Forward into Hell

by Vincent Bramley

Forward Into Hell, written by a soldier from the ranks, is a candid account of the bloody battle for Mount Longdon during the Falklands War. Vincent Bramley describes in shocking detail the 12 hours of brutal man-to-man combat that it took before the Third Battalion Parachute Regiment were able to take the mountain from the Argentine forces. He exposes the effects that the fear of dying and the reality of killing have on the ordinary soldier during the heat of battle. He tells how some men went AWOL, how others (including him) faced their fears and confronted the enemy, and how some went on a vicious killing spree. Bramley's underlying message is that war should be avoided at all costs. But, while wars continue to be fought around the globe, the grim reality of life on the frontline will be fully comprehended by all who read this book.

Genres: Biography, History

305 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2006

Reviews

[Trevor · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exciting foray into the Falklands War written by a member of the Paras who involved in the fighting.

Unlike some military books which begin with a load of waffling before getting into the war itself, this book starts pretty much with deployment.

It's well written and leaves you wanting more as it chronicles 3 months of deployment.

[MR. S. BEATTIE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truth is more frightening than fiction

If you play war games on a computer you should read this book and know the truth.
If you are a politician who thinks using force rather than diplomacy. You should read this book.
If you are worried about the trivial things in life read this book

[Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another re-read. This one brought sometime in 2007 or more likely 2008 during many lunchtime breaks to Waterstones.

What follows is a gritty, no holds bar account of the Falklands war. Reading this through today’s poisonous 2026 prism I am surprised that it’s been published but then have to remind myself it was published decades before the current lunacy set in, when Britain was a freer place.

Vince talks openly about the physical pain of the marches the Paras took to get to their objective and of having to hump with the fire support equipment all around them.

The taking of Mount Longdon is described in gruesome detail letting the reader in to glimpse what those hellish hours must have been like. How his life had been spun on the wheel of luck, that other Paras sadly lucked out on.

It is a solid read but given a 4 out of 5 as I just get the impression that author is settling scores in the book. It’s probably me misreading it but that’s the impression I get.

[Bob Penfold · Rating 5 out of 5]

As real as it gets... from the horses mouth...