A local charity shop (local charity) has so many books donated, they're forced to give them away. A couple of weeks ago I spotted a Chris Ryan book and then a couple of shelves away was "Band of Brothers". Brilliant read and I agree, it would make a great TV series, far too much to cover in a movie. I've cheered, chewed my nails and shed a tear. Great reading, great writing. Thanks. I'll donate it back to the same shop in the hope more will read it
My girlfriends grandad joined the SAS a year after it was formed. And was still in it at the end of the war. He had a reputation of never getting caught. He did North Africa and DD enemy lines. Nearly got shot by some British at DD, what save him was they thought he was a tramp till they all recognised him. He must of been well known because they knew him by name.
There is a story about a mission with a padre, they got dropped and compromised. They all got killed except him and l think one other. He was one that escaped anyway. Someone cloned his car number plate and the police came. When they got to the house it was full of Lugars on the wall. They took the lot. He represented the SAS on VE day also. Norman Watson ( The Fox).
Norman Watson the fox.i was brought up in same village and new him, went to school with his daughter gail.google norman Watson the fox good reading from the newspapers.
Fascinating listening to this interview, I hope some of these stories make it to film, these stories are often hidden and overlooked in favour of US war heroes (of which there were many and did need to be told) but the British stories are often limited to Market Garden and North Africa (in my experience, I could be wrong). I would love to see the "SAS Band of Brothers" as a dramatized series or movie. Thanks for the video, I will be looking for the book.
The captain of my sports club in 1946 was Thomas Bennett Langton MC. The citation for his MC records him as a member of the SAS. I am trying to find more details of his service with SAS.
I have been fortunate to listen in person to Damien Lewis talking about 4 of his books and I agree totally. Damien is a great orator aas well as an excellent book writer.
Another cracking book from Damien Lewis. It's a must read and adds nicely to the catalogue of books that Damien has written. Once you start reading his books they are hard to put down. Brings the exploits of the SAS and SOE to life.
Interestingly, the East African Campaign in 1940-41 was also where both Bill Slim & Orde Wingate first cut their teeth as senior commanders in WW2 too!!
An amazing tale, and such a shame (as you pointed out) that limited access to the National Archives will make such books so much harder to write in the future. One thing that's always struck me about military history is just how much civilian/resistance stories don't get told. We hear that this army or this unit moved from A to B, fought so and so, these were the casualties on each side ... or that this army operated a scorched earth policy in retreat but rarely or never get to hear about or comprehend the non-combatant lives destroyed/turned upside down in the process. So, to hear about the Czechs using an FPS video game in this way is very refreshing to hear.
Finally got round to reading the book! WOW !! It would make an amazing film it’s fantastic can you recommend any more books on the SAS in Normandy please
I’ve read a book on SOE & MI6 who at times were at odds with each other, when SOE agents when captured by the Germans & transmitting false messages back to their handlers in SOE , they were taught if captured they could let them know by a slight mistake, a Dutch chap who was captured with his radio kept trying to let his SOE handlers know that he was captured, & they kept asking him to respell, now this guy who in the SOE radio room couldn’t believe what was going on, he said it was blaintentley obvious that the Dutch man trying to let them know & the top boys were acting like everything was fine, but by all accounts this had his suspicions about them,& I got that feeling after reading the book, so many dodgy dealings & so many lives wasted, I think the guy in charge was Buckley, but I’m not a % right & I can’t remember what the book was called, it was bye chance watching this fantastic documentary that it came back to,👍
If you watch A Bridge Too Far, or read it, you get the impression that the British were distrustful of the Dutch resistance. But the Americans weren't. One facet of this was the Dutch telling the forces that the phone system was working, only to be disbelieved. So, the British could have simply called Arnhem on the phone. This was told in Spooks by Jim Hougan. ITT was reimbursed post war for damage to their infrastructure.
My father was involved in this in WW2. I need to access archives but live in Australia. Part of his task was to hunt and interrogate SS and gestapo. I am trying to find out his complete story..i only have bits. Small bits given by his regiment as above and others he told me and confirmed by his regiment with huge gaps.i need help.
*spoilers* Nearly cried when they were put up against the firing squad, the whole book I was hoping somehow they would all escape but it was damn sad . Thanks for your sacrifice lads 😢🪦
A local charity shop (local charity) has so many books donated, they're forced to give them away. A couple of weeks ago I spotted a Chris Ryan book and then a couple of shelves away was "Band of Brothers". Brilliant read and I agree, it would make a great TV series, far too much to cover in a movie. I've cheered, chewed my nails and shed a tear. Great reading, great writing. Thanks.
I'll donate it back to the same shop in the hope more will read it
My girlfriends grandad joined the SAS a year after it was formed. And was still in it at the end of the war. He had a reputation of never getting caught. He did North Africa and DD enemy lines. Nearly got shot by some British at DD, what save him was they thought he was a tramp till they all recognised him. He must of been well known because they knew him by name.
There is a story about a mission with a padre, they got dropped and compromised. They all got killed except him and l think one other. He was one that escaped anyway. Someone cloned his car number plate and the police came. When they got to the house it was full of Lugars on the wall. They took the lot. He represented the SAS on VE day also. Norman Watson ( The Fox).
Norman Watson the fox.i was brought up in same village and new him, went to school with his daughter gail.google norman Watson the fox good reading from the newspapers.
Fascinating listening to this interview, I hope some of these stories make it to film, these stories are often hidden and overlooked in favour of US war heroes (of which there were many and did need to be told) but the British stories are often limited to Market Garden and North Africa (in my experience, I could be wrong). I would love to see the "SAS Band of Brothers" as a dramatized series or movie. Thanks for the video, I will be looking for the book.
The captain of my sports club in 1946 was Thomas Bennett Langton MC. The citation for his MC records him as a member of the SAS. I am trying to find more details of his service with SAS.
There is plenty of info about Langton in Damien's books and indeed online
Damien Lewis is a riveting speaker. I don't believe it would be possible to watch this and NOT get a copy of this book. I couldn't!
I have been fortunate to listen in person to Damien Lewis talking about 4 of his books and I agree totally. Damien is a great orator aas well as an excellent book writer.
Another cracking book from Damien Lewis. It's a must read and adds nicely to the catalogue of books that Damien has written. Once you start reading his books they are hard to put down. Brings the exploits of the SAS and SOE to life.
Interestingly, the East African Campaign in 1940-41 was also where both Bill Slim & Orde Wingate first cut their teeth as senior commanders in WW2 too!!
An amazing tale, and such a shame (as you pointed out) that limited access to the National Archives will make such books so much harder to write in the future.
One thing that's always struck me about military history is just how much civilian/resistance stories don't get told. We hear that this army or this unit moved from A to B, fought so and so, these were the casualties on each side ... or that this army operated a scorched earth policy in retreat but rarely or never get to hear about or comprehend the non-combatant lives destroyed/turned upside down in the process. So, to hear about the Czechs using an FPS video game in this way is very refreshing to hear.
Finally got round to reading the book! WOW !! It would make an amazing film it’s fantastic can you recommend any more books on the SAS in Normandy please
What a book this is. Just had to return to this interview, to say how saddened I was with the Beebs adaptation of the book and it's characters!
Great show.
An excellent read I recommend it to all.
Add yet another amazing book to my list. At my age I don't think I'll be able to read them all!
Great interview
I’ve read a book on SOE & MI6 who at times were at odds with each other, when SOE agents when captured by the Germans & transmitting false messages back to their handlers in SOE , they were taught if captured they could let them know by a slight mistake, a Dutch chap who was captured with his radio kept trying to let his SOE handlers know that he was captured, & they kept asking him to respell, now this guy who in the SOE radio room couldn’t believe what was going on, he said it was blaintentley obvious that the Dutch man trying to let them know & the top boys were acting like everything was fine, but by all accounts this had his suspicions about them,& I got that feeling after reading the book, so many dodgy dealings & so many lives wasted, I think the guy in charge was Buckley, but I’m not a % right & I can’t remember what the book was called, it was bye chance watching this fantastic documentary that it came back to,👍
If you watch A Bridge Too Far, or read it, you get the impression that the British were distrustful of the Dutch resistance. But the Americans weren't. One facet of this was the Dutch telling the forces that the phone system was working, only to be disbelieved. So, the British could have simply called Arnhem on the phone. This was told in Spooks by Jim Hougan. ITT was reimbursed post war for damage to their infrastructure.
My father was involved in this in WW2. I need to access archives but live in Australia. Part of his task was to hunt and interrogate SS and gestapo. I am trying to find out his complete story..i only have bits. Small bits given by his regiment as above and others he told me and confirmed by his regiment with huge gaps.i need help.
Churchill’s Band of Brothers is an amazing book.
It definitely is
*spoilers*
Nearly cried when they were put up against the firing squad, the whole book I was hoping somehow they would all escape but it was damn sad . Thanks for your sacrifice lads 😢🪦
You only have 1200? I have over 3000, LOL! SAS BoB will be 3001... Another great presentation, thank you both. 😁
Sorry for making a second comment on this but one thing struck me. Why wasn't Starr tried as a double agent?
I think Damien explains more in the book
Garstan?
A the old Irish legion we don't care what your name is we will not turn you away 😊
is the book better than Bill McIntyre's SAS rogue heroes?
It's similar in style I think. Damien is perhaps the better story teller
It's good to riminess about when the British had balls.
"Fighting Irish"?? No island involved baby... that's Indiana!
Freebooters,boar war tactics
The host talks to much!🤦🏻♂️
So, don't watch then, but please realise some guests specifically request a chat rather than to give a presentation