Publisher's Synopsis
This is the true story of the World War II experiences of Fred Lloyd of Royton who, at the age of 26, joined the 1st Battalion of the Loyal (North Lancashire) Regiment. The change from being a clerk in a textile company to becoming a Front-line infantryman was a considerable one. It was especially difficult for Fred because he was, and still is, a devout Christian. The expected violent conduct of a combat soldier and the knowledge that he may have to take another man's life caused Fred much anguish. Even when he later became the Company Clerk he still carried the thought that he could have been called upon to fight the enemy if the need arose.;Fred fought in the desert of North Africa and was present at the taking of the Island of Pantelleria and the subsequent landings at Anzio with its viscious fighting against a determined German defence force. After narrowly missing death he was captured and later released by a combined Allied counter-attack. He was one of the few lucky survivors of C Company which was all but wiped out. He moved with his Battalion of the Loyals up through Italy and took the opportunities afforded him to visit many of Italy's historical sites. Fearing that they were to be sent to the Far East, the Loyals were relieved to be posted to the Middle East. There Fred was able to realise his dream by seeing the places he had so often read about in the Bible.;Many of Fred's comrades vowed never to travel again but his experiences abroad brought about a resolve in him to see more of the world. At the time of this book's publiction he was determined to use his passport again before its expiry in the year 2000, his 87th year.
