Martijn’s ‘A Soldiers Tale’ goed ontvangen

Martijn Cornelissen’s A Soldier Tale over Sandy Masterton heeft een mooie recensie ontvangen:

Clive Elderton reviews Martijn Cornelissen’s fascinating and comprehensive account of the life of Sandy Masterton, 1 BORDER.

A native of Apeldoom, the author has had a life-long interest in the battle of Arnhem and met Sandy MastertonIn 1994during the 50th anniversary pilgrimage of veterans to the town. A firm friendship developed such that when Sandy passed away In June 2O16at the age of93 his widow and daughter decided to gift his vast collectionof wartime memorabilia to Martijn and this has provided the basis of this book But it’s much more than that!

SANDY joined the 8th (Territorial) Bn of The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in March 1938 and in early 1942 as a fit young soldier, lured by the attractlon of excitement and an extra shilling a day, he volunteered for the newly formed Airborne Forces.
Thereafter, Sandy joined the 1st(Airborne) Battalion The Border Regiment and became an anti-tank gunner. Assuch he served with the Battalion in Tunisia and, to bis frustration, was left out of the battle for the Airborne assault on Sicily, due toa shortage of gliders.
He then moved with the Battalion to Italy via Taranto. The Battalion returned to U1e UK in November1943 and in 1944 began a period of intensive training in airlanding operations which culminated in Operation Market Garden at Amhem in September. Attached to C Company, Sandy fought with his 6 pounder anti-tank gun crew throughout the battle until evacuated across the Rhine on the night 25th/ 26th September. Finally, In August 1946, whilst serving in Germany with l Border, Sandy was released from the Am1y and returnedto civilian life as a plumber.

THIS is much, much more than simply yet another book about Arnhem. This is the story of the highs, lows,excitement and fears of wartime infantry soldiers, told through the eyes of Sandy and many of those who shared his experiences. It seems Sandy Lilrew nothing from hls Amly days away and this book includes photographs of the minutia of soldiering; leave passes, personal service records, his paybook, theatre tickets, newspaper clippings, official signal messages and literally dozens of named and annotated b&w photographs of those he served wiili, many of which appear in print for the first time. This is a superbly produced book ofthe highest quality with text which is a model of clarity which is enhanced by the most remarkable selection of, mostly annotated, photographs drawn from a vast range of private and public sources.

HAVING served myself with Arnhem Company 1 King’s Own Border in the 197O’s I can testify to the almost legendary status accorded to the airborne veterans of the Regiment and the enormous sense of pride all members of the Battalion had in wearing the glider badge on the right upper arm in recognition of the wartime exploits of I Border with the 1st Airborne Division. As the former Colonel ofthe Regiment, and my good friend, Brigadier Mike Griffiths says in his Foreward,

“I was very privileged during my service to meet many of these airborne warriors…These were
courageous men doing their best in the most difficult of circumstances.”
Ifeel similarly fortunate to have known several of the remarkable personalities mentioned in Martijn Cornelissen’s book. He has done them all, the Regiment and military historians, and Sandy Masterton proud by
publishing the fruits of his meticulous research. Even at £38, including p&p, by modem standards this book Is
excellent value and most highly recommended, but be quick, because I sense, like other airborne related books of this quality, it will soon become an unobtainable collector’s item!

Clive Elderton

‘A Border Soldier at Arnhem -The Army Days of Private Alexander ‘Sandy’ Masterton 1st Battalion The Border Regiment 1938-19461 by Martijn Comelissen. Published by Sigmond Publishing, Netherlands, at £38 incl p&p. Available in the UK from Cumbria’s Museum of Military Life

enquiries@cmoml.org

https://clementsmilitaria.com/shop.php?code=57144

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