'The cloak and dagger, secretive, mercurial, exceedingly hazardous life behind enemy lines . . . ' (Allan Yeoman) Between 1941 and 1945 a fair number of young Kiwi combatants found themselves loose behind enemy lines in occupied southern Europe - mostly Greece, Yugoslavia and Italy. Most were escaped prisoners of war, trying to reach friendly territory. A few brave souls such as John Mulgan and Dudley Perkins took even riskier routes, actually landing in occupied territory to bolster the resistance and carry the fight to the enemy. When need arose, the escapees fought, often as members of partisan bands. 'We decided that if it was too late to get across to Turkey or Palestine the alternative was to kick up a bit of a bloody shindig in southern Greece,' Bill Griffiths recalled of his experiences. Resourceful and determined Kiwis helped make life a headache for German and Italian occupying forces. This book tells of many extraordinary feats of heroism and survival. We have only to look at Bill Griffiths' adventures, scudding into Piraeus harbour amidst a storm, right under the noses of the Nazis; or at the way Frank Gardner took the war into his own hands, dynamiting German trains with or without the help of the partisans, to realise just how remarkable, determined and capable these young New Zealanders really were.
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A different person for each chapter, ten chapters telling the stories of captured NZ soldiers in Crete, Greece and Yugoslavia, behind enemy lines.They are often the most modest of men, these brave and dedicated men, who continue their fight against the enemy after their escape from captivity. So many stories, with a lot of similarity, but generally acting as individuals.A good collection of tales, some penned by the soldiers them selves, others pieced together from letters or memoirs, some by other authors telling their tales.Sadly we are reaching the time when these men, young in 1941-44 are reaching the end of their lifespans, so very nice to have their history recorded in this way.Very similar to [b:Free Lodgings; The True Story of a Kiwi Soldier's Amazing Bid for Freedom 4304218 Free Lodgings; The True Story of a Kiwi Solidier's Amazing Bid for Freedom Peter Winter https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1401775633s/4304218.jpg 4351823], by Peter Winter, a book which tells one story, which picks up on a lot of other peoples stories on the way.
