Description

by Dominique Allen

The Salvaged Summer trilogy of books brought you through 1940-41 and the Gertie’s Path series picks up the stories from there, 1942 through to 1945.

These stories are set within the Second World War, during key moments and through decisive battles… but they are, essentially, about an English village errand-boy and his friends, helping where they can, fighting when they must and discovering country wisdom and common-sense hold true the world over, war or no war!

…and just in case you might have missed a few escapades along the way-of-it of Gertie’s Path.

Book 1: Not So Safely Forgotten (Spring 1942) – “OK, so they’re ALL over here! Now what are we meant to do with ’em?”

Book 2: The Biscuit Tin Summer (Summer 1942) – “He’s American! Ahhh, that would explain it.” …but only so far.

Book 3: Restless Torches (Autumn-Winter 1942) – “Country Wisdom: ‘if you want to know how to fix something, don’t wait until it breaks’!”

and now, Book 4: The Tunisian Turnaround (A Desert Spring 1943) – “The Yanks are reckless, the French unpredictable, the Italians unreliable and the Germans relentless… and we’re heading straight for ’em.”

The Lincolnshire village errand-boy has done a lot of growing up since those ‘Salvaged Summer’ days.

A hint of things to come in The Tunisian Turnaround:

Jack had his maps and aspirations, Mike his rifle and the memory of those Maltese airfields and Gertie had his satchel with that battered old biscuit tin, silver bangles on his wrist – and an abiding respect for Aunt Luci.

A long dusty slog and a sandstorm would lead them to some desert wisdom and they’d be needing that before the camel race and sniper. From there a nifty bit of negotiating and misdirection would be called for to resolve the skirmish between the rubble and the wreckage.

Thankfully though, when they got that far, the shepherds had a keen sense of humour and, with some tall-talking and fast-riding, the two tag-alongs were ready for more. They’d be late getting to the rendezvous, but for good reason!

From the high green pastures it would be a rough crawl along Kasserine, a ‘stagger and stumble’ … but they’d get that message delivered.

The heading was Tunis, but it was never going to be a simple trudge. “Think like a poacher, not a hunter,” Gertie offered and with that in mind they retrieved ‘Battered Bess’ and got her shuffling again, ready to begin the Battle of Slipper Top Hill!

‘Bess’ was the bait, the goats were decoy and Gertie needed that ledge to signal those RAF pilots  . . . “You’ve come a long way from those gentle lanes of home, haven’t you lad?”

Ahhh, dear readers . . . haven’t we all!

Format: Paperback

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