The Fighting Wessex Wyverns

Commanded by the controversial Major-General Ivo Thomas, the 43rd (Wessex) Division was branded the "Fighting Yellow Devils" out of respect by its Wehrmacht and Waffen SS opponents. The 43rd's distinctive divisional badge of a golden Wyvern - half-serpent half-dragon - was to be seen in all the ferocious battles in Normandy, the Low Countries and Germany between June 1944 and May 1945. They suffered 12,500 casualties including 3000 killed in action. This publication tells the story of the division's campaign in Northwest Europe, from Normandy to Bremerhaven, in the words of the soldiers who actually fought with it: privates, sergeants and young company commanders, all have their individual stories to tell. Here are firsthand accounts of the landings on the shores of Normandy; the battles for the River Odon, Hill 112, Maltot and Mont Pincon; the breakout to the River Seine and the forcing of the vital bridgehead at Vernon. Fully illustrated with photographs of the Division in action, this is useful reading for anyone interested in the day-to-day actions of soldiers in the front line during the crucial last 11 months of the war.

Patrick Delaforce is an established military history author, and his other publications include Monty's iron Sides and the Black Bull.