Pen & Sword Books

Explores the 1916 New Jersey shark attacks, their impact on shark fear, and how media shaped harmful misconceptions.In the Summer of 1916, a series of shark attacks along the New Jersey shore would send shockwaves across its otherwise peaceful beach towns. Spanning a terrifying two weeks, including the deaths of nearly five people, these attacks would officially cement an innate fear of sharks that humans have felt since the beginning of time.Although initially kept under wraps by the tourism industry, these attacks would ultimately plaster the front pages of newspapers across the United States and even overseas. As the news spread, the line between fact and fiction blurred, reshaping our cultural and scientific understanding of the beasts of the ocean. It was the 1916 shark attacks that would establish our modern-day misconstrued perception of sharks as evil, man-eating monsters, and would later inspire the film Jaws, which would perpetuate the same harmful narrative.The Real Jaws takes an in-depth look at each one of the attacks and how they instilled a centuries-long fear of the ocean's apex predator. It explores the various theories explaining why these attacks may have occurred and the probability of something like this happening again. And finally, it analyses the way the harmful misconceptions derived from films like Jaws have redefined humanity’s relationship with sharks, leading humans to become the predators and sharks to become the prey.

Explores the enduring mysteries of Lawrence’s postwar obscurity and complex sexuality.T. E. Lawrence, soldier and writer, the co-leader with King Faisal of Saudi Arabia of the Arab Campaign during the First World War, became a legend in his own lifetime. And yet to this day there is much about him which remains a mystery: two aspects of his character being of particular interest.This first is why, having become a famous figure with the world at his feet, did he choose, subsequently, to live a life of obscurity in the lower ranks of the armed services?The second concerns Lawrence’s sexuality. Some of his biographers have been accused of bringing ‘sex’ into their volumes, for reasons of sensationalism and publicity. To be fair, however, it was Lawrence himself who first raised the subject, by including in his book Seven Pillars of Wisdom (an account of the Desert Campaign), details of how he was captured and raped by the Turks. Lawrence, who never married, is known to have engaged in masochistic rituals. So, what was the true nature of, and explanation for his sexuality?This is the challenge of The Real T. E. Lawrence.

A revealing biography of Prince Rupert, challenging myths and reshaping his role in Britain’s civil wars.Prince Rupert of the Rhine was an intrinsic part of the civil wars that devastated the three kingdoms of Stuart Britain. A nephew of King Charles I, Rupert was both the archetypical royalist hero and parliamentarian villain. In his lifetime, he accumulated at least nine derogatory pseudonyms — from ‘Duke of Plunderland’ to ‘The Diabolical Cavalier’ — with one even coined in 2023. Such polarising viewpoints and propaganda, along with numerous historical myths, often make it challenging to understand the real Rupert. When approaching this biography, Mark Turnbull delved into numerous and varied archives to reconstruct a tapestry of the Civil War and Rupert’s part in it. This highlighted historical errors, gave fresh perspectives, and revealed brand-new information. Key myths are examined, and the prince’s flaws and fame are assessed to produce a balanced and definitive biography. The women in Rupert’s life have never had the prominence they deserve, partly down to the sad fact that there is a lack of surviving records relating to them. That said, Mark’s research has managed to unearth exciting new details about his lover, Lady Katherine Scott, together with mistresses Frances Bard and Margaret Hughes. Valuable studies of the Battles of Vlotho (1638) and Powick Bridge (1642) challenge previous historical narratives and help reshape Rupert’s story. Deciphering 380-year-old coded letters provides extra insight into the prince’s mindset prior to his surrender of Bristol in 1645. Additionally, the formal start of the English Civil War is re-examined in view of two much-overlooked Parliamentary declarations. It has been 17 years since the last biography of Prince Rupert. This ground-breaking book gets to the heart of the man and provides not only a new understanding of him but also of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.

A vivid exploration of motherhood in sixteenth-century England, uncovering the roles, expectations, and lived experiences of Tudor women.For the vast majority of women in sixteenth-century England, motherhood was more than a choice. To become a mother was a duty to one’s husband, an expectation by society, and a defining facet of her femininity and value to the world in which she lived. In a time when nearly all women were expected and encouraged to have children, and raise them according to strict religious and societal standards, the role of motherhood was arguably one of the most important and discussed topics by females of the Tudor period. Many of them spent half their lives conceiving, bearing, and raising children — whether to join the humble ranks of workers, to inherit grand lands and titles, or even to sit upon the throne of England. Sixteenth-century mothers across social ranks were connected by the societal pressures, judgments, and expectations placed upon them — but what did the job of mothering actually entail?‘Raising the Tudors’ explores the life of the sixteenth-century woman — from the onset of fertility in adolescence through the end of her childbearing years. From the prevailing medical theory of the four humours to the way Tudor physicians understood female reproductive anatomy and the process of conception, from the societal and romantic ideals of marriage to the experience of pregnancy and the travails of childbirth. It uncovers the role of the Tudor mother and the bonds she shared with her children through all stages of life — through infancy and toddlerhood, into adolescence and adulthood. It questions how she engaged with her children — how she cared for, taught, disciplined, and played with them. And finally, it examines her role in her adult children’s — and their children’s — lives and how her responsibilities and identities shifted as she aged. This book offers a comprehensive, thought-provoking, and at times sentimentally relatable view of the Tudor woman as she has never quite been viewed before. This is the story of motherhood in sixteenth-century England.

Explores Charles II’s early life, influences, struggles, and rise from prince to the restored Merry Monarch.As a powerful king who embraced a permissive society, Charles II shaped the culture of Restoration England, but who and what shaped Charles?Though his mother Henrietta Maria labelled him ‘ugly’, he was adored as a child, a sweet-tempered Prince of Wales. Some people seemed too fond of his playful instincts, and his education suffered while sports and royal ceremonies excited him. Steps were taken to ‘unboy’ him quickly so he could handle his future role, the ruling of three kingdoms, but English civil war brought too much too soon.Aged 12, Charles faced charging Roundhead cavalry at Edgehill, and in his teens, he led Cavalier efforts in the West Country and Jersey before taking naval command at sea. Courageous, intelligent and sociable, he appeared a fine king-to-be. However, with regicide befalling his father, revolution then saw the monarchy abolished. In desperation after this, Charles abandoned episcopacy, infiltrated European politics and dealt in conspiracy, risking all for Stuart restoration. With his Scottish coronation behind him, execution for invasion threatened, Oliver Cromwell having trounced him in battle at Worcester, and continued exile pushed the increasingly promiscuous Charles around Catholic, Presbyterian and republican nations until an invitation came from Parliament.This book examines Charles as a prince and pauper from his birth in 1630 to his thirtieth birthday—Restoration Day. It studies the feminine influences on his development, considers his early sex life, and addresses rumours affecting the succession. Giving a clearer picture of young Charles, it shows the making of the Merry Monarch.

The Kaiser’s Panzers charts the development of German armoured vehicles during the First World War. Late to adopt the tank as an offensive weapon, in a theatre characterized by bloody trench warfare, the Imperial German Army’s fledgling tank force fielded only twenty A7V tanks by the time of the November 1918 Armistice. To address this shortcoming, the German Army pressed more captured British Mark IV tanks into service through a dedicated workshop facility in Belgium during the final year of the war. A handful of these vehicles later saw service in the Freikorps to suppress left-wing uprisings in Berlin and Leipzig.Although German tanks played an insignificant part in the conflict, two early commanders rose to prominence in the Third Reich: Ernest Volckheim a leading interwar armour theorist and later Panzer commander; Josef ‘Sepp’ Dietrich a SS Panzer general implicated in the 1945 Malmedy massacre.Drawing on contemporary records, newsreels and newspaper accounts, The Kaiser’s Panzers is a heavily illustrated record of Germany’s first tanks, the predecessor force to Adolf Hitler’s vaunted Panzertruppen, and will be enjoyed by all military history enthusiasts.

Explores Medieval England’s monarchs and their trusted, often ruthless courtiers who shaped history through loyalty, power, and conflict.All monarchs have need of those to whom they give their trust. Never was this more essential than for the kings of Medieval England. From the Norman victory of 1066 to the bloody demise of Richard III in 1485, the stings and arrows of royal life bred relentless vigilance, distrust, and paranoia.This volume covers a period of 419 years. It starts with a bloody battle and ends with a bloody battle. To understand the lives and actions of court favourites, one must also know about the monarchs they served. In this book, you will read short biographies of each monarch, followed by a few of those courtiers to whom they gave their trust, not always deserved.You will read about the vicious actions of William the Conqueror, who, despite his victory on Senlac Hill, took five years to subdue the English, but who could not have achieved his victories without trusted lieutenants like William Fitz Osbern. How Stephen’s innate indolence almost lost him England, had it not been for William of Ypres, and how Matilda’s half-brother, Robert of Gloucester, kept her hopes of finally sitting on the throne bequeathed to her by her father Henry I alive.The Plantagenet kings changed the face of England, often bringing riches to those who hitched their wagons to the monarchy. Men still revered today, like William Marshal, known as The Greatest Knight, who faithfully served five kings. Various younger brothers held high church offices. Not all served to enrich themselves. John Beauchamp became a favourite of Edward III but was not overtly mercenary.The Wars of the Roses left England virtually bankrupt. The favourites on either side, the Lancastrian Somersets and the Yorkist Nevilles, gained enormous wealth and power, determined to fight to the death. The death that ended it was Richard III’s on 22nd August 1485, when Henry Tudor grabbed the throne, and the Tudor Age began.

Reexamines five famed medieval kings, questioning whether their celebrated legacies truly reflect their complex and often troubling reigns.Henry II. Richard I. Edward I. Edward III. Henry V. Five men seen as success stories of Medieval English kingship. Three inherited tarnished crowns and restored their glory. Legal reformers and warriors, they ruled over widespread lands for decades, upholding justice, expanding their authority and changing their realms. Two others are the most famous of warrior kings, their short reigns encompassing crusades and legendary victories. Contemporary writers often waxed lyrical about them as ideals of kingship. Many modern writers have been similarly enthusiastic.Is this justified? Alongside the story of success are other narratives, ones showing these kings in a more ambiguous light. We have the murder of archbishops, the massacre and expulsion of religious minorities, actions in battles and sieges, which today we would see as war crimes. Claims for their greatness sit uneasily with darker moments and legacies which challenge how we approach their reputations today.This book looks at the lives of these kings and how those reputations have been shaped across the centuries, from medieval contemporaries to the modern day, in both history and fiction. Having weighed the evidence, it seeks to determine the answer to the question: were these really great kings, the best monarchs of the Middle Ages?

Explores the role of the Rheinbund and its military campaigns in 1813, culminating in Napoleon's defeat.Traditional accounts of the campaigns of 1813 concentrate on the major powers: Napoleon’s France versus Russia, joined successively by Prussia, Sweden and Austria, and how, as in the French catastrophe of 1812, early successes were transformed into ruinous defeat. However, the smaller German states in Napoleon’s alliance system, the Confederation of the Rhine, or Rheinbund, also played an important part.Despite its significance, there are few books, especially in English, that explore the Rheinbund’s creation, evolution and demise. This groundbreaking new work seeks to redress this. Based on years of research in archives across Germany and France, as well as battlefield visits, this unprecedented study provides the first comprehensive analysis of the confederation’s military campaigns of 1813 — culminating in Napoleon’s defeat and the collapse of his German alliance.Presented in two parts, this first volume opens with an overview of the Rheinbund as an institution, a summary of its brief history and an overview of the campaigns, battles and sieges of 1813. It then proceeds to a detailed examination of the activities of the armies of Saxony and Bavaria in this critical year. The second volume continues with an analysis of the forces of Württemberg, Baden and Hesse-Darmstadt, Westphalia and the multitude of smaller states that comprised the Rheinbund. Supplemented by more than 100 maps, charts and orders of battle, this is an essential reference work for any Napoleonic scholar and all those with an interest in the historical development of Germany.

Chronicles Oasis’s rise, impact, and enduring legacy through exclusive interviews and insider perspectives.The rise of Oasis in the 1990s was stratospheric, yet they remained the people’s band. This is the story about how lives were changed forever, told by those who lived through it.All around the world, millions felt a connection to these working-class lads from Manchester. With anthemic songs crafted and sung by the greatest songwriter and singer of their generation, from their first interview they proclaimed themselves the best band in the world, and for a shining moment in the mid-1990s they were.‘Live Forever’. Definitely Maybe. (What's The Story) Morning Glory?. ‘Wonderwall’. Knebworth. A level of success not seen by a British band for 30 years, ushering in a new cultural zeitgeist: Britpop, Cool Britannia, New Labour, and at the centre of it all, the soap opera antics of the warring Gallagher brothers and their bandmates.Departed members were replaced by fresh faces as the 2000s ushered in their next career phase with Oasis inspiring younger generations. Yet the music and drama continued up to one night in Paris when everything fell apart… until the world stood still in August 2024.Expanded and revised to include over 25 exclusive new interviews from The Oasis Podcast, including contributions from those involved (Alan McGee, Tony McCarroll, Andy Bell, Steve White, Owen Morris), writers with first-hand coverage (Paolo Hewitt, John Robb), celebrity fans (Ricky Hatton) and many more, this book spans their entire career from 1991 to the present day, making it the ultimate story of Oasis.

Regency masquerades blended lavish spectacle, fashion, and social identity across Britain and its empire.The 18th-century masquerade didn’t die at the dawn of the new century. Instead, spectacle helped these risqué events achieve new grandeur. From indoor balloon displays to lavish food and wine, masquerades in the early 1800s were hyper-real sites of consumption. Dressed in dominoes, character costumes, and fancy dress, the fashionable and titled of London society flocked to these events in the hundreds to thousands to entertain and be entertained. Amidst the bacchanalian, motley events were signs and symbols that masquerade balls were about more than a good time.In the first comprehensive look at early 19th-century British masquerades, Glover uses primary sources to identify venues, décor, performers, costumes, and other details about public and private masquerades.Masquerades flourished from London to far-flung imperial strongholds. Comparing the details over the long Regency, Glover teases out common themes and then examines them through the lens of national identity, cultural appropriation, and gender. This research sheds new light on Regency people, culture, and society and on what we know about the British masquerade.

Studies the remarkable life of Othon de Grandson—crusader, diplomat, and close companion to King Edward I.There were once two little boys — they met when they were both quite young; one was born in what’s now Switzerland, by Lake de Neuchâtel, his name Othon de Grandson, and the other was born in London, his name Prince Edward, son of King Henry the third of that name. Othon was probably born in 1238, and Edward, we know, in June 1239. These two little boys grew up and had adventures together. They took the cross together, the ninth crusade in 1271 and 1272. Othon reputedly sucking poison from Edward when the latter was attacked by an assassin. In 1277 and 1278, they fought the First Welsh War against the House of Gwynedd, Othon doing much to negotiate the Treaty of Aberconwy in 1278, which ended hostilities. When war broke out again in 1282 they fought the Second Welsh War together. Othon led Edward’s army across the Bridge of Boats from Anglesey and was the first to sight the future sites of castles at Caernarfon and Harlech. Edward made his friend the first Justiciar (Viceroy) of North Wales. When Edward and Othon went to Gascony in 1287, Othon stayed in Zaragoza as a hostage for Edward's good intentions between Gascony and Castille. Later, in 1291, when Acre was threatened by the Mamluks, Edward sent Othon as head of the English delegation of knights. When Acre finally fell to the Mamluks bringing the Crusades to a close, who was the last knight onto the boats? Othon de Grandson, helping his old friend, the wounded Jean de Grailly onto the boat. When Othon returned from the East, he found England at war with Scotland and France; he would spend his last years in Edward’s service building alliances and negotiating peace before retiring to his home in what is now Switzerland after the king’s death in 1307. Grandson lived in the time of Marco Polo, Giotto, Dante, Robert the Bruce, and the last Templars. He was right there at the centre of the action in two crusades: war with Wales, Scotland, and France, the Sicilian Vespers, and suppression of the Templars; he walked with a succession of kings and popes, a knight of great renown. This is his story.

“… the author details how various hip-hop feuds began and ended and analyzes the lyrics of the dis tracks that resulted from them.” — Library JournalIt was the best of times, it was the worst of times.In A Tale of Two Cities, the duality of changing times was poignantly highlighted and almost the same thing is true in Hip-Hop Rivalries: East Coast Versus West Coast.As music in the general arts and people in general society have changed over the decades, politics has reflected these changes, sometimes for the best but often for the worst.Hip-hop was fulgurant with promise, a machine steadily gaining influence worldwide, a newly birthed political powerhouse. With its aggrandisement also came the inflation of egos until suddenly, everyone wanted to be the King of Hip-Hop, the King of Rap, or the King of New York — all of which were interchangeable terms.Those of us who grew up in times when lyrical witticisms had to be cultrate in order to be truly appreciated were galvanised back into life by the rivalry between Kendrick Lamar and Drake — which served as proof that hip-hop had graduated from simply rhyming rapping into a multiverse of praiseworthy diction, the stunning displays of lyrical thespians who amaze us with ever-evolving presentations full of entertainment, and battle rappers who boast a mighty grasp of nuanced literary contraptions.There is evidence of this growth in the haymaker equivokes tacitly enunciated in their performances, and never more so than during “beef”: those times of dissent, discontent, or malcontent among classic rap groups, or between individuals. From Nas and Jay-Z to Drake and Pusha T, we will delve into the origins of hip-hop, its past and current artists, and the methods they employed in their rivalries that brought excitement and appreciation of this genre of music to followers worldwide.Join us on this informative, amusing, and nostalgic tour as we explore the greatest moments in hip-hop and battle rap that helped to put certain superstars on pedestals and thrones, while others were humiliated and became objects of scorn, clownery, or abject ridicule to this very day.

“It might be unauthorized, but this book sure is comprehensive. This isn’t just a book about a game. The author focuses on the people who created it and expanded it over the decades as well as the people whose contributions have been hidden in the shadows. A richly detailed, exciting, and frequently surprising history.” -BooklistRoll to Hit: An Unofficial History of Dungeons and Dragons is a deep dive into the story behind the world's most popular tabletop roleplaying game. From its humble beginnings in a basement in a house in a small town in Wisconsin, through the Satanic Panic and the boom and bust of the 90s, all the way to a modern resurgence that has seen the game become a true pop-culture phenomenon, the book tells the tale of the people who have shaped D&D through every step of its development. But more than that, it's a story of leaps of imagination, of shocking circumstances and tragedies, of conflicts and comings-together both on the table and off. From HG Wells playing with toy soldiers to multi-million dollar movie deals, from early war simulations to crazy homebrew campaigns, the book explores the history of D&D and asks why, even after all this time, its name remains a shorthand for the tabletop roleplaying experience. As Dungeons & Dragons reaches its fiftieth birthday, and with the game is as popular as it's ever been, regular players, old school gamers and newcomers are going to find something here to excite and entice. After all, without them, without the players, there'd be no Dungeons & Dragons at all.

A humorous critique of the trends of turning serious subjects into comedy.“Nothing now succeeds unless it’s in the comic line. We have comic Latin grammars, and comic Greek grammars; indeed, I don't know but what English grammar, too, is a comedy altogether. All our tragedies are made into comedies by the way they are performed; and no work sells without comic illustrations to it. I have brought out several new comic works, which have been very successful. For instance, The Comic Wealth of Nations; The Comic Parliamentary Speeches … I even propose to bring out a Comic Whole Duty of Man. All these books sell well: they do admirably for the nurseries of the children of the aristocracy. In fact they are as good as manuals and text-books.”Those words from best-selling Victorian novelist George W.M. Reynolds were a nod to the work of a writer named Gilbert Abbot á Beckett. Beckett loved history and writing about history but he was also something of a comedian. Then one day he had a bright idea: What if history could be funny and still be factual and educate people? He resolved to start writing a funny history book which he named The Comic History of England, which was originally serialised in Punch in 1847.It was an irreverent take on the conservative history books of Beckett’s day. Kings and queens emerge as mean-spirited petty rascals and to look for their virtues “would require the aid of one of those solar microscopes which give visibility to the merest atom, and the particle.” Other monarchs such as King John were downright useless and allowed himself to be “bullied by bulls”—papal bulls. The Church came off not better either, being “the medium of extortion” and taking hard-earned money off the people. In this history book, then, readers can laugh with Cæsar during his invasion of Britain; stand in the sea with Canute; and joke about Richard on the field of Bosworth.

Analyzes the political, military, and social factors behind successful and failed coups worldwide.The coup remains the single most common form of power change throughout the world.How to Stage a Military Coup explores these violent and often bloody appropriations of authority, alongside the political, military, and social conditions out of which they arise. Taking into account factors such as timing, media control, popular support and government organisational structure, and by drawing on examples of coups from all over the world, both failed and successful, the authors reveal exactly what it takes to carry out a successful government take-over.This latest, updated edition includes a new foreword by David Hebditch.

Explore the Welsh hills, uncovering Dylan Thomas's legacy, rebellion history, and a landscape filled with cultural and personal significance.Embark on a mesmerizing journey through the Welsh hills, where each step unveils a tapestry woven with history, culture, and personal connection. Traverse the poetic landscapes that inspired Dylan Thomas, wandering through the Uplands where he was born and raised, and losing yourself in the tranquillity of Cwmdonkin Park, where Thomas's childhood adventures breathed life into his timeless works. Then, immerse yourself in the timeless charm of Laugharne, where Thomas found solace in his writing shed and echoes of his poignant verses still linger among the picturesque scenery.As you wander through Pontarddulais, a landscape steeped in the tumultuous history of the Rebecca Riots, you'll be transported back to a time of dissent and defiance. Follow the path from Coed Bach Park to St Telio's Church, where gravestones whisper tales of rebellion, and pause at the Fountain Inn, a silent witness to the love and courage of Daniel Lewis and Elizabeth. Venture into the heart of Wales, where rugged mountainsides and haunting forests hold secrets untold. In 'Walking Welsh History', every trail is a journey of discovery, offering a glimpse into the soul of a nation shaped by its past.

With the era of British Railways’ transition from steam to diesel and electric influencing the country-wide fleets of trains beyond the 1970’s, the Southern proved no exception to such, integrated within its flotillas of commuter electric trains. Southern Region motive power was territorial, thanks to the requirement for electric trains to remain within the live third rail network. Remaining pockets of non-electrified routes provided the last bastions of diesel-electric units and locomotive hauled trains, not only in Dorset, Sussex and Hampshire but also especially along the South West mainline to Exeter. Although with a limited range of Class 33, 47, 50 and 73 locomotives serving the passenger sector in the 1980’s, there remained interesting passenger workings to note such as that along Weymouth Quay or through the rural tranquillity of Devon’s countryside to Barnstaple. Railfreight ensured a wider variety of locomotives within in the Region. Standard colours of B.R. blue and grey livery may have been monotonous but the bright and clean Network SouthEast colours were welcomed, along with the much needed emphasis on running clean and punctual services as part of the Network SouthEast ethos. Brand new fleets of trains in the Southern area continue to offer the railway enthusiast and photographer the chance to study the impact of privatisation in the modern railway. Fortunately we have several preserved lines in the Southern area which perfectly capture the character of the traditional Southern branch line in the days of heritage diesels.

The Revolutionary period was marked by upheaval for France and its army. The early Republic’s military comprised former Royal Army members and revolutionary volunteers, reflecting diversity in their uniforms. Despite the chaos, records were meticulously maintained, and Paul L. Dawson examined thousands of documents from the Service Historique Armée du Terre in Paris to detail the uniforms worn before Napoleon’s rise.Soldiers’ clothing followed strict regulations, with each item assigned a specific lifespan. Regular inspections assessed uniform conditions, and unserviceable items were returned and replaced. Repairs were logged, and soldiers bore the costs of replacements. A regiment’s clothing officer managed equipment purchases for enlisted men, while officers supplied their own uniforms. The regimental council ensured purchases met quality standards, recorded in a Register of Uniforms.Inspection returns and registers provide unprecedented insights into Revolutionary army uniforms, much of which was previously unpublished. Though not all regiments’ data were found, Dawson’s research offers the most accurate depiction to date. His book combines detailed records with illustrations and photographs of rare surviving items, giving readers a unique visual and historical perspective on soldiers’ appearances during this transformative era.

“An incredible story of courage and commitment under fire.” — Bear GryllsThe Pilgrim is the book the MOD tried to ban. It is a rollercoaster of an autobiography of Colin Maclachlan, known for his appearances on shows like Channel 4’s SAS: Who DaresWins and Channel 5’s Secrets of the SAS.His autobiography starts with his troubled childhood and escape to the military where, as a fifteen year-old boy, he grows up and matures into the SAS soldier we now recognise. Early chapters describe physical, mental and sexual abuse and Colin could easily have ended up in a home but despite the odds and with the help of both the Children’s Panels, NSPCC and some diligent schoolteachers, Colin escaped to the army. Colin had to get special permission to join the army at only fifteen years of age and goes from being a young vulnerable and damaged boy to a capable soldier through preparation for the first Gulf War and joining the oldest and most senior infantry regiment in the British Army, The Royal Scots. From operations in Northern Ireland to being the Queen’s Butcher to Colin’s first TV cameos on Soldier Soldier and Gladiators, Colin’s stories and anecdotes are both exhilarating and hilarious.Colin then describes the arduous SAS selection process, the hardest and most gruelling military selection process in the world. Colin describes in some detail what most have never even heard in this secretive world where Colin goes from a course of 196 down to just a handful in six months! The reader is then taken on a never seen before description of life as an SAS operator. Daily life in an operational squadron and the operations, missions and training involved all described in detail. Colin was part of Mountain Troop, D Squadron who were to be involved in some of the most high-profile and dangerous missions in SAS history.