Cheshire V.C. A Story of War and Peace.

[Doug]

By Russel Braddon. (Australian author!)
This book is a MUST for all who seek a greater understanding of the controversies of the air war and wish to gain a perspective on it from a man whose devout religious faith allowed him to treat war in the most humane way possible: Get it over with in the shortest possible time.
The story is told in a quite casual, easy-going (typically Australian?) way. The reader is not burdened with technical jargon, excessive second hand narrative or irrelevant sub-plots.
Mr Cheshire's time with 102 is dealt with fairly briefly, but very concisely; His dramatic exploits in winning his first decoration with 102 are described mainly in the form of actual quotes from the man himself. The bravery of "Revs" (The Tail Gunner) and the other crew members on this 'trip' are greatly emphasised by the always modest Cheshire. The book contains a photogragh of the badly mauled Whitley bomber that Mr Cheshire was somehow able to return to and land safely at his squadron base. At least two crew members would almost certainly have died had the aircraft been abandoned in the air.
The rest of the book deals mainly with Mr Cheshire's time with 617 and his unique and very accurate target marking activities with Lancasters, Mosquitos and finally with the P-51 Mustang long range fighter. His personal quotes make target marking sound quite easy! - I'm sure it was anything but easy, but such was the modesty of this great man.
His conversion to the Catholic faith and extraordinary ability to care for the sick and injured is the subject matter of the final section of this great book; And the part that impacted me most. Mr Cheshire was invested with the Victoria Cross for his brave deeds in the air; His humanitarian deeds on the ground are worthy of equal recognition.
A great book about a great man.