Snapper

There seem to be many books about at the moment that are re-issues put out by non-original publishers. They tend to be updated and usually in paperback. A good example of these is UNDER THE WIRE. This is yet another POW story and it includes the Great Escape. But don't yawn...the author was in the camp, was a serial escaper and a real character, but he was in a different compound to the famous escapers and missed out. Lucky him. Bill Ash grew up in Texas and as a child was friendly with an old man who had rode in a gang led by Billy The Kid. Although he was a university graduate, the depression forced him onto the road as a hobo and his life seems straight from the Roger Miller song. When WW2 started he went to Canada and joined up and lost his US citizenship in the process. He flew Spitfires and got a kill before jerry got him...then the real story starts. This is a good book. Bill Ash and his ghost writer have made a good job of a convincing story. You will like him. After the war he stayed in Britain and cherishes his memories, mates and his whole life of mixed adventures. Cherish him.

wow

I am trying to trace a chap called Mark who was at Tanks in Mons with his Sherman Firefly. This is so I can put him in touch with Dave Marian of the USA who has some pictures for him. This will make sense to Mark. PM me and I will make the link. Mark B (too many Marks round here).

What sort of approximate time frame do you envisage this taking to complete, Mike? (given all the usual interruptions). Mark B

Looks like they could recover the Merlins and a few more bits. A brilliant snap.

No...smutty. I was five. My dad had taken me to see Hard Days Night at the the Kensington Odeon in London. When we came we walked over to Kensington gardens for some reason and there was Dusty and a lady friend with a big 99. My dad wanted her autograph, so I went to ask her. She told me not to lick her ice cream. But i was five... I've still got the autograph on a film magazine.

Yes, you, Steve....or have I missed one or more already?

I once licked Dusty Springfield's ice cream. I was five, it was 1964...so hold any dodgy thoughts. Got myself photographed with the real FIFA World Cup last summer (me and fifty others). It was a surreal experience. The security were bonkers and one of them hit Ian Wright for touching it. Only winners can touch it. Yeh, right. Football? Who gives a monkeys....march out.

The more you say this stuff, Neil, I'm sure your wife knows mine..or they are in cahoots.

When is your book coming out Steve, and if not, why not?

Fantastic stuff - thanks Clive.

Add this to the Dambusters remake and it looks like Britain is allowed back in WW2. Beware they don't put a yank in the lead role. Is Cliff Robertson still with us? There must a queue of them wanting to try their best Sean Connery accents. We shail into hishtory!

I think this may be pre-war because of the part about "girls under 13", presumably meaning 14 year olds were acceptable along with the "imbeciles and idiots". Interesting stuff.

No congregation, but they had a padre and he got shot. The incense was a nightmare - it was bright orange and made a mess of the communion wine.

I'm close on having eight years of experience of being forty. Party on. But I'm still twelve really.

This is good stuff and precisely why an online service works so well.

Wolverton Works is where Albert French was an apprentice. He was killed at Ploegsteert Wood, aged 16, in 1915. His grave is opposite the memorial at Berks Corner on the Armentieres to Ypres road. I digress.....but he is always worth a mention.

Did the captain forget the no smoking light?

What are you taking to Brighton TootallMike???? I am not sure I can make the May weekend chaps. I am in Belgium the week after and then Kelvedon and then I have some work and then lots more to do for CMV etc before we get to Bolero. I haven't missed Brighton since 1987 and it is easier for me to book that day than a whole weekend. Still working things out. MB

That's the Morris. But I like the Chevy version a lot. A lot of them ended up as breakdown trucks didn't they?

Jack is definitely up for this sort of thing so maybe we should get our heads together at the end of the season and see what can be arranged.

I really have to learn all these variants. Can someone do a quick numbers game for me/us????

It seems I have to thank you again Karl. There is no massive rush on this. I am keen to deal with as many variants as possible - though, obviously, the classic pink coloured version is also required. I need to do this feature before the autumn, hopefully giving me time to get about. Your views on restoration and ownership will be gratefully received. see you at the Bunker. Mark

Have you read Flags of Our Fathers??? Interesting book, but very home spun in the American way and I would have liked a little more info on Joe who only died recently. To achieve immortality with one picture is a stunning feat, who cares how many he actually took. Haven't seen the film yet - or the Japanese viewpoint follow up.

With poems like this I am always reminded of a BBC documentary made about the Royal Green Jackets in the 1970s during the height of the "Troubles" - it was called "Last night, another soldier..." I was a teenaged kid dreaming of the army at the time.