El Alamein to
the Rhine with the Scottish Divisions. In 1939 Dick Gorle was already a professional soldier but stationed
in India. After the Dunkirk disaster he was recalled and initially involved in
training recruits at Plymouth before going north to form the
Highland Division Gunners.
We hear of the journey to Egypt and thereafter it is intense action at El
Alamein under Monty and the long gruelling advance to Tripoli. The invasion of
Sicily
followed and Gorle describes the horrors of war in the mountains and towns while
the locals appeared almost oblivious to the momentous events unfolding around
them.
Called back to attend Staff College, Gorle rejoined the fray in North
West Europe as his Regiment, part of the Lowland Division, alternatively
received thanks and welcome from those liberated and fierce and deadly
resistance from the retreating Germans. His memoir sums up the elation of
victory, the closeness of comradeship and the desperate sadness of
losses.
