Acknowledgements
Unlike many authors, I should be required to make no long list of people who helped me write this story. This is logical, because nobody knew that I was writing it.
To be truthful, however, we should always give credit to those who have inspired us, and while all writers should start by acknowledging their debt to the Bible and to William Shakespeare, we must admit that we have been helped by others.
In my case, the list must be headed by Wilder Penfield, and followed by Daphne du Maurier, John Winant, Evelyn Waugh and Michael Packe, all of whom are mentioned in my narrative. I also benefited from checking my historical memory against Jefferson Lewiss, in his Something Hidden. However, like Pierre Bertons Vimy Ridge, it is the product of other peoples memories, whereas this story is based on what Ashton Kerr has remembered, and recorded on his portable typewriter. Like any good secretary, he must apologize for any errors or omissions!
Introduction
This is not intended to be autobiographical, and I trust that readers will not find it as such. However, having said that, I am reminded of what my old friend and former classmate, Douglas Fullerton said in his The Dangerous Delusion: Quebecs Independence Obsession. His opening remarks explained the need to be autobiographical sometimes in order that the reader could understand what the anglophone was thinking about the French.
In my story, it is the war as I saw it, and the remarkable people that I was fortunate to meet that will be described.
Incidentally, having quoted Douglas Fullerton, I should add that his Graham Towers and His Times is highly recommended. They say that if you dont recommend other peoples books, they wont recommend yours. Just as if you dont go to other peoples funerals, they wont go to yours.
And so, we have been introduced. Sorry, I didnt catch your name!!
Ashton L. Kerr, M.D.
Preface
And what did you do in the war, Dad? A familiar question, asked of so many veterans.
Oh, I was a parachutist.
And did you kill many Germans?
No. I was a medical officer, a doctor in uniform. We werent supposed to kill anyone, but if we did, it was a mistake. We didnt get sued then, the way doctors are today.
Are your memories of the war pretty sordid, Dad?
When you remember the best friends that were killed, it is pretty sad, but there were many funny things that happened, and we all saw some beautiful parts of the world. Our memories are quite a mixed salad.
O.K. Dad, Why dont you begin by telling me how you joined the Army.
Well perhaps some others might be interested in my story, so I should write it down...