Dallas Allardice

Friendship in a Time of War (1939-1946) Dallas Allardice

Friendship in a Time of War covers a young man's journey from the playing fields of school and the farmyards of North East Scotland to his training with the elite commandos and actions in the Second World War in Norway, Malta, the Middle East and Libya. While the actions undertaken were remarkable, this book is not so much about the war, as about the people encountered there and the great and selfless actions of members of extended families, who risked everything to protect the author as a fugitive behind enemy lines. This is about friendships, which were made, that span the generations. This has nothing to do with the Hollywood films, which were made about the key engagement of the book. This is about ordinary people who met under the most difficult of circumstances and how they rose to the occasion in a victory of humanity over evil forces. This book is edited by the author's son, who has tracked down many of the protagonists in the story, and their relatives, and who includes the stories of those meetings. The book is heavily illustrated with original photographs (some of which were confiscated and miraculously returned after the war). The latest edition of the book also contains a transcript of the original diary that was kept while hiding behind enemy lines in caves in the Abruzzo mountains of Italy. Details of commando training, the LRDG (Long Range Desert Group), the SAS, Middle East Commando and other special units are covered in the context of the account as are some reminiscences of Dallas's sporting career (which included 8 rugby caps for Scotland at scrum half after the war).