{"title":"Lorna Almonds Windmill","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"british-achilles-book-lorna-almonds-windmill-9781844153541","title":"A British Achilles","description":"Son of the victor of Jutland, George Jellicoe has enjoyed power and privilege but never shirked his duty. His war exploits are legendary and, as a founder member of Stirling's SAS and first Commander of the Special Boat Service, he saw action a-plenty. A brigadier at 26 with a DSO and MC he liberated Athens as the Germans withdrew and saved Greece from a Communist revolution. After the war Jellicoe joined the Foreign Office and worked with spies Burgess, Philby and Maclean in Washington and on the Soviet Desk.  His political life saw him in the Cabinet of the Heath Government and he is frank with his biographer over the issues and characters of his fellow ministers. Jellicoe's Achilles heel is his weakness for, and attraction to, women. His resignation over an involvement with a prostitute was a national scandal but he is refreshingly honest and devoid of self-justification. He remained an active member of the Lords pursuing a top level business career. A British Achilles is a superb biography of a major public figure and exemplary wartime soldier.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49523136200977,"sku":"GOR003103249","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1844153541.jpg?v=1750866182"},{"product_id":"gentleman-jim-book-lorna-almonds-windmill-9781841193403","title":"Gentleman Jim","description":"A story of love and danger, courage, drama and survival against the odds. Set in wartime England, the western desert, Italy and France, it seeks to capture the spirit of the young soldiers at war in the newly emerging SAS. Gentleman Jim Almonds, a sergeant in the Guards Commandos, sailed for the Middle East as part of Layforce in January 1941 with David Stirling and others destined to become SAS originals. After intense training in the desert and action at Tobruk, Jolo Oasis, Nofelia and Benghazi, Almonds was captured and shipped to a Prisoner of War camp in Italy, from which he managed to escape. After 32 days on the run, he managed to reach US forces at the Benevento front line. Later, in 1944, he parachuted into France to disrupt road and rail links. He spent two months living in the Forest of Orleans - despite Hitler's edict that all SAS were to be shot rather than taken prisoner. This work is based on Gentleman Jim's diaries, which he kept to be sent to his wife should he fail to return.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49527370973457,"sku":"GOR003577036","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ WELL_READ \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49640411726097,"sku":"GOR003478717","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ LIKE_NEW \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50319184003345,"sku":"GOR010419789","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50554647642385,"sku":"GOR000908907","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1841193402.jpg?v=1751027145"},{"product_id":"gentleman-jim-book-lorna-almonds-windmill-9781848844247","title":"Gentleman Jim","description":"This remarkable story of Jim Almonds (Gentleman Jim) is set in wartime England, the western desert, Italy and France and recounts his formative role in the birth of the SAS.  Against a dramatic background of love, courage and high-risk adventure, it captures for the first time the real spirit of the young soldiers in the newly emerging Special Air Service.Jim Almonds, a sergeant in the Guards Commandos, sailed for the Middle East as part of 'Layforce' in January 1941 with David Stirling and others destined to become SAS 'L' Detachment 'originals'.  Following intensive training in the desert and action at Tobruk, Sidi Haneish, Nofelia and Benghazi, Almonds was captured and shipped to a POW camp in Italy, where he staged two escapes.  After thirty-two days on the run in enemy territory, he reached US forces at the Benevento front line.  Later, he parachuted into occupied France where he harried the Germans so effectively that he was awarded the Croix de Guerre.Written by Gentleman Jim's daughter and based on Almond's own diaries, various primary sources and interviews with other 'originals', the action throughout is vivid and immediate.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49542717276433,"sku":"GOR003433318","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ WELL_READ \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49563240661265,"sku":"GOR003461245","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ LIKE_NEW \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50253652295953,"sku":"GOR006467318","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":53239194583313,"sku":"NGR9781848844247","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1848844247.jpg?v=1751217954"},{"product_id":"british-achilles-book-lorna-almonds-windmill-9781844158812","title":"A British Achilles","description":"Son of the victor of Jutland, George Jellicoe has enjoyed power and privilege but never shirked his duty.  His war exploits are legendary and, as a founder member of Stirling's SAS and first Commander of the Special Boat Service, he saw action a-plenty.  A brigadier at 26 with a DSO and MC he liberated Athens as the Germans withdrew and saved Greece from a Communist revolution.After the war Jellicoe joined the Foreign Office and worked with spies Burgess, Philby and Maclean in Washington and on the Soviet Desk.  His political life saw him in the Cabinet of the Heath Government and he is frank with his biographer over the issues and characters of his fellow ministers.Jellicoe's Achilles heel is his weakness for, and attraction to, women.  His resignation over an involvement with a prostitute was a national scandal but he is refreshingly honest and devoid of self-justification.  He remained an active member of the Lords pursuing a top level business career.A British Achilles is a superb biography of a major public figure and exemplary wartime soldier.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49549201637649,"sku":"GOR005646510","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":49735493222673,"sku":"NGR9781844158812","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ LIKE_NEW \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50638878605585,"sku":"GOR010419924","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1844158810.jpg?v=1751313428"},{"product_id":"gentleman-jim-book-lorna-almonds-windmill-9781841195667","title":"Gentleman Jim","description":"The true story of one of the SAS originals, 'Gentleman Jim' Almonds' remarkable history is set in wartime England, the western desert, Italy and France and recounts his formative role in the birth of the SAS. Against a background of love, courage and survival against all the odds, this book captures the real spirit of the young soldiers in the new Special Air Service.  Jim Almonds, a sergeant in the Guards Commandos, sailed for the Middle East in 1941 to become an SAS 'original'. After action at Tobruk and elsewhere, Almonds was captured and shipped to a POW camp in Italy, he escaped and later,  in occupied France, won the Croix de Guerre. Based on his diaries,  the action throughout is vivid and immediate.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ WELL_READ \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49565494903057,"sku":"GOR002355566","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49577804595473,"sku":"GOR001544429","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49681590714641,"sku":"GOR001358397","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1841195669.jpg?v=1751217548"},{"product_id":"escaping-the-ordinary-book-lorna-almonds-windmill-9781800460126","title":"Escaping the Ordinary","description":"“Gentleman Jim is a special forces hero – and he is one of mine too.\" Sir Ranulph Fiennes, OBE    The trailblazing sequel to Gentleman Jim: The Wartime Story of a Founder of the SAS. Following his death-defying Second World War, Gentleman Jim Almonds would never settle to an ordinary job. The SAS was disbanded but as a thirty-year-old Captain, he still hungered for adventure. After training Emperor Hailie Selassie’s Army in Ethiopia, he went as Second-in-Command of a bandit-chasing outfit in the new ‘Wild West’ of Eritrea. He was on active service in so-called peacetime. Atrocities and killings were common, but British justice was swift during a race against time as Almonds brought terrorism under control before the implementation of a United Nations decision to federate Eritrea with Ethiopia. Meanwhile, he embarked on personal adventuring and exploration alone in the wilds, rivers and highlands of Ethiopia, sometimes coming close to death.     He was still the great escaper. The SAS reformed in Malaya and Almonds ran straight to the battle again. Back with the Regiment, he parachuted into the jungle to clear communist terrorists out of Malaya. In the early days of the Malayan Emergency, he improvised insertion techniques, close quarter combat training and led the long slow marches out. The success of this British campaign has been largely unsung – until now. In Singapore, Almonds took time out to design and hand-build boats in which he and his family sailed around the Straits of Johor. Another opportunity took him to the Gold Coast as a Major in the West African Frontier Force. He witnessed Independence as the British Union Flag was lowered and Ghana was created. He built a riverboat and navigated the mighty Volta River, before it was dammed, through dense equatorial jungle from Yeji to the sea. He even built, by hand (no power tools), a thirty-foot ocean-going ketch – designed and memorized whilst in an Italian Prisoner of War camp. He sailed out into the mid-Atlantic and home to England. He had no modern steering aids, no health and safety and no radio – yet an uncanny sense of direction. In the dog days of Empire, the story captures the snapshot detail of the many countries he visited during his three-month intercontinental voyage. The account is set in a meticulously researched context, fully sourced and contains a comprehensive index, maps and glossaries.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":49737735045393,"sku":"NGR9781800460126","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50958488011025,"sku":"GOR011013908","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1800460120.jpg?v=1750833070"},{"product_id":"sas-rogue-hero-gentleman-jim-the-sequel-book-lorna-almonds-windmill-9781036148287","title":"SAS Rogue Hero Gentleman Jim The Sequel","description":"As featured in the continuing BBC TV Series, SAS Rogue Heroes, Gentleman Jim Almonds was a founder of the SAS alongside David Stirling. This new book is the Sequel to the best-selling ‘Gentleman Jim: The Wartime Story of a Founder of the SAS and Special Forces’.        ‘Fascinating to read about how the Malayan Scouts became the SAS. It helped fill in gaps for me.’ - **General Sir Peter de la Billiere. KCB, DSO, Mc \u0026amp; Bar, former Director SAS during the Iranian Embassy Siege and Commander-in-Chief of British Forces during the Gulf War**         'Gentleman Jim Almonds is a Special Forces hero….and he is one of mine too.' **- Sir Ranulph Fiennes, OBE**         'One of the most courageous men who has ever served his monarch and his country.' **- Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC, military historian**         In 1945, following his death-defying Second World War with 1st SAS, ‘Gentleman Jim’ Almonds still craved active military service and perilous adventuring.         After training Emperor Haile Selassie’s Army in Ethiopia, Almonds volunteered as Second-in-Command of a new bandit-hunting outfit in the ‘Wild West’ of Eritrea. On active service in so-called peacetime, killing was a fact of life. But British justice was swift during a race against time to bring widespread terrorism under control in time to implement a United Nations Decision to federate Eritrea with Ethiopia under the Ethiopian Crown.        When the SAS reformed for the Malayan Emergency, Almonds volunteered again as Commanding Officer of ‘B’ Squadron, 22nd SAS. Parachuting into the jungle to clear out Communist terrorists, he improvised insertion techniques into the canopy; close quarter combat training; and led torturous marches back to civilisation. This successful British campaign has been largely unsung – until now. In Singapore, Almonds designed and built boats, sailing them with his children – all destined for the Army – in the Straits of Jahore.         As a major in the Gold Coast\/Ghana, he built without power tools the 32-foot ketch he had designed in an Italian PoW camp. Via the mid-Atlantic, he sailed home to England with no modern steering aids, no health and safety and no radio – but an uncanny sense of direction. His story captures in snapshot detail the many countries he visited during his three-month, 5,000-mile, intercontinental voyage.      Set in meticulously researched contexts, the account is fully sourced with an index, maps and glossaries.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"- \/ - \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":52863725830417,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":52863726813457,"sku":"NGR9781036148287","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/9781036148287.jpg?v=1765236876"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/en-gb\/collections\/author-books-by-lorna-almonds-windmill.oembed","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}