Jeremy Hands (1951–1999)

One of the 27,500 who served Down South in 1982, I am surprised that I did not know of this book until this summer, 38 years after the war! It's a excellent, lively read as one would expect from a book by two journalists who served with the British Forces during the Falklands War of 1982. One certainly gets a down-to-earth view from the marines and paratroopers, the 'other ranks', as they take the 8,000-mile sea passage to the islands, the fighting ashore and the surrender and return to the UK. No filthy language is expurgated and, frankly, the book is all the more honest as a result. The commanding officers of the RM Commandos and the Parachute Battalions are often in the picture too, as are two Royal Navy captains in particular - those in ss Canberra and HMS Fearless. As it claims on the back cover "... Funny, moving, incisive, occasionally bitter, always humorously resigned. this is the story of one war which could be any war, a portrait of the British soldier [and Marine], in all his mud-stained glory. ..." - I could not agree more. A nice quote on the back cover, too "That's another fine mess you've got me into, Stanley" (anonymous graffiti, Port Stanley, 1982). Recommended reading for anyone who served in HM Forces, particularly those who were Down South in 1982.… (mehr)