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A Soldiers Journey Through the Violence
| Author | Michael Asher |
| Publisher | Viking |
| ISBN # | 0140115722 |
| On-line Merchant | Barnes & Noble |
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| This Book was added by | Kate Plowman |
Cover Notes
A very crisply-written account of an eighteen-year-old's basic training, and then service in Northern Ireland, then service in 23 SAS;
Reviews
Kate Plowman rated this book Excellent
A very good book, written by a very good writer; I have not read such a detailed and well-written account of any private soldier's basic training in any Corps or Regiment. The notoriously arduous nature of the Parachute Regiment's training comes across very strongly: at the end he is, in his own
words, 'one of only two survivors of the original section'. One fellow recruit, who would almost certainly have been a third, is shot and killed by a stray ricochet on exercise during basic training. It is a pity that his section commander at the Depot ('Corporal Jekyll' - one assumes this is a pseudonym, given his very unflattering portrayal as a bully) - was so unpleasant: one hopes that most Depot staff are more admirable.
Next comes three years' service with 2 Para - sometimes on exercise in England, sometimes in Germany, but mainly consisting of two tours in Northern Ireland in the early seventies: the first in Belfast, which seems to be the usual mixture of boredom and pointless violence - inflicted both by the two paramilitary
extremes, and by the Paras on each other; and the second in Bessbrook, Armagh: the same boredom and violence, from IRA and from within the unit.
Failing for the second time to be awarded a commission, Asher leaves the Regular Army. After settling in Leeds he gains a place to read English at the University there and, after a chance reunion with a former colleague in 2 Para is inspired to join the 23 SAS (V). Again, I have not really read such a good
description of what must be the essence of such a unit, or the preparations, training, self-discipline or physical and mental agony that joining one must impose - I have often thought it would probably give a truer picture to one aspiring to join either the Territorial units or the Regular one than many
so-called 'how-to' books published in recent years.
Altogether, a thoroughly good read.
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Stacey Merrett rated this book Excellent
I loved this book!! I'm really intrested in war and this was one of the best books i have EVER read!!!!
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