Mines, Bombs, Bullets and Bridges Memoirs of a WW2 Sapper written by
Brian Moss and published by Pen & Sword Books - £25 - Hardback - Pages 256
Soldiers’ first-hand accounts of Second World War active service invariably make
inspiring and exciting reading but Mines, Bombs, Bullets and Bridges is exceptional
for several reasons. First, Brian Moss’s role as a bomb disposal specialist was
especially hazardous. Secondly, he was in the thick of the action from the start,
dealing with unexploded ordnance during the London blitz. He was then deployed
as a frontline sapper to North Africa and onto Sicily before landing on Gold Beach
on D-Day. Despite many close calls he was relatively unscathed until taken out by
a butterfly bomb at Nijmegen. Fortunately, despite serious injury he lived, quite
literally, to tell the tale but his war was over.
While the Author’s graphic account compares favourably with the very best wartime memoirs, it also has a unique element, namely examples of his outstanding artistic skill. It is truly remarkable that he not only managed to produce so many fine works under combat conditions and that he was able to draw such accurate maps from memory. His sketches and paintings bring a special dimension to this story.
A really good and fascinating book about a guy called Brian Moss, a Sapper that served during WW2, as a Bomb Disposal Specialist. Brian originally spent time serving during the Blitz until he was sent out to North Africa in his role and would then go on to serve in Normandy and Operation Market Graden. The book is about the work of Brian as he served, and has been edited by his son Michael. The book as well as being written by Brian also contains drawings, pictures and diagrams from Brian, but what also shines through his writings is his dark humour and self-confidence, which I assume you really need when you're facing that much possible danger every day. The book is enjoyable and written well but also put together well by his son, Brian comes out of this as a really nice fella. An enjoyable book which would go down well with men who had served in the Army.
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