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Red Crown & Dragon: The 53rd Welsh Division in North-West Europe 1944-1945
‘A thoroughly researched and amply illustrated book that lets the facts, and the soldiers, speak for themselves.’
Western Morning Mail
'This book is a collection of memories from officers and men who took part in the battles of Le Cahier, Le Bon Repos, Evrecy, the Falaise Gap, the Antwerp and Lommel bridgeheads, and against the Panzers in the Ardennes, right through to the end in Hamburg. Their accounts, in common with most battle stories, are a mix of sombre fact and hilarity, admirably linked by the author’s easy-to-read narrative. This book is recommended reading.'
Soldier Magazine
One of Monty's ‘green’ divisions that took part in Operation Overlord, the brutal battle for Normandy, the 53rd Welsh Division served with great distinction throughout the rest of the war. They were brilliantly led by Major General Bobby Ross.
After playing a major part in the fighting in Belgium, they were moved south to fight the Panzers in the Ardennes, breaking the Siegfried Line and on into the Rhineland where they captured Weeze. They ended the war by occupying ruined Hamburg. It was at great cost as they suffered 10,000 casualties in eleven months of the NW Europe campaign.
This remarkable book features the tales of over 60 men, NCOs and officers who took part in this campaign story.
Western Morning Mail
'This book is a collection of memories from officers and men who took part in the battles of Le Cahier, Le Bon Repos, Evrecy, the Falaise Gap, the Antwerp and Lommel bridgeheads, and against the Panzers in the Ardennes, right through to the end in Hamburg. Their accounts, in common with most battle stories, are a mix of sombre fact and hilarity, admirably linked by the author’s easy-to-read narrative. This book is recommended reading.'
Soldier Magazine
One of Monty's ‘green’ divisions that took part in Operation Overlord, the brutal battle for Normandy, the 53rd Welsh Division served with great distinction throughout the rest of the war. They were brilliantly led by Major General Bobby Ross.
After playing a major part in the fighting in Belgium, they were moved south to fight the Panzers in the Ardennes, breaking the Siegfried Line and on into the Rhineland where they captured Weeze. They ended the war by occupying ruined Hamburg. It was at great cost as they suffered 10,000 casualties in eleven months of the NW Europe campaign.
This remarkable book features the tales of over 60 men, NCOs and officers who took part in this campaign story.
- GenresWorld War II
388 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 24, 1996
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
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February 10, 2021Patrick Delaforce never fails to deliver. If you like you history detailed this is the author to read. Every battalion, regiment, supporting arm is referenced. You are introduced to officers, nco's and the pbi. You feel as if you are there fighting beside the 53rd. A hard fighting Division new to war which proved its metal time and again.
March 12, 2012
I really wanted to like this book as I hoped it would give me more insight in the battle for 's-Hertogenbosch, the battles on the river Maas in Holland and the battle of Rethem.
Alas, it didn't really. The main problem with this book is it tells about the individual actions through orders and personal accounts without explaining the actions themeselves on the tactical and strategical level. And thus, most of the time, you have no idea what your are reading about and where or why this account is taking place.
A real shame as I didn't learn next to nothing about the battles I wanted to learn more about.
Next to that there are too many (unexplained) abbreviations and the author spells most Dutch placenames wrong or uses the (wrong) French equivalent. To top it all there's a serious lack of maps.
A shame though as it could have been a really good book. The writer writes well and has done a good deal of research.
Alas, it didn't really. The main problem with this book is it tells about the individual actions through orders and personal accounts without explaining the actions themeselves on the tactical and strategical level. And thus, most of the time, you have no idea what your are reading about and where or why this account is taking place.
A real shame as I didn't learn next to nothing about the battles I wanted to learn more about.
Next to that there are too many (unexplained) abbreviations and the author spells most Dutch placenames wrong or uses the (wrong) French equivalent. To top it all there's a serious lack of maps.
A shame though as it could have been a really good book. The writer writes well and has done a good deal of research.
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February 10, 2021Detailed work.
I have read books by Patrick Delaforce before and always found them well written with great detail. If you want a broad stroke approach this is not for you. If you want real detailed work, well researched this is for you.
I have read books by Patrick Delaforce before and always found them well written with great detail. If you want a broad stroke approach this is not for you. If you want real detailed work, well researched this is for you.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews