John VerneyGoing to the Wars
A Journey in Various Directions
John Verney (1913-1993) was a writer, painter, and illustrator. An assistant film director, officer in the North Somerset Yeomanry, and newlywed at the outbreak of war in 1939, he subsequently served in the Royal Armoured Corps and the fledgling Special Air Service. He fought in Syria, Egypt, Sardinia, and Italy. His other military adventures in Italy are told in his book A Dinner of Herbs, also published by Paul Dry Books.
Part One: Prelude and Fugue
1. "We never smoke during battle"
2. Lucinda
Part Two: Amateur
3. Zion
4. Araby
5. "Our own choice yeomanry division"
6. "Thumbs up! Tiggerty-boo! Up the Bible class!"
7. "Let battle commence. . ."
Part Three: Regular
8. Desert and Delta
9. The back of the front
10. Beachscape
Part Four: Irregular
11. Let it be Sardinia
12. The Submarine
13. The Approach
14. The Attack
15. The March
16. The Enemy
17. Intermezzo
Part Five: Finale
18. The seventh square
19. The pattern completed