With Recce at Arnhem: The Recollections of Trooper Des Evans - A 1st Airborne Division Veteran

Des Evans joined the Reconnaissance Corps, saw action in North Africa and Italy, and was evacuated back to England with pneumonia in 1944. He volunteered as a wireless operator with 1st Airborne Reconnaissance Squadron and joined C Troop before the ill-fated attempt to seize the Rhine Bridge at Arnhem. This book covers his wartime service in North Africa, Italy, and at Arnhem, and is brutally honest and shockingly so.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 160 pages
Publication date: 03 October 2023
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

Des Evans, driven by a strong sense of duty, abandoned his reserved occupation and enlisted in the newly established Reconnaissance Corps. His military journey took him to the battlefields of North Africa and Italy, where he witnessed the intensity of war firsthand. However, his service was cut short when he was evacuated back to England in early 1944 due to pneumonia. Fully recovered, Des bravely volunteered as a wireless operator with the 1st Airborne Reconnaissance Squadron, embarking on a perilous mission to seize the Rhine Bridge at Arnhem.

Des vividly recounts the intense action that followed the drop, describing the ambushes, injuries, and the harrowing experiences of being a prisoner of war. His firsthand accounts of the bitter fighting at Arnhem are rare and provide a brutally honest portrayal of the challenges faced by the soldiers during that historic operation.

Born in Liverpool in 1923, Des Evans had a tumultuous life. Despite being in a Reserve Occupation, he managed to join the Army and serve his country during World War II. This book chronicles his wartime service in North Africa, Italy, and the ill-fated attempt to seize the Rhine Bridge at Arnhem.

Post-war, Des continued his military career, serving in Italy, Palestine, Germany, and the Suez Canal Zone. Unfortunately, his marriage was marred by infidelity, and he was convicted of manslaughter for the murder of his first wife's lover. After serving his sentence, Des met Betty, who became his lifelong companion. They enjoyed nearly 40 years of marriage until dementia necessitated residential care. Tragically, Betty passed away in March 2010, and Des followed her three months later, leaving behind a legacy of bravery and service to his country.

Weight: 280g
Dimension: 156 x 234 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399077736