The record of military service of Gerald Glyn Griffiths, who served with the Grenadier Guards from August 1, 1961, until July 31, 1970 (discharged on July 31, 1973; service number, 23862933; rank, lance/corporal). For Crown and Country

The record of military service of Gerald Glyn Griffiths, who served with the Grenadier Guards from August 1, 1961, until July 31, 1970 (discharged on July 31, 1973; service number, 23862933; rank, lance/corporal). For Crown and Country

An Active Service' traces a young Sid Dowland from civilian life into the tough environment of the Guards Depot in the 1930's and then on to a Guards service Battalion in London and prewar Egypt. The outbreak of war found Sid taking part in the retreat to Dunkirk and then service in North Africa before volunteering for the SAS. Captured after a disastrous raid in Sardinia, he escaped from a POW camp in Italy before making it back to England. The end of the war did not signal peace as the Guards were sent into action in Palestine and subsequently to the jungles of Malaya where Sid found that his SAS experience is in great demand. Sid later told his story to Richard Dorney, himself a Guardsman. An Active Service is a tale of adventure but will be of interest to anyone studying the Second World War or the early days of the SAS. Most of the historical information is previously unpublished and much of it is drawn from SAS operation reports in the National Archives and from the war diaries of the Grenadier Guards. The lively text is accompanied by many previously unseen photographs from private collections and is brought to life by a series of high quality and accurate drawings depicting the uniforms of the day. It is an enjoyable human story but is also an accurate account of military life during the war years which will be of interest to anyone researching or studying this period, particularly those with an interest in the early days of the SAS, the world's premier élite force. Key sales points: Fascinating personal story of a member of the Grenadier Guards and SAS, covering pre-WWII service as a regular, Dunkirk, the early days of the SAS, and postwar Palestine and Malaya / Contains much previously unpublished information from archives and war diaries, as well as Sid's account of the early days of the SAS, and service with the Grenadier Guards / Lively text supplemented by a number of interesting photos and superb drawings by artist Sean Bolan.

Steve Rudge writes in graphic and humorous detail, his life in the Grenadier Guards from 1966 to 1990, it shows how he matured from a 15-year-old boy soldier to becoming a senior Warrant Officer. He served in many places around the world and with numerous Armies; the reader will enjoy the truthful way that the book is written. Harsh and blunt language is used to describe his life for 25 years. This book also gives the authors views on the severe amount of stupidity and bulling that he was subjected too by those in authority, who had used their Rank and position to fulfill their own aims instead of looking after their subordinates or comrades.