In the Face of the Enemy: A Battery Sergeant Major in Action in the Second World War

by Ernest A. Powdrill

In Part One Powdrill describes his experiences in France during ‘the Phoney War’ and then their baptism by fire in May 1940, culminating in the evacuation from Dunkirk having left their disabled guns behind. Ernest was wounded but many of his colleagues were killed by ferocious German counter-battery fire.

Part 2 tells a very different story in more detail. By now a Sergeant Major in an armoured tracked regiment, the author fought through from the Normandy beaches to the River Maas. He describes the near constant action in graphic terms. In the Face of the Enemy is a splendid soldier’s story full of understatement and atmosphere. Success is tinged with sadness for lost comrades and admiration for his fellow men.

Genres: World War II

160 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[JD · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really good book about the authors' experiences fighting in Europe with the Royal Artillery during World War 2. The first few chapters cover his time with the BEF in France in 1940 where he was part of a towed artillery battery and highlights the confusion of the retreat to Dunkirk and their escape after destroying their guns. Every day was a struggle while not knowing what was going on or where the enemy was with fear of capture around every corner.

The second part of the book cover his time after the D-Day landing and the subsequent drive across Europe in the Northwest European campaign that led to the end of World War 2. Here he served in a Sexton self-propelled artillery vehicle attached to armored units. The horror of that modern warfare is described really well, though it can be overly detailed at times as it is written from official battery notes that kept all the details of daily shoots and actions from the battery the author served in.

The time in between these campaigns (from June 1940 to June 1944) is not covered as it only consisted of training, so without this in between the stark contrast between these two British Armies is so much more highlighted. In 1940 Britain was a wholly unprepared and ill-equipped professional army, against the highly trained, and well-equipped civilian army of 1944 where they were ready for anything and acted with great skill both in attack and defense. This makes this book great for me to see so closely the differences from the viewpoint of an artilleryman.

[James Kemp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I borrowed it from the library and liked it so much that I bought my own copy. I found it very interesting because it is unusual for an other rank to write a memoir. Especially one where the author was a battery sergeant major who also had access to the battery clerk's notes. So much of the 1944-45 campaign is very well documented with grid references for gun positions, ammo expenditure and times of moves. There is also some of the human element to it as well. I was especially moved by the mystery of Gunner E T Jones who disappeared in the middle of a battle between the authors casualty evacuation runs. Gunner Jones was never found and is commemorated on the memorial for the missing at Bayeux.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but I’m quite geeky about WW2. This book falls in to the self-published category. As such its lack of editing etc is obvious. I think the general reader would find it repetitive. I enjoyed it as it is one of the few memoirs about British artillery in WW2.

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather to full of coordinates and vectors for my liking. Still a very interesting read showing the speed of the Allied advance once out of Normandy and toward Antwerp - impressive stuff.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Told from first person POV. Too much description, ned maps to follow progress. Gives a vivid account of the stress for soldiers when in constant action.