 Normandy:
The Search for Sidney
By Thomas J. Bates & Eric Lummis
Arc Publications, 2000
ISBN 0-945992-03-3
202 Pages, Hardbound
Over the years many books have been written on the subject of D-Day,
so it was with some trepidation that I sat down and started reading this
book. From the beginning, though, I knew that this one was going to be
different. While most books about the Second World War take a general
overview of the happenings, this book focuses very closely on a small
few, mainly centered on Sidney Bates, a Corporal in the Royal Norfolk
Regiment. What makes Sidney Bates so significant is the fact that he
was awarded the Victoria Cross, posthumously, for his actions on August
6, 1944. On that date he took on advancing German troops single-handedly
and held them off, allowing the rest of his troops to evade and escape.
This book travels back and forth from 1944 to present day, following
a couple of soldiers revisiting and remembering the places of their battles,
all the while searching for that fateful field where Sidney made his last
stand. As is expected, memories are fallible, but with the help of local
Frenchmen the old soldiers are able to return to the battlefields, all
the while reciting their recollections. This collection of stories gives
the D-Day invasions a more personal view, providing a glimpse into the
lives of the British foot soldier during those trying times.
This book surprised me on many levels and left me with an impression
that I won’t soon forget. While seeing the general overview of a battle
is important, it’s equally important to see a battle through the eyes
of those doing the actual fighting, which this book does quite well.
If you’re interested in the ground war in Europe, this is one book you’ll
want to track down.
My thanks to Bate’s Books for
the review sample.
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