Table Of ContentFirst published in Great Britain in 1974 by
William Collins Sons & Co Ltd
Reprinted in this format in 2013 by
PEN & SWORD MILITARY
An imprint of
Pen & Sword Books Ltd
47 Church Street
Barnsley
South Yorkshire
S70 2AS
Copyright © J.M. Langley, 1974, 2013
9781783469536
The right of J.M. Langley to be identified as Author
of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with
the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is
available from the British Library
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This book is dedicated to my five children
in the hope that they will never have
to fight another day
Author’s Note:
Although all the events described in this
book are true I have in certain cases
changed the names of some of the
people involved.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Author’s Note:
Introduction
I. HE WHO FIGHTS
1 - Build Up for Battle
2 - Up Guards and at Them
3 - Destination Dunkirk
II. AND RUNS AWAY
4 - In the Bag
5 - Home James ...
6 - Mission in Marseilles
7 - The Last Lap
III. LIVES TO FIGHT
8 - The Resurrection of IV Z
9 - Bricks Without Straw
10 - Patrick Albert O‘Leary
11 - A Comet from Brussels
12 - The Navy Joins In
13 - Blows and Counter-Blows
IV. ANOTHER DAY
14 - Return Journey
15 - One More River to Cross
16 - The End of the Day
Introduction
by Airey Neave, DSO, MC, MP
During the Second World War the organization of secret escape routes broke
fresh ground in military intelligence, and Jimmy Langley, the author, was one of
the first in the field. His half-humorous style, ignoring his own sacrifice,
epitomizes the spirit of those days. Despite the loss of his arm in France in 1940,
he not only escaped from France but for the rest of the war was concerned in
helping others to safety.
We are now able, 30 years afterwards, to judge the contribution to the Allied
victory of all those who worked to get back to fight another day. As this book
illustrates, the highest tribute must be to those who constantly risked their lives
in German-occupied territory. Thanks to them, over 3000 Allied airmen and
several hundred soldiers evaded capture. The balance of sacrifice was tragic. We
know that 500 men and women were executed or died in concentration camps. A
far greater number succumbed to their ill-treatment after Europe was liberated
from the Nazis. It may well be, as Jimmy Langley suggests, that for every man
who got back a Belgian, Dutch or French patriot died.
This is something we, who did not endure occupation, must never forget. It is
part of the history of this century that from the first dark hours of German
invasion there were always men and women from ordinary homes ready to hide
helpless British soldiers. They showed a sense of human values that we badly
need today. Those who are still alive seek no publicity. Their memorial lies in
the great achievements of the underground escape movement in saving lives.
They acted in the name of charity and freedom. Unlike the men they rescued,
who were protected by the Geneva Convention on prisoners of war, they were
civilians exposed to brutal treatment by the Nazi counter-espionage Services.
These brave people came from every side. Communists and priests combined
in what they believed to be a great human cause. It inspired doctors, nurses,
artists and poets, but the majority came from simple cafés and farms in every
corner of North-West Europe. They wished to play their part, however humble,
Description:As a young subaltern in the Coldstream Guards, the author lost his arm at Dunkirk and was captured but eventually escaped via Lille, Paris, Marseilles, Spain and Gibraltar. He describes the fierce fighting outside Dunkirk, his captivity, escape and extraordinary life in Vichy France, before the Germ
