Joseph Isaacs
This novel carries the reader on a journey of discovery one that was carried out by men from all walks of life and though differing in character and background forged bonds of friendship hard to find in normal everyday civilian life. Depicted are several of the many missions successfully carried out by a combined force of British military and European resistance fighters ; there is also humour; romance and the tragedy of losing comrades who had become part of their everyday lives. Men and women of the European resistance movement who played an active and vital role in the provision of local knowledge and places of safety also relate their own horrific accounts of personal trauma suffered.
The author of this book was born in the early 1930s of a then middle class family. Raised in difficult times; there was a lack of work untill the commencment of WWII and at the end of the war work again became scarce. Being a person who liked to sleep in a clean bed and enjoy at least one decent meal a day he joined the services at an early age and served in the Far East and Europe retiring in the late 1960s.
Hildesheim Goods Yard is destroyed
It was 1945 hours and Nemesis Force was about 200 yards from their intended target.
“Pay attention; you all know what is required of you, now go to it. Cpl Stone lets go and upset Colonel Reinhard”
Three groups of men stole silently forward on a cold clear night under a sky studded with bright twinkling stars. Bent on mass destruction and the killing of a much hated occupying force,
Sgt Major Carter halted his group a few yards short of the first cottage. Right quickly now 3 teams to each cottage watch for my signal then go in hard and fast give them no chance to get organised.
A pyjama clad figure hurtled from an upper floor window the force of his exit removing most of the window frame. His body arched with acute pain as it straddled the wooden fence before thudding to earth as it splintered and broke under his weight. Using his skill the Sgt Major with little effort snapped his neck like a carrot; Shouted curses in English and German issued forth from the cottages and were quickly silenced. Time passed slowly it seemed to the Sgt Major as he waited anxiously for his men to finish their gruesome task.
A Jerry; whose face bore numerous scars evidence of past battles believing he’d got Pat O’Connell trapped in a corner; quickly found out, just how wrong he was when the Irishman’s huge hands grabbed and twisted his ears then; in a beautifully co-ordinated move he forced the Jerries head down to strike with great force his upcoming knee. The German reared backwards; his nose a fearful mess of blood and smashed cartilage almost tearing the ears from his head so firm was Pat’s grip. Blinded by tears; his howls of anguish were brought to an abrupt end, by an expertly applied knife. A second German; seizing the moment, went for Pat as he struggled to retrieve the knife firmly lodged in his enemies rib cage a bad mistake; team mate Mike Logan with a fearful blow from the butt of his weapon, cracked his skull wide open.
“Thanks Mike”
Formed up out side the cottages the Sgt Major cast his eye over them: “Kennedy lets have a look at your eye mm very nasty stand to one side, Lewis your leg looks like a gutted fish join Kennedy, you to Thomas that arm needs attention, Burleson who took a swipe at you?
“That bloke who left by the window believing he could fly. Thanks for finishing him off”
“My pleasure, now where the hell is Lomax?
“I’m here Sgt Major feeling a little woozy after butting a jerry bastard whose head felt like a lump of concrete”
“There was me thinking you were a right hard man how wrong can a fellow be; well we’ve another job to do, so on your bloody feet”
