German Tommy: The Secret of a War Hero by Ken Anderson

German Tommy: The Secret of a War Hero by Ken Anderson

The date: 14 October 1918 - a misty early morning, east of Ledegem, Belgium. Young British Army officer Lieutenant Walter Lancelot Merritt MC carries a large red flag to indicate the centre of a brigade-strength advance. He moves ahead of the main force. Close to the German lines a bullet smashes into Merritt's right leg. Despite the crippling wound he continues to hold the flag aloft ensuring following troops maintain the line as they move on to take long-entrenched German territory. Merritt's courage and leadership resulted in the award of a Bar to his Military Cross. While undergoing treatment in post-war England, he confessed in a petition to King George his real name was Walter Schwarz. He had deserted from the Australian Imperial Force in 1915 because he feared his German ancestry would prevent him being sent into battle. George, who had personally decorated him as Merritt at Buckingham Palace, accepted his story and pardoned him for his desertion. The mystery has remained to this day: How did Schwarz manage to maintain his cover for six long years under the most trying circumstances imaginable? Schwarz's only comment was he would like to say more but could not. He never did. The author has gone behind the accepted facts to tell for the first time the true story of this gallant deserter. He reveals that official documents have been altered and argues that members of a secret society lied and swore false testimony to help Schwarz, acting on their oath to aid a fellow member in distress. The book offers an insight into the way in which people of German origin were treated in Australia and Britain during the First World War. It is a story of bravery and deception unique in the history of war.

Ken Anderson has a film, television, and sound recording background. He produced the successful and widely acclaimed movie, 'Naturally Free', this feature film was distributed throughout Australasia and the USA. Ken has now turned his skills to authoring; 'She Refuses To Leave' is a fictional novel which is an outstanding contribution to the genres of Mystery and Romance. Utilizing his interest in cinematography, his characters maintain a screen-like effervescence. They become energised with subtle close-ups and believable dialogue, the reader quickly synchronises with these characters and relishes their direction. Ken's style of writing is unparalleled in today's world of literary offerings. 'She Refuses To Leave' is superbly written and employs a spiritualized approach. The book could be likened to the classic movie, 'Ghost' which starred Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze, although 'She Refuses To Leave' has its own individuality, with an equally important message. Ken has lived in California, USA but now resides in Sydney, Australia.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781783462742
ISBN 10	1783462744
Title	German Tommy: The Secret of a War Hero
Author	Ken Anderson
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	Pen And Sword
Year published	2014-05-19
Number of pages	256
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
Note	Unavailable