The greatest invasion in the history of mankind is about to take place and the world is watching, yet the fate of the civilised world rests in the hands of a very small number of men. D-Day is approaching and the Commandos are needed not only to attack the Atlantic Wall but to discover what will be waiting for them when they do attack. Based on actual battlefield detail, this is a fast-moving novel which culminates in the attack on Sword Beach in 1944.
This is book number 6 in my Combined Operations series and covers the invasion of France up to June 12th!
Excerpt
We stopped just half a mile from the darkened village which lay ahead of us. The way around it involved a long detour. I waved Scouse forward. He could scout better than anyone I knew. We gave him a start of thirty yards and then followed. I took my Colt out once more. I knew it was less than three hours to dawn. We had to be close to the coast by daylight. I hoped to be safely sheltered in the woods I had spied by dawn. Private Beaumont tapped my arm and pointed. Scouse was sheltering behind a corner. He turned and, putting his finger beneath his nose like a Hitler moustache he held out of three fingers; Germans.
Sergeant Poulson also had a silenced Colt. I pointed to Beaumont and signed him to watch our rear. When we reached Scouse I risked a look around the corner. There were three Germans and they had a Kubelwagen parked across the street. It was at a crossroads. The only way through the village was past this roadblock. The range was forty yards. At night that was marginal. Every moment we delayed increased the chance that we would be captured. I tapped Polly. He came forward. I aimed at the one to left, he the one on the right. I hissed, “Fire!”
I squeezed twice and did not wait for the man to fall. I fired another two shots at the last man. All three were dead.
“Move!”
We ran to the Kubelwagen. Two of the Germans had two bullet holes, the last one three. The Colt was as reliable as ever.
“Put the bodies in the back. We head north. I’ll drive.”
The sound of the Kubelwagen starting seemed like an explosion yet it might be expected for it had been driven into the village by the Germans. I gave the others my amended plan as I drove through twisting and narrow side roads. “We will drive north of Boulogne and abandon the Kubelwagen. It will be missed. Then we head back to the woods. I want them looking north.” We now had an advantage and I wanted to deceive the Germans and their search.
“Makes sense sir.”
“What do we do with the bodies sir?”
“Leave them in the vehicle.”
Ironically driving the vehicle was safer than running. In the dark our woollen hats looked like German field caps. We passed one vehicle heading south as we neared Boulogne. I raised my hand to wave to the driver as we passed.
“Next side road we take it!”
“There sir!”
I almost rolled the vehicle as I threw it to the left. It was a farm track. As soon as we stopped I jumped out. “Get your bags and let’s go.”
