With the SAS : across the Rhine : into the heart of Hitler's Third Reich

In this WW2 memoir, the author of SAS: With the Maquis continues his thrilling account of life as a British Army commando behind enemy lines. Colonel Ian Wellsted, OBE, served with the British Army's elite Special Air Service during World War II. In this vivid personal account, he vividly recounts his involvement in Operation Archway, a mission supporting Field Marshal Montgomery's Allied 21st Army Group in operations Varsity and Plunder. In this offensive, the SAS teams were thrust deep into German territory, often having to battle their way through enemy lines to get back to safety. 'I quickly learned that there was no way to control an SAS battle,' Wellsted wrote of his first major encounter in charge of a patrol. 'The din was deafening – seventy odd Vickers and half a dozen Brownings all chattering together.' In one of these encounters, as the war was drawing to a close, Wellsted's troop found itself surrounded. In the ensuing firefight, Wellsted was wounded, bringing his active front line career to an end. _with The Sas: Across The Rhine_ Is The Story Of The Latter Part Of Captain Ian Wellsted's Military Career With The Special Air Service, The First Part Of Which Was Detailed In His Well-received _sas: With The Maquis_. This Is A Very Personal Account, Revealing The Many Emotional As Well As Physical Strains Placed Upon Men In The Fighting Line. The Author Takes Us Back To His Time Employed With The 79th Armored Division (the Famous 'hobart's Funnies') Preparing For D-day And His Desire For More Exciting Action, Which Led First To The Parachute Regiment And Then The Sas. Whilst We Learn A Little Of His Time With The Maquis, The Main Focus Of The Story Is His Part In Operation _archway_. A British Special Forces Mission Which Involved The 1st And 2nd Special Air Service Regiments Acting In Support Of The Advance Of Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery's Allied 21st Army Group In Operations _varsity_ And _plunder_, This Crossing Of The Rhine Was One Of The Largest And Most Diverse Operations Ever Carried Out By The Sas. In This Offensive, The Sas Teams Were Thrust Deep Into German Territory, Often Having To Battle Their Way Through The Enemy Lines To Get Back To Safety. 'i Quickly Learned That There Was No Way To Control An Sas Battle,' Wellsted Wrote Of His First Major Encounter In Charge Of A Patrol. 'the Din Was Deafening - Seventy Odd Vickers And Half A Dozen Brownings All Chattering Together. The Screech Of Ricochets And The Fire Of The Enemy Made My Voice Sound Like The Squeak Of A Mouse Against A Church Organ. I Was Helpless.' In One Of These Encounters, As The War Was Drawing To A Close, Wellsted's Troop Found Itself Surrounded. In The Ensuing Firefight, Wellsted Was Wounded, Bringing His Active Front Line Career To An End. With the SAS: Across the Rhine is the story of the latter part of Captain Ian Wellsted's military career with the Special Air Service, the first part of which was detailed in his well-received SAS: With the Maquis. This is a very personal account, revealing the many emotional as well as physical strains placed upon men in the fighting line. The author takes us back to his time employed with the 79th Armoured Division (the famous 'Hobart's Funnies') preparing for D-Day and his desire for more exciting action, which led first to the Parachute Regiment and then the SAS. Whilst we learn a little of his time with the maquis, the main focus of the story is his part in Operation Archway. A British special forces mission which involved the 1st and 2nd Special Air Service Regiments acting in support of the advance of Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery's Allied 21st Army Group in operations Varsity and Plunder, this crossing of the Rhine was one of the largest and most diverse operations ever carried out by the SAS. In this offensive, the SAS teams were thrust deep into German territory, often having to battle their way through the enemy lines to get back to safety. 'I quickly learned that there was no way to control an SAS battle,' Wellsted wrote of his first major encounter in charge of a patrol. 'The din was deafening - seventy odd Vickers and half a dozen Brownings all chattering together. The screech of ricochets and the fire of the enemy made my voice sound like the squeak of a mouse against a church organ. I was helpless.' In one of these encounters, as the war was drawing to a close, Wellsted's troop found itself surrounded. In the ensuing firefight, Wellsted was wounded, bringing his active front line career to an end. About the Author: Having served with ‘A’ Squadron, 1 SAS during 1944 and 1945, and being wounded in April 1945, after the Second World War COLONEL IAN WELLSTED OBE remained in the British Army for a further twenty-two years. He served in Palestine, Egypt, Europe and the Far East. He died in 2002, aged 83. HISTORY / Military / World War II