A SCHOOLMASTER'S WAR

A SCHOOLMASTER'S WAR
by Harry Rée.

Like so many of that generation, Harry Rée rarely talked about what he did in the second world war with his family. 
When war broke out he was teaching languages at a South London school. Despite being in a 'reserved occupation', Harry decided he must do his bit & joined the army. The following year he was recruited into the French section of the SOE & this is where his story really begins.

The book is unusually divided into different sections. The first is Harry's memoir written shortly after leaving France in 1943. He writes about his SOE training & his time in France as a circuit leader.
 As well as those in the French Resistance, the reader will meet a host of brave French civilians all willing to assist Harry & offer shelter & food. This help likely saved Harry's after he was shot during a fight. Seriously wounded he was helped across the Swiss border.

The next sections of the book are unusual, but equally fascinating. 
Harry continues working for the SOE, but at the same time anonymously writes stories & also does radio broadcasts for the BBC about his work in SOE. It must have been a remarkable listen, even if somewhat censored. 
Some letters that survived the war are also reprinted in the book. Plus there is a selection of speeches & interviews that Harry gave post-war about his thoughts & experiences.

As we hear so often, it is remarkable to think that Harry's family & in the case of this book, his son, knew so little about what his father had done in the war.
Thankfully his research has revealed another astonishing wartime story to remember. 

The paperback edition of the book is available now, published by Yale University Press. 
I thank Yale UK for this review copy. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

MITCHELL

Image
MITCHELL: Father of the Spitfire  By Paul Beaver. The majority of readers will have heard the name R.J. Mitchell and certainly his most famous aircraft design, the beloved Spitfire. Yet many, myself included, might not have known that his career began in railway engineering. This and so much more is revealed by author , Paul Beaver, who shares the full story of this remarkable man who became Supermarine's chief designer at the age of just 24. Alongside Reginald's career, we also learn how the Supermarine company was founded and then grew during the decades between the two world wars.  Mitchell's answering of Supermarine's job advertisement  would prove to be the beginning of a remarkable legacy. Importantly, o ne the author also states came about with the brains and skills of a talented group of people who have been too often overlooked. This legacy is of course far more than just the Spitfire. Many other types of aircraft especially flying boats were also d...
Read more

THE DUMMY DRONE

Image
THE DUMMY DRONE BY Rob More. Away from the Battle of Britain in the skies over the English Channel and Southern counties, or the devastating blitz bombing of London and other major cities, surely  the far North of Scotland would hardly be effected by the second world war?  Well the opposite was true. In this fabulous new book, local author and resident, Rob More reveals how the county of Caithness was a scene of great change from the coastline and beaches to the farmland, hills and villages. Not forgetting all those who lived and worked there.  With the area hosting a range of wartime installations and airfields it received many visits from the Luftwaffe. As we learn in the book, civilians and their properties would also be caught up in these raids. From the radar stations searching for enemy aircraft, to those recruited for the local Home Guard and the lesser known Auxiliary Units. Communities the length of Britain prepared for an expected German invasion. Ro...
Read more

ROYAL NAVY FORCE H: 1940-42

Image
ROYAL NAVY FORCE H 1940-42 This is book 14 in Osprey's 'Fleet' series and is written by naval historian, Angus Konstam. If you have read any second world war books on the Mediterranean war and/or Malta, then it is highly likely that Force H and its well respected commander, V.Adm. Sir James Somerville, is mentioned. Based at Gibraltar, Force H patrolled both the Atlantic and the Western Mediterranean often escorting vital convoys to Malta. It was Somerville who led the fleet in the attack on the French fleet at Mers-el-Kébir and they would also be later involved in the hunt for the Bismarck.  As well as describing the fleet's ships, its commander and their wartime endeavors, the role and defences of Gibraltar is also covered. This is an added bonus as most books generally only give Gibraltar a passing mention. With a fascinating narrative, aided with many useful maps, charts and original artwork, it is a book I have certainly enjoyed and would definitely rec...
Read more