Rifleman: A Frontline Life from the Battles of Alamein and Arnhem to the Bombing of Dresden

by Victor Gregg, Rick Stroud

The astonishing life of a young working-class man who fought throughout World War II from Alamein to the invasion of Sicily, was captured at Arnhem and as a POW survived the Allied bombing raid on Dresden.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Military Fiction, War, World War II, Autobiography, Biography Memoir

416 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2011

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Victor Gregg has written this autobiography about his extraordinary life. Born in 1919 he enlisted to serve at the beginning of WWII. It is these stories that are amazing without glorifying war or turning into a boys own adventure, it was for me the loss of friends and fellow soldiers that were memorable. From African desserts to training as a paratrooper, from sailing to South Africa to escape from a POW camp it is one of those stories that you would not believe if it were a novel.

I had heard Victor Gregg talk on History Hits about his experience in the Dresden Bombing in 1945. It is harrowing stuff, and an experience that he spends time speaking about even at 100 years old. The chapters talking about Dresden should be read by everyone.

[Steve · Rating 2 out of 5]

He was a liar. I read his book, and it lacks the vivid detail of all the other survivor testimonies. His story changes with every TV interview. He said his friend Harry's torso was ripped apart by the explosion, but in his book he said his body was just twisted. His accounts appear to be exaggerations, ruminations of common myths and appropriations of historical reporting. His account simply does not match that of other German testimony and contains many self-contradictions.

The incendiary bombing of Dresden attracted more interest than Tokyo or Hamburg, so he was motivated to put himself there. I'm sure he was a WWII veteran, but some even lied that they climbed the cliffs of Normandy in a hail of bullets when they were just a member of the rear echelon and never even fired a gun in anger

[Bill Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book, but never exciting or emotive. Victor seems to have had an amazing life and an incredibly lucky one when considering his life as a professional soldier throughout the second world war. Victor goes from one scrape to another, at one point missing execution by hours due to allied bombing, but it is never clear how these situations came about. I presume he had a devil may care attitude which thrived on danger. Perhaps this is why the book isn't particularly self conscious when it comes to his personality and personal life.

A good read but not a great one.

[Matthew Okuhara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I take this account with a lot of salt. The book has more than a few contradictions and inaccuracies.

[Guy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book on Gregg's experience in the Second World War and after.

He certainly got about a bit having fought in North Africa and Holland, became a POW, witnessing the bombing of Dresden, fall of the Berlin Wall and more!

He is a true survivor having had many scrapes with death and had a fascinating life - he is actually still alive as well!

As a historical piece it is also enlightening in his experiences of the Dresden bombing.

Victor does not hold back in explaining what he saw and experienced which makes for very grim reading at times (certainly not suitable for young readers) but I prefer honesty.

It changed my opinion on the bombings for sure.

Victor considers the bombing a war crime and as you can imagine that experience changed his outlook on life as well as politics.

A very good book of a very interesting man.

[William Aughton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I typically don't read autobiographies, it is rarw that I find the topic of reading someone's life story interesting enough when I could just Google it instead, hence why I primarily read fiction. This book came up as part of my book club however, so I set about reading it. As a historian myself I did know a fair amount of what he was talking about (certain battles etc) and so i managed to read through it well, although I can imagine if you read this without knowledge of the war you may need to search a fair bit to supplement the book. I rate it as a autobiography, rather than a general book, and as such it did well.

[Richard Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely incredible. The greatest and craziest personal account of a frontline soldier during World War Two. Victor is one of the last of a dying breed of tough men that make the likes of Ant Middleton look like a paperboy. Victor’s time in the Army makes my own experience of war and the military feel completely insignificant in comparison.
The best book I have ever read. Victor, I salute you.

[Mark Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a short book and easy to read. His war experiences are what drew me to the book though it’s not about strategy or comments from Generals. It’s all quite briefly written and could do with more details in places. Greggs post war adventures read alittle like a spy novel but still quite interesting.

[Andrew Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating and harrowing life story. A few embellishments along the way I suspect (did he really cycle 100 miles in training after work each evening?) but it was a gripping and at times troubling read. An extraordinary man, supported by some very strong women in his life.

[Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a brilliant and highly interesting book. The author has definitely lived a very interesting life, and I loved following his journey. The editor did a brilliant job bringing the story together, so it followed perfectly. I'm so glad I found this book on libby.

[Layla · Rating 4 out of 5]

another enjoyable book from Victor.

[David Heilbron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very easy-going read. Victor's very rich life and experiences leaves a handful of reflexion and thoughts. This book is a must for every XX century history lovers.

[Ollie Hale · Rating 4 out of 5]

76/100

[Evie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This man has had such an interesting life, I read the extended version of this book ( I can’t find it on here) and it’s just crazy what he’s gotten on to, so vivid

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very gripping autobiography which outlined the actions and horrors of war. Mr Gregg had an amazing life after the end of WWII .

[Jordan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Decent book but I have significant concerns about its veracity.

[Barry Phelps · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very honest and compassionate view of the events, of two great wars. A pleasure to read.

[The Bauchler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a memoir not a diary so its more Victor's thoughts and feelings within a chronological narrative.

It is insightful and informative.

[Matthew Dambro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful autobiography of a British soldier during the Second World War. It has the ring of truth to it and it is easily read and digested. He went through so many changes in a long and eventful life. This is a page turner if there ever was one.

[Peter Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

What was a "normal" life for a boy to man growing up in the poorer parts of London in the 1930's ? It's unlikely that experienced by the author, who's journey (without specific spoilers) took him into the last vestiges of the British Indian raj, to the front-line dessert battles of North Africa, to the unmitigated disaster of Arnhem and then into personal experiences of Germany's final and horrid final demise visited upon it's civilians through the policy and execution of the British aerial bombing campaign.

Nor too, in all likelihood, the authors experiences post the "hot" war of 1939-1945 and into the "cold" war that followed up to the point, and again direct personal experience, with the breaching and fall of the Iron Curtain.

Infeed, not a likely ordinary life, that this reader is grateful for, the author sitting down to document at the behest of his grandchildren. I hope that they too have read this book and have come to appreciate just what a non-ordinary life their grandfather led.

[David Sockett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rifleman, is he really, this is not a book, it is just a simple read like a magazine. The desert war was skipped through, no mention of the person whom he killed in action. If this had been me I would never have forgotten it, I would have remembered every grain of sand. This book disappoints, when I really was looking forward to it. He just skims over everything, even his wedding, for which he had over the years saved himself, for the one woman, who he did not really know. Sorry but I think everything was there, enough has been written so a bit of research, I am sure would have brought the memories flooding back, we certainly did not get any.

[Andrew Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gripping life-story of Victor Gregg - a riffle soldier and later the parachute commando. Quite interesting and would justify four stars if not for his relation of his after the war involvement with the East German opposition. He claimed that the Hungarians started removing their borders with Austria to let East-German refugees to cross to Austria following his message from a German ex-Wermaht officer assurance that the East-Germans would not interfere. It beggars belief this had been really the case and puts shadow over the veracity of any earlier events. Nevertheless, it was interesting to read.

[Gail Hoskins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Memoir of Victor Gregg, British man who experienced so much of twentieth century history its hard to believe! The introduction by his coauthor, Rick Stroud, says that Gregg originally wrote it for his grandchildren. Stroud met Gregg when he interviewed him for research on World War II and ended up helping turn his memoirs into a book. This is a very interesting read; the description of the firebombing of Dresden alone is worth the time to read it.

[Grahambootle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Victor Gregg's life in many ways tied into my family history quite closely, being from London, my uncle was in the parachute regiment and dropped in to Arnhem, my grandfather fought with the 8th Army etc. So many of the themes seemed very closed to home, I must say that even if you don't have the same touch points I'm sure you'll find the story of Victor's life extraordinary. Great book.

[Vikas Datta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific account of a soldier of the World War, and in his own way, of the Cold War too - the reminiscences of war in the North African desert, in Arnhem, of the fire-bombing of Dresden and various hijinks later is unparalleled and brings into sharp relief what Mr Gregg and his generation went through...

[Stephen Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of this book is very gruesome but I enjoyed reading about this soldiers experiences. Coming from Coventry I was aware that Dresden was bombed in the war but had no idea just how bad it was.

I would recommend reading this book. A first hand account is such a powerful insight into the real situations.

[Mark Roberson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing (and at times harrowing) story!

[Graeme Dunlop · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good read. I like reading biographies of people who've experienced war as it gives me a perspective on life totally outside my own. Victor Gregg has certainly lead a very interesting life and he seems like one extremely lucky guy to still be around.

It's well-written and never dull.

[Mark Baines · Rating 3 out of 5]

A matter of fact statement, that reminds one of the real heroes of warfare. Riflemen in the desert, at Arnhem, and then evidencing the horror of Dresden which could be argued was Europes Hiroshima. No punches pulled, and no platitudes sought; an open view by a normal man. Cede Nullis.

[Allen Klosowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

This man had a fascinating life. The story is a bit rambling, but that's probably because there is so much to tell. It's incredible to think one man lived through all of this. Could be the most interesting man in the world. I'd like to read his follow-up on the Dresden bombings.