A Soldier’s Memoir Vol 2: Sicily, D Day, Belsen to demob in 1946
George West

The Snail, at Length, Reached Jerusalem
Grandpa's War - Volume 2
Edited by Effie Cadwallader

The Snail, At Length, Reached Jerusalem
is the second volume of the memoir of an ordinary soldier`s experiences during World War 2, one man`s course through seven years of activity not of his own choosing, describing episodes, individuals and activities in extraordinary detail.
George`s story isn`t really about fighting or regimental business; it’s more an account of the incidents and elements of his daily life, described in interesting detail, with quite a few adventures thrown in. There are simmering feuds, romantic dalliances, humanitarian rescues and comic moments, as well as the inevitable fear and danger. In this volume, George has matured from an innocent nineteen-year-old driver into a highly competent, resourceful and inventive sergeant mechanic, Royal Engineers.
Published: Oct 2020
Paperback: 284 pages
Price: £10.99
ISBN: 9-781913-425371


£10.99 (+ £3.50 postage)
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There are simmering feuds, romantic dalliances, humanitarian rescues and comic moments, as well as the inevitable fear and danger.
George matures from an innocent nineteen-year-old driver into a highly competent, resourceful and inventive Sergeant Mechanic, Royal Engineers.

George West was brought up in South Shields. His mother died in childbirth and his father disappeared to Australia, so he was adopted by his mother`s elder sister and her husband who were late middle-aged when they took the baby. His upbringing was strictly Methodist and difficult, but he spent a great deal of his childhood with his close friend Bill Sharp whose family was open, loving and lively. After the war George married Bill`s younger sister, Kathleen.
George qualified as a primary school teacher soon after demob and had a successful career back in South Shields, specialising in teaching literacy and numeracy and, of course, drawing and painting, before retiring to live with Kathleen in Shropshire.
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