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Book List for Parachute Regiment & Airborne Forces

Discussions about those units who make up The Parachute Regiment.
Alfa
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Post by Alfa »

I've read Freefall too and agree with Sully, it's a great read made all the more poignant by the tragic suicide of the author.

SO19, I had a quick look for the book online and got a bit of a shock to say the least at the prices :o I might head down the library and see if they can get hold of it for me.
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Post by SO19 »

Yeah shocking... I got mine for a couple of quid off ebay though. :P
[i]‘We are not interested in the possibilities of defeat’ - Queen Victoria, 1899[/i]
Alfa
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Post by Alfa »

No Mean Soldier by Peter McAleese is also a good book covering his time in the Paras, SAS, Rhodesian SAS & his time in the SADF as well as his various work as a mercenary.

He did a lot of combat drops in both Rhodesia and South Africa.
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Post by harry hackedoff »

McAleese was a nutter in civilian street, very well known to West Midlands old bill.
Not all his fault I`m certain of that.
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Post by Boxingmad »

His book is a very good book indeed, and gives a little insight into the wars in Angola and Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) which I didn't know much about to be honest. Very interesting when you think about what has happened to Zimbabwe now.

There was another good book called "Killing Zone" by Harry McCallion which tells of his time with 2 Para. The author went off to South Africa and joined the Recces which is a massive achievement in itself. He then came back to Blighty, joined 22 SAS and then the RUC and is now (from what I've read) a practising barrister.
Remember, knowledge is power, unless you forget it all.
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Post by davidemmerson »

Boxingmad wrote:"Fighting Scared" by Robin Horsfall is worth a look. He details his time in 2 Para in the 1970s before moving on to the SAS. "CQB" by Mike Curtis is another good one, and Michael Asher's "Shoot To Kill" might be worth a look too. I've ordered John Geddes' book so will hopefully add a review of it when I'm done.
I read this one and thought it was excellent. Not macho at all and you see how Asher mentally gets through training. Great read.
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Post by Alfa »

Boxingmad wrote:There was another good book called "Killing Zone" by Harry McCallion which tells of his time with 2 Para.
I've got this book too, not got around to reading it yet but I've had a quick flick through it and it looks like it'll be a good read.
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Post by Boxingmad »

Yeah, you'll enjoy it - one of the better ones around methinks.
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Post by RSO3 »

Fireforce by Chris Cocks
One man's war in the Rhodesian Light Infantry
Get Awaaaaaaaaaaaay
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Post by London Boy »

SO19,

If you are minded to include a US section, my first book in there would be Nam by Mark Baker. One of the best books analysing the soldier's lot that I've ever read. Albeit not exclusively dealing with the lives of airborne troops, the vast majority he interviewed tended to be the more elite front
line troops, Airborne, Marines, Rangers, Airborne Cavalry.
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Post by Boxingmad »

harry hackedoff wrote:McAleese was a nutter in civilian street, very well known to West Midlands old bill.
Not all his fault I`m certain of that.
I think I saw him playing a SAS instructor in "SAS - The Soldier's Story" which was on TV about 12 years ago demonstrating CQB drills & weapons drills.

Don't know what he's up to now, but I hope he made a few quid from his book.
Remember, knowledge is power, unless you forget it all.
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Post by lewis123 »

Just finished Sod that for a game of soldiers thought it was a excellent book,just brought No Mean Soldier off Ebay for £2.
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Post by Greenronnie »

I was presented "Leading the Way to Arnhem" by a former member of the 21st Independent Company (Pathfinders) whilst over in Arnhem the other week. It is a history of the 21st Company's exploits on Operation Market Garden and is filled with personal accounts, pictures etc. I haven't had the chance to read it yet, but it promises to be a very good read.

I also got it signed by two 21st Arnhem vets, plus the author and the curator of the Arnhem Airborne Museum. Result! :wink:
Alfa
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Post by Alfa »

Definitely a good result, that books £30 on Amazon!

Sounds very interesting though but way out of my price range.
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Post by Alfa »

Just came across this book which I thought sounds pretty good. It doesn't appear to be stocked in any of the shops I've been in so far but it only came out in December so that could be why its not in wide circulation yet (although it can be ordered online or by shops like Waterstones for example)

Anyway, just thought it might interest a few people on here so I decided to post a link to it here's the info from Amazon about it:

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Jake Scott (author) wrote:"As you know 'blood clot' means blood cells coming together to form a strong clot that forms and sticks together to keep the wound sealed enabling it to repair. The Parachute Regiment's 'blood clot' acts the same, whether downtown scrapping or in some far away country fighting alongside each other. Our maroon berets come together, they stick together, they close ranks forming the blood clot and fight against anything that comes their way."
Product Description wrote:When the 3 Para battle group departed for Helmand Province, south Afghanistan, nobody really knew what to expect. Within a month of being on the ground the first of many contacts between the Taliban and British forces began.

The British government and media were in shock - for the men on the ground it was what they were trained for. As weeks went on the fighting increased. Resources and manning were poor but for the Paras it was too late - it was back to basics, living in holes in the ground in 60 degree temperatures, often in small numbers and under constant attack from the Taliban. It looked as if it was going to be a long six months...

"Blood Clot" is a personal account of the Parachute Regiment's ferocious tour of duty in Helmand Province, Afghanistan 2006 by a man who was involved in the thick of the action.Born in 1981, Jake Scott joined the Parachute Regiment aged 17, and had already seen service around the world - including Iraq - before becoming part of a small reconnaissance team trained to operate behind enemy lines, known as 'the Patrols'.

Jake and his mates probed, escorted and fought their way in and around some of the most dangerous areas in the whole of the Middle East - virgin Taliban country. After intense fighting against the odds, leaving dead Taliban soldiers in their wake and encountering some very near misses themselves, the Patrols platoon eventually ended their tour of duty.

This is their story - the very beginning of the Afghan troubles in the south, the build up and lack of support and equipment in the initial stages, the close and dangerous fighting, the boredom of the open desert and the uncontrollable sadness of friends killed and injured around them.The Paras and their battle group arrived in small numbers in Helmand in 2006. They set the example for others to follow for many years to come - the aggressiveness of the airborne soldier when it was called for, fighting the Taliban on their turf, up close and personal.
Sounds like it could be a good read, plus it's written by an actual Para rather than a professional author so should be a good insight into the Reg.
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