{"product_id":"arnhem-1944-the-human-tragedy-of-the-bridge-too-far","title":"Arnhem 1944: The Human Tragedy of the Bridge Too Far","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cblockquote\u003eThe book focuses on the individual stories of casualties during the airborne battle for the Rhine bridges at Arnhem, providing a fresh narrative and approach. It explores the backgrounds, previous experiences, and tragic effects on the families of the casualties, and includes the stories of Private Albert Willingham, Major Frank Tate, Sergeant George Thomas, and Squadron Leader John Gilliard DFC. The author conducted extensive research, including trips to Arnhem and Oosterbeek, and communicated with the relatives of the casualties to gain their enthusiastic support. The book ensures that these moving stories are recorded for posterity, highlighting the raw, personal side of war and the hopes and fears of ordinary men thrust into extraordinary circumstances. \u003c\/blockquote\u003e\u003cp\u003e\n                                                            \u003cstrong\u003eFormat\u003c\/strong\u003e: Hardback\u003cbr\u003e\n                              \u003cstrong\u003eLength\u003c\/strong\u003e: 362 pages\u003cbr\u003e\n                              \u003cstrong\u003ePublication date\u003c\/strong\u003e: 17 June 2019\u003cbr\u003e\n                              \u003cstrong\u003ePublisher\u003c\/strong\u003e: Pen \u0026amp; Sword Books Ltd\u003cbr\u003e\n                          \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe airborne battle for the bridges across the Rhine at Arnhem ranks amongst the Second World War's most famous actions - inspiring innumerable books and the star-studded 1977 movie. This book, however, is unique: deeply moved, the author provides a fresh narrative and approach - concentrating on the tragic stories of individual casualties.\r\n\r\nThese men were killed at different junctures in the fighting, often requiring forensic analysis to ascertain their fates. Wider events contextualise the author's primary focus - effectively 'resurrecting' casualties through describing their backgrounds, previous experience, and tragic effect on their families. In particular, the emotive and unresolved issue of the many still 'missing' is explored.\r\n\r\nDuring the course of his research, the author made numerous trips to Arnhem and Oosterbeek, travelled miles around the UK, and spent countless hours communicating with the relatives of casualties - achieving their enthusiastic support. This detailed work, conducted sensitively and with dignity, ensures that these moving stories are now recorded for posterity.\r\n\r\nIncluded are the stories of Private Albert Willingham, who sacrificed his life to save civilians; Major Frank Tate, machine-gunned against the backdrop of blazing buildings around Arnhem Bridge; family man Sergeant George Thomas, whose anti-tank gun is displayed today outside the Airborne Museum 'Hartenstein', and Squadron Leader John Gilliard DFC, father of a baby son who perished flying his Stirling through a hail of shot and shell during an essential re-supply drop. Is Private Gilbert Anderson, who remains 'missing', actually buried as an 'unknown', the author asks? Representing the Poles is Lance-Corporal Czeslaw Gajewnik, who drowned whilst escaping the hell of Oosterbeek, and accounts by Dutch civilians emphasise the shared suffering - sharply focussed by the tragedy of Luuk Buist, killed protecting his family. The sensitivity still surrounding German casualties is also explained.\r\n\r\nThis raw, personal, side of war, the hopes and fears of ordinary men thrust into extraordinary circumstances, is both deeply moving and revealing: no longer are these just names carved on headstones or memorials in a distant land. Through this thorough investigative work, supported by those who remember them, the casualties live again, their silent voices heard through friends, relatives, comrades and unpublished letters.\r\n\r\nSo, let us return to the fateful autumn of 1944, and meet those fighting in the skies, on the landing grounds, in the streets and woods of Oosterbeek, and on the 'bridge too far' at Arnhem.\r\n\r\nNow, the casualties can tell their own stories - as we join this remarkable journey of discovery.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\n                            \u003cstrong\u003eWeight\u003c\/strong\u003e: 1194g\n                            \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimension\u003c\/strong\u003e: 249 x 172 x 32 (mm)\n                            \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN-13\u003c\/strong\u003e: 9781526732736\n                            \n                          \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Dilip Sarkar","offers":[{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":44101005213946,"sku":"9781526732736","price":21.42,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0522\/4297\/2845\/products\/8e684917edf16c3b520f3a5120e8d453.jpg?v=1625195720","url":"https:\/\/shulphink.com\/products\/arnhem-1944-the-human-tragedy-of-the-bridge-too-far","provider":"Shulph Ink","version":"1.0","type":"link"}