“We were scared, to
say the least, but
the next thing that
happened almost made
us mess our pants!
As we were passing
in-between the
cruisers, they
broadsided and the
noise nearly blew
our eardrums out. It
was unbelievable
stuff. As they fired
these broadsides the
recoil of their huge
guns lifted the
cruisers about ten
metres back. What a
fright! I looked at
Jimmy Shade and he
looked at me—we were
both as white as
sheets. Is this real
or is it a
nightmare? Still,
the assault crafts
kept on going. We
could see just over
the craft’s side and
saw the beach huts
that were all now on
fire, some even
exploding.”
This is a fast-paced
first-hand account
of the experiences
of a young Royal
Marine who fought in
the battle for the
liberation of the
Suez Canal, and
describes the
heart-warming
camaraderie that
bound together
national servicemen
and officers alike.
The book is
dedicated to all
those who died
serving their
country during the
years 1955 to 1957.
Reading this
true-life adventure
of comrades in arms,
of self-sacrifice,
chilling encounters
with death and
heroic exploits, one
can have no doubt
that Marine
Lofthouse 132049 is
one of those who
constitute the salt
of the earth, to
whom we in the free
world owe a profound
debt.—Charles
Muller, Diadem
Books
Published Categories
Royal
Marines 1955-1957
R
H Lofthouse
