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' Grey Wolf: The escape of Adolf Hitler - Gerard Williams/Simon Dunstan ' - The more I read, the more it sounds like this was a very real possibility.

Old Adolf must be knocking on a bit now, though.

You would hope so at 128 years old

But did he make it to Bariloche, Argentina before he kicked the bucket? The clues say so according to Gerrard

Last night I finished off Andrew Marr's "A History of Modern Britain" (2007). It covers the period from the end of the Second World War. A time when we were blessed with real leadership and vision; the era of Churchill, Attlee, Beveridge and Bevan (to name but four). As I waded my way through this hefty *602 page tome I couldn't help comparing such giants (and those who followed them, such as Macmillan, and - arguably - Thatcher) with the crop of mediocrity we are presently saddled with. The book takes us up to the Blair and Brown years, but is not only about politics; Marr also provides lively sketches about what was going on in the arts, popular culture and societal changes in general. The book is very well written and even enjoyable! As it concludes before the "financial crisis", a new, updated, edition is obviously now much needed. Recommended. 10/10.

Earlier in the week I finished off James Holland's "Burma '44" (2016) about the little-known (to me at any rate) "Battle of the Admin Box" that took place in the Arakan jungle of Burma early on in 1944. It is hard to imagine a more inhospitable place to be surrounded by brutal attackers, fight them off for three weeks, and finally prevail. Luckily, the leadership on the ground was of a high order. But what is interesting from the historical point of view, is that this marked a turning point in the fortunes of the 14th Army, due in the main to new operational methods instigated (and insisted upon) by Mountbatten and Slim. Drawing upon eye-witness accounts from various sources, Holland has produced a very readable account. 8/10.

As a footnote, the other day I picked up a copy of James Lunt's "The Retreat from Burma" (1986). It was a pity I had not found that before the one mentioned above, as it obviously relates to an earlier period in British military history (1941/42).

* Yesterday I picked up for a quid (in paperback, and in new condition) Robert Fisk's "The Great War for Civilisation: The Conquest of the Middle East" (2005). It is only 1,286 pages long! Rather like John Simpson (plus a few others), Fisk has very much been a "witness to history" (and often a bit too close for comfort). I wonder if I'll ever get through it.

Yes, habeas corpus at the Bunker ... but surely the clincher was that *Blondi was spotted lolling about in Patagonia!

* Adolf's dog.

Question is Geoff, who's body was identified as Hitler? One of Hitlers look a likes? Apparently he had several and evidence suggests at least a few of them were present in the fuhrers bunker and their bodies accounted for.. It must have been a terrible game of guess who for the Russians! ( " Did he have a little nazi mustache? "... " yes ", flips down all other characters )

I wonder if Blondi had a little tache? ( Didn't he kill blondi with cyanide in the bunker? I could be wrong but I'm sure I read that somewhere? )

Fake news!

Old Adolf and his Mates (Kumpeln) were pretty good at that.

I have now finished off the book I mentioned the other day:- "The Retreat from Burma" by James Lunt (1986). The writer was an officer throughout that 900 mile ordeal. After Dunkirk, Churchill famously remarked that "wars are not won by evacuations"; and the same might have been said about Burma (although in both cases, of course, the blokes later went back, and prevailed). Before reading this book, I had not known too much about the long slog out of Burma; once again it is a sobering tale of ordinary blokes "toughing it out" (as we might say today) under (in the main) good leadership. 8/10 and required reading for anyone interested in the Burma campaigns(s).

Last night I finished off another one about Burma:- "Nunshigum" by Arthur Freer (1995). Anyone who has had any dealings with the 3rd Carabiniers would no doubt recognise that place name. Sub-titled "On the Road to Mandalay", the book tells the story, in diary format, of an M3 (General Lee) tank crewman who was often at the sharp end of the British advance into Burma 1944/45. Nunshigum was but one of many battles (and Battle Honours won) along the way.

On 13th April each year B Squadron of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys) parades without officers, as a reminder of that fateful day in 1944 when the Squadron lost all it officers, leaving the Squadron Sergeant Major to continue the fight (and win)! This book is especially interesting as it deals with things at the crewman's level, with descriptions of such matters as gunnery, radio procedure, river crossings, medical problems, and how co-operation was effected with infantry (British, Gurkha, Indian and Punjabi). The appendices also contain interesting details. 7/10 (it would have been better had it been thoroughly edited), but recommended all the same.

It seems that I now need to look out for "Tank Tracks to Rangoon" by Bryan Perrett (2014).

Last night I finally (switched off the computer and) got around to finishing off "On Writing" by Stephen King (2000). This has simply been one of the most inspiring books about writing I’ve ever read. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the writer's craft. 10/10 (the first one)!


Another one I liked was (and there were [are] many):-

"This Boy" by Alan Johnson (2013) tells the story of the future Labour Cabinet Minister's impoverished early life in 1950's and 60's London W10. I had started this one some months ago, and needed to finish it off. It is very moving in places; but the real heroine of the book is really Alan's elder sister. Not much "snowflakery" there. No self-pity by the author, either. 8/10 I think.


The title, by the way, comes from an early (forgotten?) Beatles number of the same name.

Following on from that one I got through "Please, Mister Postman" (2014) by the same author in only three sittings. It continued with his life story and I found the recollections of his time as a postman, and the inner workings of the (then) Post Office system interesting enough. I must admit I was not quite so fascinated by his tales of climbing through the ranks of the trade union, though. Sad in places, the book felt a bit rushed at the end. Perhaps Alan had a deadline to meet. Only 6/10 for this one.


Another song covered by the Beatles, of course.

Apparentlty, there is a third (and final) autobiographical book in the series:- "The Long and Winding Road". I shall have to look out for it.