sagepages.gif (2980 bytes)Silk and Barbed Wire
Home ] Halfway To Heaven ] [ Silk and Barbed Wire ] A Bomber Command Survivor ] Bombs and Barbed Wire ] Postage ]

 

 

 

'Silk and Barbed Wire'

War Memoirs

SilkandBarbWire.jpg (29593 bytes)

These are stories of twenty-two Allied airmen shot down in World War II over Europe, their survival in prisoner of war camps, their attempts to escape, and their final liberation. Written by the men themselves, they are unique accounts of unique experiences that only they can fully understand. Nonetheless, they describe vividly how they escaped from doomed aircraft, the day-to-day life of the camps and marches, the comradeship, humour and ingenuity that helped them to survive, and the tragedies that they saw.

Bookshelf size 146mm (5.75ins. ) wide, 207mm (8.125ins.) high. ~590g inc packaging

Pages i to xvi comprise a table of contents; Foreword by Sir Francis Burt, patron to the Association; Preface by Alex George who edited the publication; Acknowledgments to those without whose help it wouldn’t have happened; brief details of the authors in alphabetical order: a resume of the origins of the Royal Air Forces ex Prisoners of War Association by the late Dan London who was responsible for the formation of the association in Western Australia, the only branch in Australia; brief details of the Caterpillar Club, the Goldfish Club and the Winged Flying Boot, one or more of which featured in all the e vents related; a list detailing the content s of the average Red Cross parcel; a map showing the location of German prison camps and moves made due to the advance of the Russian Army and the Anglo-American forces.
Pages I to 338 have the first-hand accounts of the twenty-two authors starting with Peter Stubbs (shot down May 11, 1940) and finishing with Ray King (shot down March 20 1945) interspersed with individual or crew photos plus a sprinkling of illustrations depicting humorous aspects of life as a kriegie!
Pages 339 to 349 contain an interesting Conclusion by Alex Kerr, Glossary and Abbreviations used and ending with an Index,. Definitely a MUST for your enjoyment and bookshelf!

The Authors

† deceased

† Harry Bastian, pilot, 33 Squadron, flying a Hurricane from Edku, near El Alamein, Middle East. Shot down 9 October 1942. POW camps: Dulag Luft, Stalag Luft I, Stalag Luft IV, Stalag 357.

Ron Daniel, pilot, 50 Squadron, flying a Halifax from RAF Station Gravely. Shot down 12 November 1943. Evaded capture.

Herb Dawson, observer/bomb aimer, 466 Squadron, flying a Halifax from RAF Station Leconfield. Shot down 15 March 1944. POW camps: Dulag Luft, Stalag Luft VI, Stalag Luft IV.

Jack Garland, no details of Squadron etc. Attempted escape from POW camp, 1943.

Colin Grey, air gunner, 158 Squadron, flying a Halifax from RAF Station Lisset. Shot down 3 October 1943. POW camp: Stalag IVB.

Bob Jones, pilot, 3 Squadron, flying a Kittyhawk from Msus, Western Desert. Shot down 11 January 1942. POW camps: Campo PG 66, PG 35, PG 78, PG 19 (Italy); escaped from train en route from Italy to Germany.

† Wilf Hodgson, bomb aimer, 90 Squadron, flying a Stirling from RAF Station Tuddenham. Shot down 9 May 1944. POW camps: Stalag Luft VII, Stalag IIIA.

Alex Kerr, pilot, 115 Squadron, flying a Wellington from RAF Station Marham. Shot down 11 May 1941. POW camps: Dulag Luft, Stalag IIIA, Stalag Luft III, Stalag Luft VI, Stalag 357.

Ray King, pilot, 227 Squadron, flying a Lancaster from RAF Station, Balderton. Shot down 21 March 1945. POW camps: Stalag Luft III, Stalag VIIA.

Carl Larkin, navigator, 467 Squadron, flying a Lancaster from RAF Station Waddington. Shot down 19 September 1944. POW camps: Dulag Luft, Stalag Luft VII, Stalag Luft VII, Stalag IIIA.

† Dan London, air gunner, 419 Squadron, flying a Halifax from RAF Station Middleton St George. Shot down 27 March 1943. POW camps: Dulag Luft, Stalag Luft III, Stalag Luft VI, Stalag 357.

Dick Malins, wireless operator/air gunner, 428 Squadron, flying a Halifax from RAF Station Middleton St George. Shot down 14 September 1943. POW camps: Dulag Luft, Stalag Luft VII, Stalag IIIA.

† Robert Milton, (1) pilot, 220 squadron, flying a Hudson from RAF Station Thornaby. Crash-landed in France 1 April 1941. Prisoner in Vichy France. Escaped and returned to England January 1943. (2) pilot, 65 Squadron, flying a Mustang from RAF Station Gravesend. Shot down 10 June 1944. Taken prisoner but escaped and returned to Squadron.

† Ray Perry, bomb aimer, 466 Squadron, flying a Halifax from RAF Station Leconfield. Shot down 7 May 1944. POW camps: Buchenwalde Concentration Camp, Stalag Luft III.

Hamish Philson, wireless operator/air gunner, 106 Squadron, flying a Hampden from RAF Station Coningsby. Shot down 12 September 1941. POW camp: Stalag VIIIB.

Arthur Richards, pilot, 467 Squadron, flying a Lancaster from RAF Station Waddington. Shot down 29 August 1944. POW camps: Dulag Luft, Stalag Luft I.

Bob Richardson, air gunner, 463 Squadron, flying a Lancaster from RAF Station Waddington. Shot down 11 September 1944. POW camps: Dulag Luft, Stalag Luft VII, Stalag IIIA.

Peter Stubbs, observer, 218 Squadron, flying a Fairey Battle from Auberive, France. Shot down 11 May 1940. POW camps: Stalag VIIIB, Stalag Luft I, Stalag Luft III, Stalag Luft VI, Stalag 357.

Peter Thomson, pilot, 622 Squadron, flying a Lancaster from RAF Station Mildenhall. Shot Down 15 March 1944. POW camps: Dulag Luft, Stalag Luft VII, Stalag IIIA.

Lloyd Trotter, pilot, 138 Squadron, flying a Halifax from RAF Station Tempsford. Shot down 15 September 1943. POW camps: Dulag Luft, Stalag IVB.

† Don Tunney, wireless operator/air gunner, 458 Squadron (RAAF), flying a Wellington from Malta. Shot down 24 March 1943. POW camps: Campo 57, Udine, Italy, Stalag IVB.

Brian Walley, pilot, 51 Squadron, flying a Whitley from RAF Station Dishforth. Shot down 7 November 1941. POW camps: Dulag Luft, Stalag VIIA, Stalag 383, Stalag Luft VII, Stalag IIIA.

Reviews

The Bob Baxter's Bomber Command website ( follow the links via the sitemap to the book reviews or direct to the review of Silk and Barbed Wire ).

Available Now!

Pricing

Description

Price *
(Aus)

Weight
Paperback AUD$45.00 ~590g
P & H single book

Free

 
* Please note all prices include free Australian P&P (GST inc), Due to the excessive costs involved we no longer accept international orders

More books:

A Bomber Command Survivor

Stanley E Harrison's personnel tale detailing the rigorous ordeal facing a team of young men in one of history's blackest times.
Bombs and Barbed Wire Wilf Hodgson's unique wartime memoirs written whilst returning home to Australia after surviving the war.
Halfway to Heaven Fred Hoinville's Classic autobiography about
Australia's first commercial skywriter and gliding champion.

 

Contact Information

Sales: 

sales@sagepages.com.au
 

Send mail to webmaster@sagepages.com.au with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2000-2024 Sage Telecommunications Pty Ltd