Free The Lost Band of Brothers by Tom Keene Page B

visitors to ‘Bloody Omaha’. (Author’s collection)

    The grave of Major Gus March-Phillipps in the village cemetery at Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, flanked by the men who died with him: Private Richard Lehniger (left, serving as Private Leonard) and Serjeant Alan Williams (right). In the foreground, incised in marble, is Gus March-Phillipps’ poem ‘If I Must Die …’ (Author’s collection)

    British war graves in the Cimetière Communal de Viroflay on the outskirts of Paris. Most of the British war dead were RAF bomber crew. Captain Graham Hayes’ grave is nearest camera. (Author’s collection)

    The grave of Captain Graham Hayes MC, at Viroflay. The freshly watered single rose was taken from his mother’s grave nearby and offered by a Frenchman after he was told Graham’s story of evasion, betrayal and execution. (Author’s collection)

    Patrick Dudgeon, St Anthony’s House, Oundle School, 1938. Patrick is third from right, second row. (Steven Forge, Oundle School)

    Captain Oswald ‘Mickey’ Rooney of 12 Commando, pictured here in service dress. He was seconded to SSRF after the disaster of Operation Aquatint . (Chris Rooney)

    Night ops: MTB 344 at work close inshore, Brittany. (Appleyard family)

    Working rig. Captain Rooney, left, that ‘powerfully built, self-confident officer who knew his men intimately and commanded their implicit obedience’. A good man to have on your rope. Note the commando dagger slung beneath his throat. To his left, training on Beachy Head, is J. Barry. (Chris Rooney)

    Inset: Sgt James Edgar, 1945. (James Edgar)

    Pointe de Plouézec, Brittany. The ascent to Operation Fahrenheit . (Chris Rooney)

    James Edgar in 2007. (James Edgar)

    Horace ‘Stokey’ Stokes. (Peter Stokes)

    Geoffrey Appleyard’s medals. Reading from left to right: DSO (Distinguished Service Order), MC (Military Cross) and Bar, 1939–45 Star, Atlantic Star, Africa Star, Italy Star and 1939–45 War Medal. (Lt Col David Owen MBE, Royal Corps of Transport Medal Collection, Surrey)

    Linton Memorial Hall, near Wetherby, Yorkshire. (Author’s collection)

    The memorial in Linton Memorial Hall, made with the oak laid down by Graham Hayes. A skilled wood carver and cabinet-maker, he planned to work on this after the war. Here are inscribed the names of Linton’s fallen including Geoffrey Appleyard, Malcolm Hayes – and Graham Hayes himself. (Author’s collection)

    Closing moves. J.E.A. and Geoffrey Appleyard playing chess together in the Manor House, Linton-on-Wharfe, Christmas 1942. It was the last time father and son were to enjoy such times together. In July 1943 Geoffrey would be posted Missing, Presumed Killed in Action. (Appleyard family)

    Cover illustrations
    Front : A small party of commandos charging forward during their training course. (© IWM (A 17762)) Back : Night ops: MTB 344 at work close inshore, Brittany. (Appleyard family)

Copyright
    First published, titled Britain’s Band of Brothers , 2014.

    The History Press
    The Mill, Brimscombe Port
    Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL 5 2 QG
    www.thehistorypress.co.uk

    This ebook edition first published in 2015

    All rights reserved
    © Tom Keene, 2014, 2015

    The right of Tom Keene to be identified as the Author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

    This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

    EPUB ISBN 978 0 7509 6358 9

    Original typesetting by The History Press

    Ebook compilation by RefineCatch Limited, Bungay, Suffolk