The first time Sir Adrian came to my attention was on reading a book about an escape from an Italian fortress that held Allied POW's. The remarkable part of this escape is that one of those to escape, the author, had lost both an eye & a hand in the First World War!
In an age of 30-year-olds writing their autobiographies, what a treat it is to read one that contains such a remarkable life & career.
He served in both the Boar & the First World Wars, where he suffered numerous injuries, including those already mentioned. He himself describes feeling as a 'target of the enemy.'
Incredibly despite injuries that would of seen many of us fade into the shadows, he went on to fill many more important military & missionary roles.
The start of the Second World War found him in Poland, & then the Norway campaign.
On flying to Cairo his plane suffered engine trouble. A forced landing made him a POW, which brings us to his remarkable escape & recapture at the age of sixty three!
His wartime role didn't end there. Following the Italian surrender, he returned to England where Winston Churchill requested he travel to China to become his personal representative to Chiang Kai-shek.
Clearly well respected, he was later offered a post war role by the Chinese, but an unfortunate accident led to many months in hospital & the writing of his memoirs.
Clearly Sir Adrian was an incredibly determined man who had an extraordinary life & career, despite life changing injuries.
His story is told with great humour at times, though he never suffered fools.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this book & I would say it is one of the best memoirs I have read. An enthralling read.
First published in 1950, it has been reprinted by Pen & Sword Books, who I must thank for this now cherished copy.
Comentarios