Description
ISLE OF WIGHT AT WAR
by
ADRIAN SEARLE
PUBLISHED; DOVECOTE
FIRST EDITION 1989
SIGNED EDITION
HARD BACKED
This is the first book to document the history of the Isle of Wight during the Second World War, and is thus one of the most important books on the Island to have been published, for the story it tells is as dramatic as any in the Isle of Wight’s past. The outbreak of war in 1939 pushed the Island into the front-line of the nation’s defences. The next five years brought the black-out, bombing raids, the Battle of Britain, evacuees, a large garrison, paddle steamers sailing for Dunkirk, the D-Day fleet leaving for Normandy, nights on Home Guard duty or days in the Land Army, sons and daughters away in the Services, tales of heroism and hardship that even today have lost none of their impact. Despite the wail of the sirens, warships and seaplanes continued to be built at Cowes. Less well-known is the story of the Island’s Resistance, a highly-organised band, operating in the utmost secrecy, who were prepared to risk their lives in the event of a successful German landing on the shores of Wight. In telling the story of the Island at war, Adrian Searle has left no stone unturned, evoking a period that will bring back a whole host of memories to those who lived through the war and yet is still relevant today. Much detailed research has gone into a text that is both accurate and read- able, whilst the 140 illustrations, most of which have never been published before, superbly document what the realities of war meant to the people of the Isle of Wight between 1939 and 1945.
Condition; Very Good with dust -jacket which has edge wear
Interior clean , Binding tight
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