50th at Bay - The Years of Defeat: A History of the 50th Northumbrian Division 1939 to September 1942 Paperback – Illustrated, 15 Aug. 2018

I have been reading the newly published '50th At Bay' by B.S. Barnes. I have had it on order for a while but my copy has only just arrived.The book covers the history of the celebrated 50th (Northumbrian) Division from 1939 and the Phoney War through the desperate Battle of France, Dunkirk, Defensive activity on the South Coast, shipping to the Middle East, Syria, Egypt, The Western Desert, up to September 1942.The book is a thrilling, emotive and constantly informative read even for a reader who is familiar with the events in question. It provides knowledgeable and clear descritions of those dramatic events, interspersed with the recollections of the survivors, expressed superbly in their own North Eastern and Yorkshire dialects. This book is a fine tribute to the ordinary yet so extraordinary men who wore the double T.My wife's grandfather was in the 50th Division Signals and was killed in action in June 1942. I was hoping for something about the Signals in it, but it focuses squarely on the experiences of the infantry.I don't think I have ever read a more informative and moving account of Dunkirk anywhere.Despite some of the spelling and grammar being a bit astray the book is a real gem. It tells the story in a much more easily understandable way than many thick volumes on World War 2 that I have read. It has 256 pages not including the appendices and includes many photographs.This book is the first part of two books by the author about 50 Div - the other being the already published 'Sign of the Double T'. The previous book on the Division is now almost unavailable so this is a timely book as sadly we are in many cases saying goodbye to the last few survivors.I have found this to be an excellent book and I cannot recommend it too highly.

The book skilfully combines well crafted narrative liberally interspersed with first hand accounts to make a history of the 50th Division which is highly readable. I rated it very highly and wanted to read as much each day as I could. I had a relative who was a regular in the 2nd Devons, the one battalion in the division which was not from the North East, and therefore have a particular wish to read up on the Division. Hopefully the publication of this new work by the author will inspire too a republication or reprinting of his work on the Division's latter years. Best wishes to both books.

Thoroughly researched and put together.