Warfare in News

Posted on Friday 20th December

A Second World War veteran of the Royal Engineers 1st Parachute Brigade who was wounded and taken prisoner after parachuting in to Holland during Operation Market Garden met his local MP Dan Jarvis (also an ex-Para) on Thursday with his Publisher, Pen and Sword Books.

Barnsley resident Tom Hicks met Mr Jarvis in the offices of his Barnsley-based Publisher, where the two chatted about their respective experiences in the Paras, and plans to return to Arnhem for the 70th anniversary commemorations in September 2014. 94 year old Tom has attended the memorial services in Holland every September for the last 50 years, staying with local families during his visits. He even took part in an annual parachute jump until insurance age restrictions prevented this.

Tom kindly signed the MP's copy of his new biography, written by his son Norman based on Tom's wartime diaries, Captured at Arnhem - From Railwayman to Paratrooper (Pen & Sword Books).

Further Reading

Captured at Arnhem

Only £25.00

Captured at Arnhem

(Hardback - 288 pages)
by Norman Hicks

Tom Hicks' story begins when he joins the LMS straight from school and follows his early life on the railways in the 1930s, through enlistment, training as a paratrooper, wartime service, imprisonment and his return to the LMS as an engine driver.

Tom volunteered for war service in 1939 and was initially placed in the military railway of the Royal Engineers. In search of adventure, he successfully applied to join the… Read more...

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An overview of Operation Market Garden by renowned battlefield guide authors Major and Mrs Holt, focusing on the first day of the operation Read article...

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Peter Stone - How I wrote My Book

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Dates in History

British Army march into Tripoli

23rd January 1943

On 23 January 1943 the British 8th army marched into Tripoli, later occupying the Libyan capital in this World War Two battle. This was part of a series of battles that initially started with the Italian occupation of Ethiopia. This thrust was eventually supported by the German Africa Corps in the hope that the whole of North Africa would be occupied by the Axis forces, ultimately denying the Allies access to the reserves of labour and raw materials in the North African/ Middle Eastern Region. However, during the British Liberation of Tripoli, Germany was deeply involved on a second war front, with Russia. This meant that a depleted Germany force fought in North Africa, and the manoeuvres by Rommel amounted to slightly more than a series of fighting retreats. Each encounter further diminished the Axis' reserves of men and material, while the Allies received reinforcements every day. This was to lead to the ultimate defeat of the Axis forces in the North Africa. Among the Colonies that fought on the side of the British/Allies, were South Africa, New Zealand, Senegal and Australia.

Further Reading

Monty's Highlanders
(Hardback - 208 pages)
by Patrick Delaforce

The 51st Highland Division was the most famous infantry division that fought with the British Army in WW2. It was the only infantry division in the armies of the British Empire that accompanied Monty from during Alamein to Berlin.

After the 1940 disaster at St Valry when… Read more at Pen & Sword...

Only £19.95 at Pen & Sword Books.

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