Happy odyssey: the memoirs of Lieutenant-General Sir Adrian Cart 1Si

The legendary British Army officer recounts his experiences in the Boer War and both World Wars in this memoir with a foreword by Winston Churchill. Lieutenant General Sir Adrian Carton de Wiart had one of the most extraordinary military careers in the history of the British Army. His gallantry in combat won him a Victoria Cross and a Distinguished Service Order, as well as an eyepatch and an empty sleeve. His autobiography is one of the most remarkable of military memoirs. Carton de Wiart abandoned his law studies at Balliol College, Oxford, in 1899 to serve as a trooper in the South African War. During World War I he served both in British Somaliland and on the Western Front, where he lost his left eye to a bullet at the Battle of Somme. He went on to serve as a liaison officer with Polish forces, narrowly escaping the German blitz at the outbreak of World War II. He was part of the British Military Mission to Yugoslavia, taken prisoner by the Italian Army, and made numerous attempts at escape. He spent the remainder of the war as Churchill's representative in China. The novelist Evelyn Waugh famously used Carton de Wiart as the model for his character Brigadier Ben Ritchie Hook in the Sword of Honour trilogy. In this thrilling autobiography, the legendary officer tells his own remarkable story.

adrian Carton De Wiart's Autobiography Is One Of The Most Remarkable Of Military Memoirs. He Was The Son Of A Belgian Barrister, Leon Constant Ghislain Carton De Wiart (1854-1915). He, Himself, Was Intended For The Law, But Abandoned His Studies At Balliol College, Oxford, In 1899 To Serve As A Trooper In The South African War. He Abandoned The Law For All Time On 14 September 1901 When He Received A Direct Commission In The 4th Dragoon Guards. Carton De Wiart's Extraordinary Military Career Embraced Service With The Somaliland Camel Corps (1914-15), Liaison Officer With Polish Forces (1939), Membership Of The British Military Mission To Yugoslavia (1941), A Period As A Prisoner Of War (1941-43), And Three Years As Churchill's Representative To Chiang Kai-shek (1943-46). During The Great War, Besides Commanding The 8th Glosters, Carton De Wiart Was Goc 12 Brigade (1917) And Goc 105 Brigade (april 1918). Both These Commands Were Terminated By Wounds. He Was Wounded Eight Times During The War (including The Loss Of An Eye And A Hand), Won The During The Battle Of The Somme, Was Mentioned In Despatches Six Times, And Was The Model For Brigadier Ben Ritchie Hook In The Sword Of Honour Trilogy Of Evelyn Waugh.

Adrian Carton de Wiarts autobiography is one of the most remarkable of military memoirs. He was intended for the law, but abandoned his studies at Balliol College, Oxford, in 1899 to serve as a trooper in the South African War. Carton de Wiarts extraordinary military career embraced service with the Somaliland Camel Corps (1914-15), liaison officer with Polish forces (1939), membership of the British Military Mission to Yugoslavia (1941), a period as a prisoner of war (1941-43), and three years as Churchills representative to Chiang Kai-shek (1943-46). (Churchill was a great admirer.) During the Great War, besides commanding the 8th Glosters, Carton de Wiart was GOC 12 Brigade (1917) and GOC 105 Brigade (April 1918). Both these commands were terminated by wounds. He was wounded eight times during the war (including the loss of an eye and a hand), won the VC during the Battle of the Somme, was mentioned in dispatches six times, and was the model for Brigadier Ben Ritchie Hook in the Sword of Honour trilogy of Evelyn Waugh. This is one of the most remarkable of military memoirs. Adrian Carton de Wiart was wounded eight times (including the loss of an eye and a hand), won the VC during the Battle of the Somme, was mentioned in despatches six times, and was the model for Brigadier Ben Ritchie Hook in the Sword of Honour trilogy of Evelyn Waugh