So begins a punishing existence, but it breeds a tough teenager, and after learning the trade of bricklaying he is called up to do his National Service in 1952. So begins his adventures in the Army, in Europe and Korea, where the ever-plucky Ken - who has an eye for the ladies and is always landing himself in trouble - finds not-always legal ways to make life that bit easier. After the Army he comes back to England and sets up a building business. From there he sees his home town change out of all recognition. The story is a characterful testament to the resourceful generation of the men who did National Service, fought wars, built towns and stood up to everything in their way. Ken's story reads like 'Commando Comics meets Fred Dibnah'.
The Boy From Treacle Bumstead 1
A Country Lad's Journey From Reform School to National Service
So begins a punishing existence, but it breeds a tough teenager, and after learning the trade of bricklaying he is called up to do his National Service in 1952. So begins his adventures in the Army, in Europe and Korea, where the ever-plucky Ken - who has an eye for the ladies and is always landing himself in trouble - finds not-always legal ways to make life that bit easier. After the Army he comes back to England and sets up a building business. From there he sees his home town change out of all recognition. The story is a characterful testament to the resourceful generation of the men who did National Service, fought wars, built towns and stood up to everything in their way. Ken's story reads like 'Commando Comics meets Fred Dibnah'.
- ISBN:
- 9781471113574
- 9781471113574
- Category:
- Autobiography: general
- Format:
- Paperback
- Publication Date:
- 18-07-2013
- Publisher:
- Simon & Schuster Ltd
- Country of origin:
- United Kingdom
- Pages:
- 304
- Dimensions (mm):
- 198x130mm
- Weight:
- 0.21kg
Click 'Notify Me' to get an email alert when this item becomes available
Click on Save to My Library / Lists
Click on My Library / My Lists and I will take you there
Reviews
1 Review
Thinking that this book would interest me, as a former member of the Essex Regiment at the same time as the author, I was amazed at the errors in fact in this book.
Almost everything regarding his time in the Essex Regiment, from his continual mis-spelling of our Base in Germany as Lunenburg instead of Luneburg, to our arrival in Korea "six or seven weeks' before the cease fire (really one week after), being in camp "miles above the 38th parallel" (really below it) to the Troopship Asturias being painted white (really black) and his statement that the ships Captain was in overall command of the troops on board instead of the troops officers, is fanciful in the least, and possibly blatant daydreaming at the worst.
If he can't write factually, he should perhaps go back to "Steeple Bumstead".
I would not recommend this book to anyone!
Share This Book: