In 1942, the 78th Division was raised specifically for the North African invasion. From the time that the division landed at Algiers, there were to be few easy days, and the campaigning through Tunisia, Sicily and Italy was a tale of bitterly fought actions in a harsh terrain against a skilful enemy. In its first year of action alone, the 78th Division suffered 10,000 casualties. Longstop Hill, Centuripe, Termoli, Cassino, the Gustav Line, the Argenta Gap – there was always one more river to cross, another defended mountain line to breach. Ken Ford shows how quickly the Division developed its fighting power and how success resulted from an all-arms effort by infantry, armour, artillery, transport, and especially engineers. Yet the resilience and sacrifice of now-vanished county infantry regiments rightly form the core of the book. Using first-hand accounts of men who actually fought with the 78th Division, and fully illustrated with photographs and maps, this is a fitting tribute to the soldiers of the Battleaxe Division.
Author: Ken Ford
Publisher: The History Press, 1997
ISBN: 9780750931991
Format: Softcover
Pages: 208
Condition: Good, second-hand
Inventory: 3B
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