While most of your reference library most likely is based mainly on the facts around the hardware, battles and leaders of World War II, what about the individuals who fought and died with great valor? 'Normandy - The Search for Sidney' takes you there - and much further!
The story, in short, is about Sidney Bates, a young corporal with the elite English unit, the Royal NorFolk regiment. During the battled folowing D-Day, he almost single-handedly fought back a large unit of SS Panzergrenadiers with a Brengun, thus preventing them from overrunning the headquarters. During this fighting, for which Sidney Bates earned the Victoria Cross, he got mortally wounded. About 40 years later, three WWII veterans, led by Tom Bates, went to Normandy to search for the battlefield where Sidney Bates fought his last fight.
This story turns out to be a most fascinating journey - not only into the history of Sidney Bates, but also into the exiting experiences these three veterans had during their visit at Normandy. Furthermore, it is a guide into the French population and countryside around Normandy, and to the battlefields today.
Normandy - The Search for Sidney goes much further than this, though. You will also experience the stories about the attacks on Colleville-sur-Orne at Sword beach, and the Hillman bunker - told by the people who were there, but from a different angle. I will not reveal the entire content - finding out this is a pleasure in itself. I will only add that you will learn a lot more from this book than you'd might expect from the main topic.
The book is written in both English and French in such a way, that the English and French text never drifts apart from one another - quite a feat in itself.
I recommend this book to everyone with an interrest in World War II, and anyone with an interrest in military history altogether. It is a most refreshing novel, and in its subject, width and depth it is unique.
BATES, Tom, BRISSET, Jean & LUMMIS, Eric. Normandy - The search for Sidney. Berkeley (CA) : Bates Books, 2000.
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All contents written by Christian Ankerstjerne unless stated otherwise