A Well-known Excellence: British Artillery and an Artilleryman in World War Two

So, even Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, Germany's most accomplished battlefield general and scourge of the British soldier, recognized the British artillery as masters of their craft and it is apt that his words are used in the title of this absorbing military autobiography. The author, now 87, fought in all European theaters and took part in the Normandy landings; the book follows his war from enlistment to demobilization and offers very much more than a simple account of life in various battle zones. Uniquely it includes a critical assessment of Claude Auchinleck, Commander-in-Chief Middle East and often referred to as the 'soldier's soldier' and describes the role and function of the artillery in World War Two. The result is a descriptive memoir offering a treasured insight into the workings of an artilleryman at war, including equipment, tactics, and the dramas of the battlefield. Denis Falvey is a member of the British Commission for Military History and will give a lecture on his war experiences at that organizations Spring 2002 conference; he has previously given a lecture on the subject at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. His candid views about Field Marshal Auchinleck are certain to cause much debate.