Snowdrops for a Soldier

Snowdrops for a Soldier tells the story of Karen J. Yates’ uncle Charlie, who was tragically killed at the very end of the North Africa Campaign during the Second World War. He travelled further in his young life than he could ever have imagined, and this book, via his letters and diary, charts his progress from a small town near Manchester, to Durban, then on to Egypt. There his regiment took part in the battle of El-Alamein before chasing the German and Italian armies across nearly two thousand miles of unforgiving terrain. His letters home reflect the sacrifices both civilians and soldiers made as they worked for the war effort, before coming to an abrupt halt as Charlie paid the ultimate sacrifice, laying down his life for his country. His bravery took the form of facing up to a soldier’s harsh life, never giving in to bitterness; never complaining or grumbling. Unwilling to fall out with anyone, this friendly, peaceful man did his duty under the most trying conditions and retained his basic humanity in the midst of so much aggression, death and destruction. Like all those men who faced up to war, in all its best and worst aspects: he was a hero. Poignant yet informative, this book will appeal to those interested in family histories and more personal accounts of the Second World War.