Royal Engineer

Philip Thomas is a retired British Army warrant officer and published author. In his memoir Royal Engineer, he shares his story and experiences of a fascinating 24-year military career that began on 6 June 1976, the day he first joined the Territorial Army in Llanelli, West Wales. In June 1977, he transferred across to the Regular Army and went on to serve for 23 years. Totally absorbing from a historical perspective and fascinating in the way he shares numerous narratives and historical accounts, this is a fulfilling reading experience for anyone with a military background, or has an interest in modern history. Ingeniously and creatively, the story centres on a journal written by the author during his six-month post-war operational tour of the Falkland Islands in 1983, whilst serving with 52 Field (Construction) Squadron, Royal Engineers. From serving during the Cold War in the former Federal Republic of Germany to patrolling the streets of West Belfast in Northern Ireland at the time of The Troubles, and from qualifying as a Joint Service Mountain Expedition Leader in Norway to serving in post-war Bosnia, Royal Engineer has all the ingredients to make it a 'must' read. Seeing US President Jimmy Carter at close hand in Berlin and catching sight of Rudolf Hess in Spandau Prison, exchanging letters with legendary comedian Eric Morecombe and confronting a black bear in the wilds of Canada's Algonquin Provincial Park, these are just some of the many experiences the author shares in a style of writing that is both captivating and enchanting.