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The Real Dad's Army - The War Diaries of Lt. Col. Rodney Foster
This new book, to be published by Penguin on 3 November, is an abridged version of Rodney's daily adventures and escapades in Kent. Rodney was the commander of the Saltwood platoon and later the commander of 'B' Company, Folkestone of the 8th. Battalion. His diary entries follow the formation of the LDV and Home Guard, covers the training of his men and their adventures during the early years of WWII. Rodney later became the ARP Warden of Saltwood.
It is believed this is the first and most comprehensive (there's an entry for each day between 1939-1945 and it covered eight volumes) Home Guard diary ever found and published and as it's set in Kent the parallels with the TV series are extensive. As you will know, Rodney shouldn't have kept a diary but as a keen historian and archivist, I don't think he could help himself. Also Saltwood was the area the SS parachutists would have landed if Operation Sea Lion was undertaken.
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The Walmington on Sea Home Guard Training Manual by Captain George Mainwaring and members of his platoon (as issued to Pte Frank Pike)
This new title is now available in hardback from Orion, priced £9.99
The press release from Orion states
"Dad’s Army’ remains incredibly popular, still attracting prime-time audiences of over eighteen million viewers, more than forty years since the first series aired.
A facsimile of the Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard Training Manual recently discovered in the attic of a house in the town. Found in a trunk amongst a pile of Hotspur comics, it belonged to Private Pike and features his handwritten marginal notes on the text plus his personal jottings on matters of rather less importance than the defence of the realm, such as films he has seen, girls he has dated and the progress of Aston Villa FC. The book bears the official crest and stamp of the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment, to which the platoon belongs. Although aged and covered with stains, boot prints, tears and scorch marks, it is in a reasonable condition…"
The manual is Capt Mainwaring's attempt to ready the platoon to face (and recognize) the enemy in the coming invasion of Britain. It includes contributions by other members of the platoon in their own inimitable styles. Lance-Corporal Jack Jones writes on Weaponry and Transport, Private James Frazer on dealing with wildlife and Sergeant Arthur Wilson shares his thoughts on Military Drilling".
This facsimile training manual has been reproduced with the help of Guy Adams and the approval of the David Croft and Jimmy Perry, the creators and writers of ‘Dad's Army.
This title is currently available from Amazon at £6.39
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