourer/milker.
Tom gets up to the usual high jinx nicking fruit getting the strap but seemed his childhood was a happy one except for the striped pants his mum bought him to wear to school.

I came across the blue flame episode and it is as you imagine just that they were lucky someone had a bucket of water for there was a fire that got away on that person had me giggling hi jinx even as a POW.

I haven't read it myself, but of course his service will be the most interesting part. Came across an email from him the other day I had printed and tipped into TBSL years ago. My impression was he was not inclined to blarney or inventions.

Damn… two more books I must have…

Got an answer back from Naval and Military Press this morning. They apologized for sending the wrong book, initially sent me a link to send the wrong one back but soon realized I'm in the US and just told me to keep it. Their shipping returns only works in the UK and like I said, shipping costs more than what they sell the book for. The one I ordered will be shipped soon.

This is another I think you'll enjoy Cinders: https://www.amazon.ca/Trenches-1914-.../dp/1466900474

No punches pulled there, on self or others.

You may like this one Surpmil I've got the 1st Ed HC on the shelf have more or less read it not quite fully but it paints a very sombre story.
Also for your perusal another HC 1st Ed I have is The Price Of Glory The French At Verdun 1916 perhaps the most stark of my WWI collection absolute carnage with the battle for the forts it does not get much more brutal in that book of WWI warfare that I've read or have on my shelves.

The book ~ Tom has finished basics and has been shipped to the African revolt not in it yet but proud as punch to have been issued 50 rounds of live 303 ammo.

The only thing I'm struggling with is the speech used or dialect I'm not from that era or country so it takes a bit to fathom what is being said;
E.g
"Oh 'im. Ah seed 'im afore. E'll not 'urt yu if'n yu leave 'im alone." or "Et es sae ah hev tae tek it in mah tea tae kell the awfie taste (of the medicine)."

For you'se that come from that part of the world it'll be fine but for an antopedian like me takes a bit to decipher it even with my sister marrying a broad Scotsman "Cup Tie" Derek McKay.
(Put a link in just so you guys don't think I'm a furphy teller about my sisters late husband)
The tale of Aberdeen's big game player and Scottish Cup hero Derek 'Cup-Tie' McKay - Aberdeen Live

If I remember correctly the casualties at Verdun were on order of 100 men per square metre.

And more died there than flesh and blood.

Pretty close Surpmil Germany's bleed white policy in WWI actually worked against them in the end they did capture the forts but at an inhibitive cost to themselves as well.