From the Frontline: Family Letters and Diaries - 1900 to the Falklands and Afghanistan

by Pike, Hew

• ISBN13: 9781844158126
• ISBN10: 1844158128
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2009-04-01
• Publisher: Pen & Sword Books

Summary

From the Frontline is an extraordinary record of a family's military service over the last 100 years. Thanks to careful editing, each individual tells his story through letters and diaries which capture the military scene and reflect family ties that bind them all closely. The eight family members served in South Africa, West Africa, Korea, Aden, the Falklands and Afghanistan as well as both World Wars. One lost his life and others were wounded. Two became generals, many were decorated. Their records may span a century when warfare changed greatly. Yet the tone of the letters remains surprisingly constant reflecting confidence in their fellows, a pride in service to Crown and Country, love of family and understatement of the dangers. Being thinking men, their views on the conduct of operations is sometimes critical as are their opinions of their leaders. This collection is highly unusual and totally enthralling.

Table of Contents

List of Maps	p. vii
Preface	p. viii
Sources and Acknowledgments	p. xii
Family Tree of Pikes, Thicknesses and Tompsons	p. xiv
Reggie Tompson - Aro Expedition, Southern Nigeria, 1901-2	p. 1
Sydney Pike and Bessie Huddleston ('B') - South Africa, Mauritius and Blackheath, 1900-7	p. 6
Reggie Tompson and Bridget Thicknesse, Western Front 1914-16	p. 18
Frank Thicknesse, Passchendaele, 1917	p. 46
Reggie and Bridgy Tompson, 1918-37	p. 53
Willie Pike, Dunkirk, 1940	p. 63
Bridget Tompson, Bentley, Hampshire, 1940	p. 77
Hew Tompson, North Africa, 1942	p. 79
Willie Pike, Tunisia, 1943	p. 87
Cuthbert Thicknesse, St Albans and Hiroshima, 1945	p. 103
Willie Pike, Korea, 1951-2	p. 108
Hew Pike, Radfan, 1964	p. 120
Hew Pike, Falklands, 1982	p. 129
Will Pike, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, 2006	p. 170
Epilogue	p. 212
Glossary of Abbreviations	p. 216
Index	p. 227
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