They left for France a week after war was
declared and some did not return until a month after the end of the war.
The, after the war, they went back to their
families and their work.
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The book
tells the story of the people who built the great railway engines when they went to
war.
They had little idea of the great events in which they were
participating.
The simple task of editing the diaries together became a fascinating
detective story to provide a proper context for their war.
This is not a war story but uses diaries and recollections of ordinary
people to describe how they felt.
Media release
Amazon UK
Amazon US |
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The writers of the diaries were not told the wider drama in which they
were players. The historical issues opened by these
diaries were substantial.
- Could they really have been the first unit to go to France in 1939?
- Were some still in France after the French Armistice in June 1940?
- Could this small unit have played a significant role in the battle of
El Alamein even though they were struggling to survive as POWs by the time
the battle took place?
- Were they present at the birth of the legend that has become the
Special Air Service?
- Did British POWs take over their death camp when the war ended
as they waited for liberation? Certainly, as they have photos to prove it.
After six years research and letter writing, the answer to all these
questions is, ‘Yes’.
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 When one of the diarists, Bill Harvey, returned to Doncaster in June 1945
he offered his fare to the conductress on the tram taking him home. She
refused it. ‘You have already paid enough.’ The debt remains unpaid and will
soon be cancelled as these ordinary heroes pass away.
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