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Robert Boscawen served with a Coldstream Guards tank troop from Normandy until suffering severe burns in April 1945. During that period he kept this diary, recording his experiences both on and away from the front. Before publishing his diaries, the same author produced a series of notes that provide historical information unavailable to him during the war, further details of an incident or of the fate of someone mentioned in the original diary.
One of the most interesting features of the diary is the way in which the tone keeps on changing. All the way through it alternates between light-hearted moments behind the lines and the more serious business of the war. As the fighting continues and losses mount the tone of the sections dealing with the fighting becomes rather darker, especially after Boscawen's original tank company was disbanded due to heavy losses.
Boscawen is a very engaging guide, and gives us a real feel for the life of an officer in a British tank unit (I doubt too many of his men disappeared on quite so many hunting trips!). His concern for his men and sadness at losses comes across very clearly, as does the excitement of a successful attack and the gloom caused by a failure. This book comes highly recommended.
Chapters
None - organised by date
Author: Robert Boscawen
Edition: Paperback
Pages: 232
Publisher: Pen & Sword Military
Year: 2010 edition, originally published in 2001, written in 1944-45.