Squaddie's Reading Material.... What did You Read?

Sven Hazel aka Hassel passed away last Friday aged 95. Responsible for hundreds of thousands of words of war stories, which saw many a squaddie through an endless guard. Books such as 'Legion of the Damned', 'Death Tracks' and 'Blitzfreeze'. It has been said that most of these stories were just that, stories, and not about his actual war experiences of WW2, which allegedly, were just made up.

Many a boring evening when I didn't have 2 Pfennings rub together, or a DMark coin to go to the NAAFI for a beer (a Heineken was 45 Pfennings a bottle), smokes or a wad and tea to eat in the late 1960s. I too have passed many an hour on my pit reading Sven Hassel stories of his 'When I was in war.....!", along with J T Edson cowboy stories, and attempts to read Tolkien's The Hobbit'.

If one was fortunate, one usually one managed to ponce a 5 or 10 DMark note off someone to go and have a few beers and a chinwag to pass the time before beddy byes..... to be paid back next pay parade with a couple of packets of 20 ciggies as interest.

Does anyone remember their favorite books, that were passed around mates in the barracks, excluding the 'smutty' ones with plenty of photos!!!!

In my experience squaddies would read ANYTHING, particularly signallers, who fought a constant war against boredom.
We had a Jock in our mob who used to delight in tearing the last page out of a book before passing it on. Evil little git !

There was a time in the 70s when "Pink Backs" were being shared around, fitted in the map pocket nicely!! What what it is worth I have Sven Hassels' autograph. (sniff).

My reading was mainly Sven Hassel whilst Corp. Bates in the next bunk was a J.T. Edson fan.

Apart from that, my reading was usually confined to Squadron orders and Slidex cards.

Any old sh*t that was left lying around.Spent one night reading the MML and another QRs..Paper backs by the hundred and always removed the last couple of pages..Oh joy

Nick642 wrote:

My reading was mainly Sven Hassel whilst Corp. Bates in the next bunk was a J.T. Edson fan.

With a name like that I would have thought that he was in to the "Pink Backs" as well?

@Shelldrake:

LoL. Happily, I didn't have to endure a W*nker for a roommate. George was more likely to be reading cowboy books or out trainspotting with the Padre and his model railway club on his off time. Can't recal the fella ever being drunk! Odd, very odd!

Read all of Sven Hassels books many times over, still got at least one lurking on the book shelves.

Read a lot of J.T. Edson, too, Dusty Fog was the hero if memory serves.
He was from Melton Mowbray, I believe.

Guy N. Smith was another author who was popular at the time, I`ve got his `Crab` series, still.

Louis L`Amour another western writer.

Leo Kessler was similar to Sven in content.

hank janson . tit bits , lady lovelies chatter , ginger

Not forgetting Reveille, Parade and the complete works of Goethe!

Anybody mentioned mickey Spillane yet ?

ere shelldrake i thought you used goethes to make cheese

mickey spillane ,

What ?

BAOR squaddies could read ?

The only thing I saw squaddies buy, was smut books, so they could put the pinups on the wall.

Louis L'Amour westerns

nothing wrong with the readings of baor squaddies , you could always swap your beano for the dandy or hotspur . not many of them read film fun or radio fun though ginger

Did a lot of reading in the WRVS room at the various locations aroon the world.On a couple of the postings we hud a stoater o a WRVS lady and we were like flies roon shicht trying tae chat her up, unfortunately they preferred the officer types than us lower ranks.

Cookery books!!!!!!!!! ha ha ha the best was Fanny Cradock

"john boy" wrote:

Cookery books!!!!!!!!! ha ha ha the best was Fanny Cradock

That's a hard one to swallow.

was fanny craddock ACC,as well ,.

gingerjim wrote:

was fanny craddock ACC,as well ,.

If she had she'd been an R. S. M She was a lovely lady and just to prove it here's one of her creations

pure bloody genius

As was previously mentioned, Signals would read anything. Always on the look for future reading material for the next scheme, SAS guard, or just to have reading material.

rucjock21 wrote:

Did a lot of reading in the WRVS room at the various locations aroon the world.On a couple of the postings we hud a stoater o a WRVS lady and we were like flies roon shicht trying tae chat her up, unfortunately they preferred the officer types than us lower ranks.

Aye, we had one at Hohne in WRVS. Her name was Daphne. We called her 'big Daffers'. She was a real big girl (not fat) about 6ft tall IIRC. Bigger than most blokes. Horse riding type.

She talked posh and was a real officer type lass.

We had one in Lippstadt called Olive, we called her Olive Drab. She never figured in any of my fantasies.

Gordon. wrote:

Any old sh*t that was left lying around.Spent one night reading the MML and another QRs..Paper backs by the hundred and always removed the last couple of pages..Oh joy

I was sitting on the floor of my cell bulling my boots when the Provo Sgt walled in, I jumped to my feet, assumed the position of attention and screamed 'Staff' (As was the tradition lol) I was surprised when he handed me a large hardback book, I thought how nice a pressie! He barked, compliments of Sgt O'Brian (Company drill Sgt) read and inwardly digest. And with that he walked out. I thought, what the bloody hell's this? I dropped my duster and with a black right index finger I opened the Manual of Military Law! I know why the volume was sent, I thought (At 17 years old) I knew it all and I being a gobby git considered myself a bit of a barrack room lawyer... wrong on both counts lol. Actually thinking back Sgt O'Brian was a decent bloke, but tbf I wouldn't recommend the MML as bedtime reading unless you're in trap 2 with nothing else to read.