Leading the Way to Arnhem

A book on the 21st Ind Company will be launched on the 18th April in Oosterbeek, 210 pages, 294 x 225 mm, hardback/full colour dust wrapper, 270 b/w illustrations and 6 maps (ISBN 978-90-812703-1-1)



Price £30 00 Euros 40.00



It will not as such be available in the ‘high street’ but in theory if you go into a bookshop that takes orders via ISBN’s they should order it for you. It should also appear in due course on amazon, although in the past they have charged an extra £1.99 sourcing fee for several of the Sigmond publications, which I feel is absolutely outrageous.

There is the opportunity to ‘pre-order’ a signed copy but you’d need to contact me before 1200 on the 16th, as I travel to the book launch on the 17th.

I can confirm Paul Meekins will be getting copies also Helion &Co Ltd and probably The Airborne Shop at Aldershot- which will still be based there even though the ABF Museum is closed and moving to Duxford.

The book will be printed in the usual format to the previous Sigmond books although with a lot more photographs hence the higher price.

 

My copy arrived here this morning.... !

Absolutely what we have come to expect from a book published by Robert Sigmond. A first, quick look-through shows the usual clear layout, high quality, and plenty of new photos. Ever since reading the extraordinary 'Cauldron' by 'Zeno' I've wanted to know about the actions of the Independent Company at Arnhem. Of course, there was Ron Kent's 'First In !' but this new book makes use of many more personal accounts and far more research has been used.

I am thoroughly looking forward to reading this book in depth. As with any Sigmond book, totally essential for anyone with a serious interest in Arnhem. Also as usual, the print run will be limited and the book will be scarce in future.

Act now !

 

Around 900 printed.....

 

Sounds good, too bad Im all the way down here.

 

Will be available via the internet through several sources for those 'down under' or 'up over'...

Please ask if you need info on which internet book dealers will stock it......

 

I couldn't find any info on Amazon about this one. Any alternate online sources to get a copy? Not sure if this one would make it into my library, but I'm definitely interested in at least taking a look...

And- (bear with me, I haven't been doing any reading in a couple years and need lots of refreshers!)- what was the Independent Company?

 

21st Independent Parachute Company were an elite unit, basically the 'Pathfinders' for the 1st British Airborne Division - so really, they were an 'elite of the elite'.

They were quite literally 'first in', landing in advance of the main force in order to secure the correct drop zones with clear marking, setting up radio beacons, etc. Once out of the aircraft, they were totally alone many miles behind enemy lines and had to be completely self-reliant : 'Independent'.

The Company was made up of men from many other units and interestingly, at Arnhem included a number of German Jews who had escaped the Nazi regime.

 

Cant wait to get my copy already have first in by ron kent,and a booklet called the first of many by frank spittle.i had the great honour back last year of meeting one of these very noble soldiers he was a sergeant who had served in n africa sicily normandy and arnhem! which means he served in not only 21 indp coy but also 22 indp coy i spent some 30mins talking to him i could of listened to him all day, he told me funny stories and very sad stories but most of all he showed great pride and bearing. i shook his hand when we finised talking and walked away very very humbled.

 

It does have an ISBN which means in theory it should be available via amazon but perhaps a bit early as the book only came out on 18th April 2008.
It is however on the helion.co.uk website

ISBN 978 90 812703 1 1

 

WWII Forums - first with the news ! The print on my copy wasn't actually still wet, but.....

 

I checked by ISBN on amazon, but nothing showed up. Might well be a "too soon" situation, as that is pretty recent. I'll check the helion.co.uk website.

'Course, having just dusted off my interest (and one of my all-time favorite hobbies beside craft beer), I'm betting that there are going to a LOT of books on the "I'd love to get a copy of this" list.

Conveniently... one of the better book/model/ww2 stuff shops in my area is almost right across the street from...

The homebrew supply store.

 

Crazy D Helion will be getting 10 copies of the book signed by the authors- should be in transit to them from Holland also as per a previous post Paul Meekins although he tells me he is not going to 'list it' until he has his 40 signed copies.....
Apologies if this all sounds a bit vague but the book is out - I was at the book launch in Holland and will handle UK sales perhaps world wide if you ask nicely.....I brought 4 copies back with me of which one went to my old friend Martin B which is why he put his post on.....

Both of the previously mentioned two dealers can also get other Sigmond publications or you can contact me for details.....

The book itself weights 1.3 kgs.

 

Appreciate the info very much, Airborne! I've got to take stock of what my book budget is (can't take TOO much away from the ber budget!) and figure out what I want to get, so I'll be looking into all of this stuff over the next couple weeks.

Appreciate the info!

 

Hi airbourne, could you get hold of a signed copy for me ??
if you could it would be appreciated

 

Got my copy friday deep joy and just when you think things cant get any better i get a copy of Who was who during the battle of arnhem come to my door

 

Book has now appeared on amazon.co.uk but a word of warning as they claim it is a hard to source book and charge an extra £1.99 on top of the £30......