The Real 'Dad's Army'

Here, for the first time, is the inside story of the Home Guard, the ragtag army of older and not-so-able-bodied younger men who defended Britain in the Second World War. Keeping a secret diary chronicling his service in south-east England, Colonel Rodney Foster wrote from barns, churches and makeshift officers' messes, recording the everyday, comic and chaotic details of wartime life: soldiers scared to train after dark or just skipping onerous duties; constant aerial bombardment; manoeuvres sabotaged by incompetence, makeshift equipment or lack of interest. It is a wonderful story of one family's life on the front line as well as of the men who had so little yet were ready to give their all to beat the enemy. 'The extraordinary thing about this book is that it is the real thing. Readers can finally find an authentic insight into this extraordinary time.' Jim Perry (co-creator of Dad's Army), The Times 'Entertainingly terse and grumpy. An enjoyable record of six long years on the home front. If you lament the demise of the stiff upper lip, this is the book for you.' Dominic Sandbrook, Evening Standard 'Amazing, a delight to read, a book worth special attention. Worthy of being in Dad's Army . . . an insight into life as it really was in those dark days of World War II.' Army Rumour Service 'Could have come straight from the script of Dad's Army.' Sunday Telegraph