Nobody’s Hero

Description

Serving in the RAF’s Provost Marshal’s Branch, or as most of us would call it, the RAF military police, Bernard Hart-Hallam found himself in the thick of World War II, witnessing things your average squaddie could only dream of. 

Now, don’t get him wrong; he’s not painting himself as some dashing hero or anything. No, he’s far too modest for that. But let’s not gloss over the fact that while he was on guard duty at a top-secret airfield, he got to see the world’s first prototype jet being tested. And if that wasn’t enough, he also witnessed the tragic accident that ultimately led to the invention of the ejector seat. That’s right folks—Bernard was right there at the birth of a slice of aviation history!

Then came the rather less glamorous task of patrolling the streets of London looking for deserters. Not exactly a job that would win any popularity contests. So, understandably, Bernard jumped at the chance to join the 2nd Tactical Air Force as they geared up for the big show—the invasion of Europe.

Fast forward to D-Day, 6th June 1944, and wouldn’t you know it? Bernard became the first RAF bloke to set foot on French soil when his unit landed on ‘Juno’ beach at 9am. From there, it was a whirlwind of action, helping to keep order as the Allies moved in en masse.

In a world gone mad after the war, he and his mates were rounding up spies, collaborators, and the odd fleeing German general, while monitoring the activities of black marketeers and good-time girls. It sounds like the plot of a dodgy war film, but it was all part of Bernard’s reality.

His memoir is packed with these escapades, delivered with a healthy dose of modesty and cheeky humour. It’s a rip-roaring read that pulls back the curtain on the chaos of wartime Europe through the eyes of a man who saw it all but never took himself too seriously.