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Press Release for Ordinary Heroes

Working with WritersPrintshop, a remarkable, historical detective story has just been published. The book tells the story of the men from the Doncaster district when they went to war. As ordinary, Territorial soldiers, whose skill was in coal mining or building great railway engines, they had little idea of the great events in which they were participating.

The simple task of editing the wartime diaries together became a fascinating project to provide a proper context for their war. The writers of the diaries were not told the wider drama in which they were players but only hinted at.

Because of their special skills they were the first to go to France in 1939 and selected for many other exceptional tasks. The historical issues brought to light by these diaries were substantial.

• Could ‘The Plant Men’, as they were known, really have been the first unit to go to France in 1939?
• Were some still stranded in France after the French Armistice in June 1940?
• Could this small unit have played a significant role in the battle of El Alamein even though they were struggling to survive as POWs by the time the battle took place?
• Were they present at the birth of the legend that has become the Special Air Service?

After six years research, the answer to all these questions is, ‘Yes’.

The last part of the book covers the individual struggles to survive after they were captured in June 1942.

• Did British soldiers take over a death camp when the war ended as they waited for liberation? Certainly, as they have photos to prove it.
• Did an Englishwoman ‘escape’ into a POW camp and live there until liberated? The POW-theatre’s electrician heard the full story.
• Were UK POWs held hostage by the Soviet army until Stalin got what he wanted? There is a first hand account.

The modest rail workers and miners who formed this Territorial Army Unit made none of these claims. They left for France a week after war was declared and some did not return until a month after the end of the war in Europe. They just did the jobs asked of them. After the war, they went back to their families and their work.

When one of the diarists, Bill Harvey, returned to Doncaster in June 1945 he offered his fare to the conductress on the tram taking him home. She refused it, saying: ‘You have already paid enough.’ The debt will soon be cancelled as these ordinary heroes pass away. The book records the personal price paid by the men and their families.

ENDS

The book is Ordinary Heroes, The extraordinary tale of 106 Army Troops Company Royal Engineers. ISBN 1904623085 312 pages, 8 maps, 45 photos. By Chas Jones £14.99

The book is available to order from bookshops. It can also be found on Amazon (Type in Ordinary Heroes to find the book) or purchase directly from the publisher.

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