Algiers to Anzio with 72 and 111 Squadrons: An RAF Engineer Officer's Experiences in North Africa and Italy with 239 Wing DAF During World War II

The cover photo reminds me of a shot from "The English Patient" - is that a captured German motorbike ?Greggs Farish has a clear style, his diary was for himself, kept against orders, and not meant to be published. It has been well edited by mike MCcaul and like all such memoirs might lead the reader to ask more questions about the motivation underlying subsequent actions. It well conveys the organised preparation, the landings and the stress of sustained combat and support. It is not written as a book of humorous anecdote, but there is a strain of dry under statement throughout.This is the only book I have found that covers in such detail the ground crew aspects of these RAF squadrons with the 1St Army - part of the well oiled machine that provided Allied air cover to the campaigns in North Africa and Italy - skilled young men working under difficult conditions to support the Squadron, often subject to enemy action, but with little real chance of retaliating. The engineering detail and the mentality of engineering management/administration underlies the diary, some might find it boring, but I find it adds to the realism. Engineers and engineering administration/logistics is often the same in order to deliver a project or a mission. Bizarre procurement decisions adversely affect the campaign. Spitfires are much loved, as are all aircraft and there is delight in repairing an Me.109, which is then almost destroyed during a little trip. The matter of fact recovery of crashed aircraft is a reflection of the nature of operations. Maintaining their beloved lorries is almost more difficult task than Spitfires - since all their gear was for Spitfires. Ground Crew and Pilots all work together to preserve operational capability.Reading this book was almost a Proustian evocation of my childhood. My late father was a Spitfire Engine fitter with 111 Squadron at this time, and I grew up with tiny tales of this period - place names and little details. Blues exchanged for Khaki BD, Using petrol instead of water, Spitfires taking off with fitters on the tail, the use of captured Italian materiel for private projects (weapons, vehicles, aircraft), Communications Flights, obtaining a Piano for the NAAFI. Drawing on my father's experience, it might be useful to read this in common with "The Two Types" by Jon to provide additional imagery.The North African section in Tunisia and Algeria is very detailed. The Sicilian and Italian parts are more of a pen sketch, but under the stress and pace of relentless operations the sense of camaraderie becomes more pronounced. Farish's unauthorised flight to the Anzio beach head and subsequent Court Martial could be indicative of a young man stretched to the limit. In other hands it could have read like Tom Sharpe meets "Catch 22", I was reminded of the sort of anecdotes reported in Michael Nelson ("Captain Blossom"), Alan Whicker or George MacDonald Fraser. Farish's continuing active service and "rehabilitation" are only covered in outline, and could be a most interesting read.I highly recommend this book, but it might be a specialist read. Thanks to the publishers, McCaul and Farish's family.