Valour story

Buy For Valour - The story of the Victoria Cross - Leyland for R65.00

Buy For Valour - The story of the Victoria Cross - Leyland for R55.00

1973 first edition hardcover with 396 pages in good condition. A previous price in ink in front. R50 postage in SA. Chapters on: Indian Mutiny, Frontier War 1877, Zulu War, Moirosi War, Basuto war, Transvaal War of Independence, Matabele Rebellion, Mashonaland uprising, Anglo-Boer War, WW1, WW2. "After fifteen years of research the author has collected the biographic details of all the Southern African V.C. heroes, not only those serving in South African or Rhodesian units, but also those South Africans who served in other Commonwealth forces and who received the supreme award for gallantry. From the massacre which spurred a South African on to win the V.C. during the Indian Mutiny of 1857, to the heroic self-sacrifice of South Africa's "Pathfinder" pilot over Germany in 1945, the story surrounding every Victoria Cross award is told. In addition the campaigns in which the awards were won are described and the later lives of the recipients detailed"

1973 first edition hardcover with 396 pages in good condition. A previous price in ink in front. R60 postage in SA. Chapters on: Indian Mutiny, Frontier War 1877, Zulu War, Moirosi War, Basuto war, Transvaal War of Independence, Matabele Rebellion, Mashonaland uprising, Anglo-Boer War, WW1, WW2. "After fifteen years of research the author has collected the biographic details of all the Southern African V.C. heroes, not only those serving in South African or Rhodesian units, but also those South Africans who served in other Commonwealth forces and who received the supreme award for gallantry. From the massacre which spurred a South African on to win the V.C. during the Indian Mutiny of 1857, to the heroic self-sacrifice of South Africa's "Pathfinder" pilot over Germany in 1945, the story surrounding every Victoria Cross award is told. In addition the campaigns in which the awards were won are described and the later lives of the recipients detailed"

This is the extraordinary tale of an extraordinary man. An honestly told story of his military career, of a man who was twice decorated for valour, who pioneered and developed the concept of "small team reconnaissance" within the South African Special Forces. He was a consummate warrior and gentleman and has told his story with humility and a disarming sense that what he did was simply the job he was given, when even the most cursory reading will show that it was anything but simple or easy. Paperback, 212 pages with photos & maps. Published June 2007   Andr (Diedies) Diedericks was born in Pretoria on 7 December 1955, the youngest of four children. He reported for compulsory National Military Service on 7 January 1974 and within a few weeks he volunteered for Special Forces selection, a course that he would successfully complete. Andre would eventually serve in the Special Forces for two decades and would also pioneer the concept of small team operations. He rose to the rank of Colonel within the SADF and was also decorated twice for valour: Decorations & Awards: Honoris Crux Silver (HCS); Honoris Crux (HC); Southern Cross Medal (SM); Military Merit Medal (MMM); Pro Patria Medal with Cunene clasp; Southern Africa Medal; General Service Medal;  Unitas Medal; Good Service Silver (20 years) & Good Service Bronze (10 years). Suffering from terminal cancer, Diedies passed away on 7 May 2005. 

 Jonathan Cape, 1952, 6th impression. Pages yellowing, owner name on ffep. DJ has 4 small clippings, but original price still shown as 15s. net.  If only books cost that today! The classic book of war at sea and the impact on the ordinary people caught up in it. 494 pp.   This is a work of fiction in the historical setting of World War II. It contains errors of fact. Times and places of specific circumstances in actual military operations, names and missions of ships, and naval communication procedures have been distorted either to suit the story or to avoid inadvertent recounting of still-secret information. All the persons and events aboard the Caine are imaginary. Any resemblance to actual persons or events is coincidental. No ship named U.S.S. Caine exists or existed. The records of thirty years show no instance of a court martial resulting from the relief of a captain at see under Articles 184, 185 and 186 of the U.S. Naval Regulations. The fictitious figure of the deposed captain was contrived from a study of psychoneurotic case histories to motivate the central situation and is not a portrait of a real military person or a type. This statement is made in view of an existing tendency to seek lampoons of living people in fiction. The author served under two captains of the regular Navy in three years aboard destroyer-minesweepers, both of whom were decorated for valour. One comment on style: The general obscenity and blasphemy of shipboard talk have gone almost wholly unrecorded. This good-humoured Billingsgate is largely monotonous and not significant, mere verbal punctuation of a sort and its appearance in print annoys some readers. The traces that remain are necessary where occurring.

CONEY, MICHAEL. FOREST RANGER AHOY! The Men The Ships The Job. Sidney, BC Canada:: Porthole Press, 1983. First Edition. The book recounts the history of the Canadian Forest Service of British Columbia, a most unusual navy, dedicated to the guarding of the forests - a story of valour, tragedy and humour, the privation of lonely outposts, the roistering logging communities, the demanding day-to-day work of the Forest Ranger. 232pp., numerous B+W plates, map. Very Good. Presentation inscription and signed by author on ffep. Another inscription to previous owner also appears on same page. in Very Good, slightly edgeworn with few small closed tears and a chip or two. dust-jacket. (#0002130)

 Pan, 2005, 3rd impression. Good PB, creased on bottom of front cover. Heavy book. 690pp.   The Victoria Cross can only be awarded for most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy. It has been awarded only 1,354 times since the Crimean War, the majority going to British and Commonwealth troops. Symbol of Courage vividly brings the story of the medal to life, giving a narrative history from the Crimean War to the recent war in Afghanistan. It includes many first-hand accounts of individual acts of bravery and describes what happened to the VC holders, some of whom found it was harder wearing the medal than winning it. It also gives a complete listing of every VC holder with details of the action in which they won the medal. Written by acclaimed military historian Max Arthur, this is a fascinating and comprehensive study that will appeal to everyone who is interested in military history.The Victoria Cross is Britain's most famous medal. It has a great emotional appeal and this book is full of stories of remarkable courage. Max Arthur's last book, Forgotten Voices of the Great War, sold over 84,000 copies in paperback for Ebury. The first book for many years to give a complete history of the medal.