John L Stonehouse
AUTHOR
For King, Country and … France!
During the Second World War, Scouts fulfilled many tasks that were asked of them and some that weren’t …
For
King, Country and … France!
Is such a story! It follows the thrilling adventures of a recently orphaned Boy Scout, Ben Dart, during the six months of 1940 that were to change France and its people.
In the story the main characters learn the value of the Scout Law and the Scout Promise and that even in times of stress, crisis or danger they provide a sound moral compass. They help Ben in his frequent clashes with his fascist and chauvinistic French uncle.
By bringing a group of Scouts of different nationalities together, the novel
emphasises the need to have a value system and personal philosophy, for them
to carry out their own war effort.
For King, Country and … France! is to be published 1st October 2007.
Price £7.99
Extracts from For King, Country and … France!
At three thousand feet he pressed the button that activated the automatic pull out system and simultaneously released the bomb, sending it on its final journey to its chosen destination. As the JU 87 pulled out of the steep dive, the gunner saw the bomb hit the front carriage of train with a flash and everything seemed to buckle.
‘My dear Ben, Great Britain will have to seek terms as well. They have evacuated from Dunkirk leaving nearly all their equipment on the beaches. How do you think they are going to oppose the fast moving German army?’
‘My Father works in the finance department at the Hôtel de Ville,’ murmured another Jewish boy. ‘He received a letter from them yesterday saying that his services were no longer required; he has worked there for over fifteen years.’
Obergefreiter Klaus Bullwinkel had been waiting some days for a signal from the mysterious transmitter that when it came he nearly fell off his stool. He rapidly wrote down the short message, RB RB ‘441011 111211 173171 EDV.’ It was all over in thirty seconds. He checked with Unterfeldwebel Dietz, who had not managed to get a direction. Grabbing the field telephone he let Hauptmann Scholtz know.
‘Yes! Do you realise if my Mum had been alive and I know she would have been a member of the Free French, she would have had the death sentence hanging over her. A sentence passed by Frenchmen on French men and women.’
