From a Hard Place to a Rock
First-Hand Accounts of Soldiers of the British Expeditionary Force on the Run in World War Two
by Timandra Slade
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Pub Date 28 Jun 2022 | Archive Date 14 Jul 2022
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Description
Cousins, Captain Chris Waters of the Royal Engineers and Captain Jimmy Johnson of the Royal Welch Fusiliers were with the British Expeditionary Force in the defence of Dunkirk. In late May 1940, Jimmy (son-in-law of Admiral of the Fleet, Lord Keyes) was shot and captured near the Belgium border. Chris was captured after his regiment, which was attached to the 51st Highland Division, was forced to surrender at St-Valéry.
Both men managed to escape their German captors and, accompanied by fellow officers, began separately to work their way through France into Spain. Having crossed the Pyrenees they were both re-captured but by an extraordinary coincidence met up in Barcelona.
Chris and Jimmy recorded their escape in journals with Jimmy also writing many letters home from internment in France. Eventually the escapees, now in a large group, were released and arrived in Gibraltar. It was not the safe haven they had hoped for. One last cruel twist of fate would deny some of them a return home.
A Note From the Publisher
Marketing Plan
- The true story of two cousins who each escape their German captors in Northern France and coincidentally come together in Barcelona.
- Side characters in this tale have gone on to become household names such as Desmond Llewelyn, ‘Q’ from James Bond films and William ‘Bill’ Roache from Coronation Street.
- Contains the original journal, maps, sketches and photographs from the author's father's extraordinary wartime escape detailing the highs and lows of life on the run in 1940.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Hardcover |
| ISBN | 9781803131924 |
| PRICE | £18.99 (GBP) |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Spencer W, Reviewer
An excellent book that covers a topic little discussed or taught. The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) had a disastorous start to the second world war, but is often overlooked for the later victories achieved by the Allied forces in Europe in later years. I would highly recommend this to someone interesting in learning more about the early years of World War II.
