Title: Operation Holdfast
Author: Andrew Weston
Genre: Historical Action/Adventure
Publisher: DSP
Book Blurb:
In one of the most decisive battles to take place following the D-Day Landings, 47 (Royal Marine) Commando were successful in ousting the resident German artillery and infantry regiments still dug in at the heavily fortified fishing harbor of Port-en-Bessin, to take control of the region. Having done so, they were expected to hold the ground they’d fought so hard to win.
No easy task, for not only had 47’s strength been drastically reduced during that offensive, but they—like all the other Allied units to arrive in Normandy following the opening stages of Operation Overlord—were introduced to a new style of combat: Boscage warfare.
Averaging out at well over fifteen feet in height and bolstered by a thick girdle of nettles and brambles—torturous to navigate along their base—the hedgerows of France were verdant fortresses, providing both protection and cover for the defenders, and an assault course of thorns and thistles and booby-traps for those trying to attack.
And, as Company Sergeant Major Richard—Lion—Hart, CGM, knew only too well. . .
The longer fighting in such a claustrophobic environment was allowed to continue, then the more his men would bleed. No matter how well trained they were.
Excerpt:
A brief volley of shots shattered the stillness, instigating a return of fire from those closest to the engagement, while the marines further out—Hart included—fell flat in the dirt.
No sooner had he done so, than Hart started squirming forward on his belly, automatically edging to one side in case Jerry had seen him drop down and was, even now, trying to anticipate where to shoot. He sucked in air, about to start issuing orders, only to bite his tongue at the last second, eager to see if either of his lance corporals might take charge.
One did. Jack Jenkins, who commenced hollering above the din, “One Section, carry on as instructed and see if you can’t get a better angle from the top field. Two section? Keep low, stay out of sight, and worm your way toward the trees. When you’re close enough, wait for direction from Taff or Dinger before lobbing any grenades in there. Hopefully, they’ll have taken care of business by then. But, if it looks like they’re in trouble, blow that tangle apart yourselves.”
Good lad, Hart mused, privately. He’s kept his wits about him and is thinking on his feet.
The sound of wheat stalks rustling indicated that the other members of 2 Section were already advancing on their target. A good sign. Unfortunately, it was hard to see what was going on from this angle, as grain dust and other irritating flecks kept getting into Hart’s eyes and mouth, and up his nose, distracting him.
Which is why he initially missed the fact that Crocker wasn’t with them. What . . . ? “Crocker?” He hissed, glancing to his right and then behind him. “Crocker, where are you?”
Hart started as the unique thud of Mills bombs exploding shuddered through the air. A report accompanied almost immediately by a concentrated burst of gunfire.
“Crocker!” He risked a louder query, “Pipe up, man. We’ve got Jerries to root out. What are you doing?”
A gargled cough sounded from nearby, just loud enough to be heard above a medley of shouting. Hart angled toward that sound, and was forced to adjust his bearing as a bubbling wheeze—coming from the direction where they’d initially made contact with their enemy—reached his ears, Oh no!
The sinking feeling in his stomach couldn’t be ignored. Scampering through the stalks as quickly as he could, Hart espied the outlines of a uniform lying still in the dirt and started toward it. “Crocker, is that you? Are you hurt?”
“All clear, boyos. All clear.” The dulcet tones of Taff Hughes rang out across the field, “You’ve gotta come and see this. You’ll love it.”
Before anyone had a chance to respond, Jack Jenkins smothered any thoughts of relaxing. “They can love it in a minute. We’ve got to secure the area first.
“Bobby? Take Gypsy with you and set up an overwatch in the top field while we clear things away here.
“Lance Corporal Black? Have Two Section follow them. Set up a perimeter and start patrolling back toward us to make sure there are no other surprises lying in wait.
“Taff? What have you got?”
“A four-man observation post,” Taff Hughes replied. “Dinger’s till in there, sorting through it, but from the amount of maps and notebooks we can see, they must have been here for a few days, logging the brigade’s movements.”
“Any radios?”
“Just one. But it got damaged when we used our grenades. . . .”
Their voices faded into oblivion as Hart finally reached the stricken marine, rolled him over, and was presented with a depressing sight. That of an otherwise fit and healthy man in the prime of his life, with a gaping hole where the right side of his neck used to be.
Hart glanced down at a crimson pool, already attracting insects as it congealed in the sun. His gaze then took in the surrounding stalks, many of which were liberally doused in arterial spray. He must have caught a stray bullet when Jerry first opened fire?
Cradling his comrade in his arms, Hart swatted at the flies crawling over his blood-soaked smock, and checked for a pulse. A pointless task. Crocker’s pupils were fully dilated, and his skin was already grey and clammy to the touch. His heart was no longer beating. A fact signified by the steady trickle of fresh blood from the raw, open wound.
Hart sat back and sighed, heavily. Laying the fallen marine gently onto the ground, he brushed Crocker’s eyelids shut, and swatted at the flies that still insisted on trying to land on his blood-spattered neck and face. “I’m sorry we didn’t get to know you better, brother,” he murmured, quietly. “But at least you’ll get to go home early. Something, I think, that will be denied the rest of us for quite a while yet.”
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Author Biography:
Andrew P. Weston is a bestselling author from the UK who lives with a large amount of rescue cats in a medium sized house on a small Greek island.
A former Royal Marine, he is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association, the International Association of Media Tie-in Writers, and the Western Writers of America. He also reviews articles for Amazing Stories and The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction in his spare time.
His latest pursuit – that of writing action-adventure thrillers – has only just begun, as is his quest to create a story that blends the very best elements of Tom Clancy with Robert Ludlum.
Social Media Links:
Website/blog: https://andrewpweston.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @WestonAndrew