Description

‘No Ordinary Man’ a biography of Albert Edward Spring (10th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment

by his son, Phil Spring

“I’ve just finished reading ‘No Ordinary Man’. What an enjoyable and informative read about a very special soldier. The title puts me in mind of the understatement from the original and greatest film of the Battle of Arnhem, Theirs is the Glory – ‘those filthy, grimy, wonderful gentlemen who drop from the clouds and fight where they stand – Just Ordinary Men’.

What shines through in this tribute to Sergeant Albert Edward Spring of the WW2 10th Parachute Battalion, is the love and respect shown to Albert, not only by the author, his youngest son, Phil, but seemingly by everyone who knew him. Also – what makes it rather special is that it is no ‘dry’ book of facts and history that we see all too often about Arnhem, but rather, a very human and personal account of one of the veterans.

Thanks must go to the author for the tribute paid and the gratitude shown to the Dutch civilians and especially those incredibly brave members of the resistance who helped Albert and his stick from Chalk 697 escape to freedom. Their penalty for being found out would have been, at least, the concentration camp, but more likely a bullet in the head.

Although I met many veterans of The Tenth, I regret that Albert was not one of them. However, it is intriguing to me that my own Dad, a comrade of Albert’s in the 10th Battalion, was that ‘Man from the Pru’ and lived only a few miles from Albert’s home in Winwick. Did they have a good old chinwag whilst Alec was collecting Albert’s insurance premium payments? Sadly, we shall never know.

The description of the immediate post-war way of life in the bucolic villages and countryside – no gas, no electricity, heating or hot water. Cottages with just a cold tap and a coal-fired cooking range, takes me straight back to my early years, certainly a simpler and probably a better time than we have today?

Finally, I would encourage everyone, not necessarily to publish, but to record and write their family history. The older I get and the more I learn, the more I believe that there is no such thing as ‘an ordinary man (or woman!)’ especially from that greatest generation, who by offering and sometimes sacrificing their own lives and way of life, gave us our liberty and freedom fighting tyranny.

Well done Phil Spring!”

Available only for UK delivery only

Hard Back – £25.00 inc P&P

Paper Back – £20.00 inc P&P

(A ‘Kindle’ version is available at Amazon)