Our War Paperback – Unabridged
‘Our War – How the British Commonwealth Fought the Second World War’ tells the extraordinary story of the men and women of the British Commonwealth, from many nations all over the world, who volunteered to fight alongside Britain during World War Two.
How did people of all kinds, races, religions and ways of thinking come together like this? Why did young men and women from Trinidad and Australia, India and Canada, Seychelles, Kenya and New Zealand put themselves at risk thousands of miles from home? Why did they feel so strongly attached to Britain, the ‘mother country’? And how were their lives and attitudes changed by their experiences?
From the jungles of Burma and the night skies over Berlin to the icy waves of the Arctic convoys, the blitzed streets of London and the hellish PoW camps of Borneo and Poland we follow them. Survivor’s guilt, immense pride, PTSD, stoicism and bitter anger: all these are here, in the words of people who never dreamed they would find themselves at the cutting edge of war.
I travelled round the world in the nick of time to catch the experiences of these elderly survivors of many nations. This is the one and only only record of their service and its aftermath.
‘Our War – How the British Commonwealth Fought the Second World War’, published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson 16 April 2020 in paperback and audio. |
Just finished reading The Golden Step and wanted to say Thank You! I spent just 4 days on Crete this past summer but fell in love and want so much to go back. Then I came across your book in a catalog, ordered it and have just spent two delightful days back on Crete. I’m only an occasional traveler and am more of an ambler, stroller, but I do like good writing and good stories. My son backpacks, climbs and hikes, so I got a second copy of the book to send to him and will look for more of your writing! I almost never write fan letters but was looking to see what else you’d published and found this site. So – Bravo! Best wishes on your walking and writing from an American fan!
Oh, dear, Beth – I’ve only just found this!! Thank you so much for your lovely comments. I think Crete is exactly the sort of place you fall in love with, and want to know more and more about. Superb fierce and friendly people, tremendously rugged landscape, and more hospitality than one can possibly repay.
I hop you go back many more times and consummate your affair!
With good wishes,
Christopher
Thanks, Alison – very pleased you enjoyed it and found it light-hearted! I really had a good time writing it, a bit of a cheeky old romp as you say, and a chance to crack some jokes and share some ridiculous facts.
Hi Christopher,
Have just greatly enjoyed your ‘Best Wild Places’. I’m living in the
UK now after many years in Southern Africa. I have always been a keen
long distance walker but I’m afraid I’m having difficulties adapting
to the local walking conditions, ha ha! that’s putting it mildly,
especially as I prefer the wild places. Two things I’ve noticed,
first: just how populated the UK is, hence my interest in the wild
places to get away from the crowds, and secondly, how impossible it
seems to keep dry outdoors in these islands.
I would greatly appreciate your advice, as someone who spends so much
time outdoors yourself in wild, wet and often boggy places, as to your
personal choice in clothing and footwear to best stay dry in wet
conditions (or is the idea just to accept you’re going to get wet?). I
know you could write a book on this subject alone (and why not!
‘Walking in the UK’s wild places for those from dry climates’?), and I
have done much research online, but I believe you have the personal
experience I would value. Particularly, what footwear do you chose to
cope with boggy ground short of wearing wellies, which are no good if
you are doing a distance walk with varying wet/dry ground conditions
and carrying all your kit on your back?
Thanks, would appreciate your input. Keep writing!!
Cheers, Peter
Dear Peter,
Thanks very much for your email and I’m delighted that you’ve enjoyed my book.
I have found it basically impossible to stay completely dry. The nearest I’ve come is using a lightweight Rohan anorak (or rain shell or whatever they call them nowadays) which cost about £250 – money well spent. I wear this in combination with Berghaus waterproof trousers that both zip and button up.
Boots – I have very sensitive feet, prone to blistering, and I’ve found that Brasher Supalites are the best. They are made of leather but are very light and waterproof if kept regularly waxed. For very boggy ground I wear Mountain Hard Wear gaiters over the waterproof trousers – they fasten with Velcro, so there are no fiddly buckles and straps to do up with frozen fingers!
I hope this helps.
Happy exploring!
Christopher
Book “Our War”
Dear Christopher,
I have recently completed reading the above book, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and would like to thank you for writing such a thoughtful, thought provoking and insightful tome. An ex pat, now in my 81st year and living in Merimbula on the Far South Coast of NSW,Australia. I well recall sleeping most nights in an Anderson shelter at the bottom of the garden in North London, and later a Morrison shelter in the house. Thankfully, we all survived. I am not usually moved to scribing comments but was so moved on this occasion. Thankyou once again for the privilege of being able to read the fruits of your research.
Sincerely
George Pitt
Dear George,
What a lovely message to get! Thank you so much for taking the trouble to write. I’m really delighted that you enjoyed ‘Our War’ and were moved by it.
I found it remarkable that by 1995, fifty years after the end of the war, no-one had yet collected together the threads of such a unique world-wide story that crossed bounds of race, colour, creed and nationality. It was an extraordinary experience to travel all over the world and have all those men and women decant their stories – some heroic, some ignoble, most of them traumatic in one way or another – into my little Walkman recorder. It changed the way I thought about that generation, and in fact helped me to understand my own parents better.
With good wishes,
Christopher
Christopher. I have just finished reading your book and wanted to thank you for the pleasure it gave me. I identified so much with many of your themes. I have just had my 70th. birthday and a keen walker, My father was similar in many ways to your father. Very formal after a busy war. The same reserved manner and the Kiwi polish tins!I am familiar with many of the areas covered in your wonderfully written book. As a young boy in the 1950’s it was thought acceptable to spend all day out on my bike visiting Dawlish Warren, Yarner Wood on Dartmoor or down to Slapton Sands. Those were the days. Brought up in Devon,taught for many years in Shire counties, now living in Worcestershire. The country side around here is wonderful and there is much to see. I was watching a stoat last week on the back of the Malvern Hills and today a red kite flew over my cottage just outside Evesham. I have spread the word amongst my friends. Thanks once again.
Trevor
Dear Trevor,
What a wonderful message to receive – thank you so much. I’m delighted that The January Man rang so many bells with you. That is exactly what I hoped for the book. I felt that a whole generation of men had had incomplete relationships with their fathers, and would respond to what I wanted to say.
Lucky you to live where you do! It’s beautiful country.
With very good wishes,
Christopher
Our War – How the British Commonwealth Fought the Second World War
‘Vivid reading. Knowing that some of the fighting in the Burmese jungle was hand-to- hand is one thing; reading what it was like to take part in a bayonet charge is quite another.’ – Sunday Telegraph
‘But for Somerville, many of the stories in this fascinating book would have been lost with the deaths of their tellers. This is the first time that some of these men and women have spoken about their experiences.’ – Eye on Tuesday
‘An engrossing, well told story of terror, extraordinary courage and friendships forged for life. And humour. Somerville wisely gives his interviewees free rein to show that even in the most frightening incidents, people can still raise a smile.’ – Huddersfield Examiner
‘This is an inspiring story: politicians and generals make the decisions, but it is the ordinary people who make history.’ – The Age