Merry Hell!: A Dane with the Canadians

by V.C. Thomas Dinesen

This memoir was first published in Denmark entitled “No Man’s Land” but when translated into English that title, for some reason, was changed to ‘Merry Hell!”, not, in my opinion, a very inspiring choice. Dinesen (1892-1979) was in Denmark when war broke out, and despite efforts to get to the war with the French Army, the French Foreign Legion and the British Army he was continually frustrated by officialdom who would not grant the necessary visa for him to get into France or UK. So he made it across to the USA where he tried again (for the American Army) and failed again. Finally he looked in on the Canadian HQ in New York and was given a warm welcome and advised to try for either The Princess Pat’s or, if he liked the idea of wearing a kilt, The 42nd Royal Highlanders of Canada, The Canadian Black Watch. So he was trasported in a group of fourteen to Montreal where, on 26 June 1917, he enlisted in the The Royal Highlanders (Princess Pat’s were not recruiting at the time) issued with a kilt and, handicapped by a limited knowledge of English, spent some time wondering why the regiment was named after a black watch. The first hundred or so pages describes all this and his training in Canada and in England till finally, on 15 March 1918, he arrives in France. His battalion was in 7th Brigade, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division.'This is certainly a rousing tale the way it is told with Dinesen frequently resorting to a sort of running commentary when describing the fighting. The action in which he won his VC near Parvillers in August 1918 during the course of prolonged hand-to-hand fighting through enemy trenches is written up with great gusto and makes a suitable climax to the book

Genres: History, Biography, World War I, War, Nonfiction, Danish

270 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

Reviews

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Depending on the backgrounder of the reader this can be read either as a fairly straightforward, romantic nearly swashbuckling account of a hung-ho Dane aching to experience war, or more subtly as attempt - 10 years later - to get to grips with an overwhelming experience.

Many attitudes expressed such as eugenics etc seem rather outdated today - or do they?

Certainly you are left curious for a more multifaceted and reflective study of the soldier and man, especially considering his family ( he was the brother of Karen Blixen and his father a Danish war hero/adventurer with a troubled psyche) and post war experiences.

[Caer Glas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written accout by the Danish V.C. winner Thomas Dinesen. Interesting in that one gets a non-English/Dominion viewpoint, but not really anything new if you've read a lot of these autobiographical accounts.

[Sontaran Dk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly amazing book! it give you a unique and interesting look into the mind of a very unique man. Who chose to fight in one of the most horrible wars in human history, of his own free will. This is a must read, to any history buff, or anyone in general!

[Douglas · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 Stars

[Susan Vitek · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Dane's life is his adventure, and he was determined to make it positive. Even in the trenches in WWI.