My Christmas List Ideas

Dear Santa

As shops in the UK have started stocking Christmas decorations and even my local pub launched its Christmas menu at the beginning of last month, I thought I would jump on the bandwagon and produce my Christmas list. Well, a list of books I would like to read and review in the next twelve months. So, this blog will not be a list of book reviews but rather a version of what I can find online about the book and why I would like it.

Dear Santa, I have been a good boy this year, setting up a website about a topic I find enthralling and have done since you started visiting me last century. I think you’d be dead proud that my list is all books without any toys, yet. (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)

Arnhem: Ten Days in the Cauldron by Iain Ballantyne.

I have recently begun listening to the Audible version of Antony Beevor’s Arnhem: The Battle for the Bridges and this is the first time I have ‘read’ any significant work on the battle in several years. I have kept abreast of the topic through podcasts and other media but have steered away from books as I am not sure they would bring anything new to the story or debate. I am also trying to broaden my interests beyond a battle I have studied in one way or another for over thirty years.

However, I came across Ten Days in the Cauldron while watching an episode of Paul Woodage’s WW2TV on YouTube. He says, “For my mind the best book since Martin Middlebrook’s seminal Arnhem book… Just a really good, easy-to-read understanding of the whole battle without too much going into the who did what wrong, just about the people and the places.” Praise indeed and well worth following up. Woodage is a renowned battlefield guide whom I came across while listening to my usual podcasts.

Paratrooper – The Screenplays – Episodes 7 & 8: The Other Side – End of Innocence – Lance Steen Anthony Nielson.

Another author I discovered from listening to the Fighting on Film podcast. I have read his previously released screenplay of Pegasus Bridge and it is a good read, though slightly different to my usual books as it is a screenplay. However, it is a combination of three of my Second World War loves, airborne operations, books, and films (inspired by A Bridge Too Far). More episodes of Paratrooper are being released every few months so it would truly be a present that keeps on giving.

Whilst listening to the trials and tribulations and ultimate failure he had to try to have Pegasus Bridge made, I decided that if I ever had a significant Euromillions win, I would become his investor. He would get an almost
blank cheque (my senior management may have something to say about this!). All I would ask in return is to be on set, to be an extra (probably not a soldier as it might be a bit of a push having a six-foot-four, twenty-stone-plus airborne soldier with a long beard) and to have a Denison that fits the aforementioned figure.

Fighting the People’s War: The British and Commonwealth Armies and the Second World War – Jonathan Fennel

This book appeals to me as someone who finds the notion of ordinary people doing extraordinary things in the Second World War particularly appealing. This book may go some way to answering the often-asked question, ‘What would I have done?’ Fighting the People’s War is also interesting as it attempts to deal with the notion that what is happening on the battlefield is inextricably linked to what is happening elsewhere in a soldier’s life. It is also a study of the rank and file from all parts of the Commonwealth rather than just their leaders.

Fire and Fortitude: The US Army in the Pacific War, 1941-1943 – John C McManus.

This author is another one whom I discovered through listening to podcasts. In this case, it was the We Have Ways Podcast. He appeared as a guest at first, one of the speakers at the We Have Ways Festival and in the last year has become co-presenter of the We Have Ways USA Podcast. He knows his onions, so I am somewhat overdue in reading one of his books.

Additionally, Fire and Fortitude will also go some way to filling on the many gaps I have in my knowledge of the fighting in the Far East. I know bits about the big battles but I admit that this is about as far as I go apart from seeing The Pacific several times.

Motorcycle, Solo Harley-Davidson Model WLA Technical Manual

This book combines my love of the Second World War with my love of a certain brand of American motorcycle. Not being particularly mechanically minded, if I ever owned a WLA, this WLA Technical Manual would arguably not be that useful because I would probably need someone else to do anything too complicated, but it would look good on the shelf.

I would like a WLA or a Jeep if Santa is feeling particularly generous this year, (and if he deems, I have been good enough). The Jeep would have to be a SAS Desert variant. I would don my sand-coloured shorts, shirt, headgear, and sandals and try my best to appear to be the soldier in the famous SAS pictures form the desert. He looks quite a big chap, and his beard means I could get away with it, just.

We Have Ways Fest – Drei

Unfortunately, due to personal issues, I could not make it to We Have Ways Fest – Drei this year (it is beginning as I am writing this). I enjoyed it last year when it was in July. This fell on the final weekend of my honeymoon and the wife joined me and actually enjoyed herself.

My pedantic influence has obviously had some effect on her as she noticed that some re-enactors were wearing Marigolds which she thought was anachronistic! There are many areas of history in which I am not an expert (some may argue, including myself, all areas!) and the history of rubber gloves is most definitely one of those, so I had to resort to Google to confirm or deny my wife’s observation. One day I may learn that she is more often than not correct, 1948 I seem to remember was their first use. We were also unable to attend We Have Ways Fest (part 1) as it was selfishly organized on our wedding day.

Please comment on any books that are your favorites or those that would go on your Christmas List.

All the Best

BigT