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The Sniper: This is a documentary story about legalised killing - precisely how one man did it and what it did to him
Arthur Hare, Corporal in a Sniper Section, was born in the Cambrideshire village of Steeple Morden in 1910. His father was killed by the Germans at the Battle of Ypres.
It was as leader of his village gang that he learnt the basic countryman's skills that became, in World War II, his stock in trade: how to move silently and useen over all kinds of terrain, to be alert to every detail of his surroundings, to listen and watch like a hawk for the slightest sound or movement which might betray the presence of an animal - or a German sniper. And patience - the patience to wait, still as a stone, for the moment when the enemy's attention would lapse and for one fatal moment he would present himself in the English sniper's telescopic sights.
Barry Wynne draws this picture of an unusual aspect of warfare with great honesty and simplicity. 'War,' he says, 'is bestial an abhorrent. Among the soldiers on both sides there is a division, between those who give the orders and those who have to do the killing.'
It was as leader of his village gang that he learnt the basic countryman's skills that became, in World War II, his stock in trade: how to move silently and useen over all kinds of terrain, to be alert to every detail of his surroundings, to listen and watch like a hawk for the slightest sound or movement which might betray the presence of an animal - or a German sniper. And patience - the patience to wait, still as a stone, for the moment when the enemy's attention would lapse and for one fatal moment he would present himself in the English sniper's telescopic sights.
Barry Wynne draws this picture of an unusual aspect of warfare with great honesty and simplicity. 'War,' he says, 'is bestial an abhorrent. Among the soldiers on both sides there is a division, between those who give the orders and those who have to do the killing.'
137 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1968
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 30, 2018
Enjoyed the reading of
I enjoyed the reading down to earth and real at its end the sniper wanted a normal life. Like us
I enjoyed the reading down to earth and real at its end the sniper wanted a normal life. Like us
October 8, 2018
Good unusual read
I thoroughly enjoyed tthe book it was not what I was expecting when I saw the title but enjoyable nonthe less
I thoroughly enjoyed tthe book it was not what I was expecting when I saw the title but enjoyable nonthe less
May 12, 2021
Professionals at work
Loved it. Simply written but so effective. Hail to the sniper. Armies need men with guts and snipers have it in abundance.
Loved it. Simply written but so effective. Hail to the sniper. Armies need men with guts and snipers have it in abundance.
September 18, 2019
Silent killers,
Sniper excellent story could. Have gone on reading for hrs more.all sniper tails make excellent reading as long as you can take the laughs with the serious side of a snipers job.
Sniper excellent story could. Have gone on reading for hrs more.all sniper tails make excellent reading as long as you can take the laughs with the serious side of a snipers job.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews