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The Two Jacks: The Amazing Adventures of Major Jack M. Veness and Major Jack L. Fairweather
As platoon commanders in theri old regiments, the two Jacks took part in the grim fighting in Holland that cleared the path to the Rhine. In the teeth of bursting shell and raking machine fire they battled their way into enemy positions in town and forest, and on hazardous night patrols took many prisoners. Veness proudly captured a German general.
Within four months both had been promoted to captain and then to major; Fairweather becoming the youngest major in the Canadian army. Both were mentioned in dispatches. Both received head wounds, but evaded orders that would have sent them back to base hospital.
Veness was the first Canadian fighting man to enter Germany, when he was sent with his platoon to relieve two companies of an American airborne division straddling the border in the Nijmegan area. In the furious fighting which cleared Bienen of the Germans, Fairweather led his company with distinction.
Then Veness received multiple shrapnel wounds at Emmerich, and spent four and a half months in hospital in England. Fairweather continued with the regiment in its advance into Germany.
Within four months both had been promoted to captain and then to major; Fairweather becoming the youngest major in the Canadian army. Both were mentioned in dispatches. Both received head wounds, but evaded orders that would have sent them back to base hospital.
Veness was the first Canadian fighting man to enter Germany, when he was sent with his platoon to relieve two companies of an American airborne division straddling the border in the Nijmegan area. In the furious fighting which cleared Bienen of the Germans, Fairweather led his company with distinction.
Then Veness received multiple shrapnel wounds at Emmerich, and spent four and a half months in hospital in England. Fairweather continued with the regiment in its advance into Germany.
209 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1954
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May 18, 2026
A well-written and engaging story. Not long; you can read it in a few days easily. Most of the story is about the two Jacks' couple of months with the Maquis after their capture on D-Day+2 by members of 12th SS Division. They saw more combat with the Maquis then they did as officers with the North Novies! Now I'm not saying that Will Bird, the author, stretches the truth but I can't but feel there's an embellishment of some sort in detailing the two Jacks time wit the Maquis. The narrative borders on sensational, but the story was written long after the war when memories have mellowed and there's more time to think through things. But the facts are irrefutable and as a whole make for a most interesting story, one that should be kept alive.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review