This book looks at the wartime service of John Kemp through the letters he wrote to his girlfriend and later wife. The book is very touching at times as John Kemp write about his service as a gunner in the Territorial Army prior to the outbreak of war, his promotion to sergeant, then later Battery Sergeant Major and then (briefly) Regimental Sergeant Major. The book gives some insight to Britain's desperate situation at the beginning of the war, deploying some batteries with obsolete (or at least inappropriate in the role) Vickers automatic antiaircraft weapons. Later these were replaced by 3.7 Inch Guns. Kemp's role as a non-commissioned officer (and warrant officer) in the battery makes for interesting reading.
I liked this book and I think it has valuable information about the state of air defense in Britain from the beginning of the War to the invasion of Italy in 1943. However, I think the information at the back of the book on the 3.7 Inch Gun, the organization of the Royal Artillery AA batteries, and the travels of Sergeant-Major Kemp would have been better if they were mixed in the narrative, between letters. Or, if they were mostly presented up-front.
Illustrated with personal photos. The book could have used a map as well.
No comments:
Post a Comment