D-Day - Bryan Perrett

Jim Dodd is an 18-year-old Second Lieutenant in an infantry battalion,a former Territorial unit. He is younger than many of the menin his platoon, but earns their respect by handling the men wellon exercise and looking after their welfare. At the beginningof 1944, his battalion is mobilised and a veteran of the desert warand former POW is sent in as commander. He drives the companymercilessly, flaying them with criticism.After rehearsing its role in the landings on the Normandy coast,Jim's battalion joins the huge armada crossing the Channel, fightersand bombers accompanying them overhead to pound the coastal defencesas the landing crafts go in. By the end of D Day, the Britishand Canadians have established themselves firmly on Juno, Goldand Sword beaches, and the Americans on Utah beach (having sustainedheavy losses on Omaha beach - the arena of action in SavingPrivate Ryan).Jim's battalion goes on to join the fighting in the French hinterland,where Jim realises that his commander's ruthless methods resultin a lower loss of life than other companies.Jim goes on to take part in two major operations (Totalise and Tractable)to smash through the German lines. His task is to securea village and its crossroads in the centre of the enemy escape route.What follows is based on the real-life struggle for Mont Ormel.Jim's company is subjected to constant attacks from the WaffenSS and, as the only unwounded officer left, Jim finds himselfin charge of the situation...