Author:Mark Stoneman
A quite extraordinary memoir – not quite in the league of Owain Mulligan’s The Accidental Soldier in terms of This Is Going to Hurt-style larks – but definitely competing in the same arena. As Stoneman puts it in the intro; “I decided to write this book because I felt the actions of the regular soldier in Iraq had not been recorded in the media. I wanted to record what it was like for the average soldier in Iraq in 2005. To be tasked with holding and occupying a part of the country. To interact daily with the Iraqi people and try to develop relationships that might make their lives better and save ours. To drive on the same roads, never knowing if the parked car you were about to pass was about to blow up.”
The opening chapter is, frankly, pretty bleak and it doesn’t really let up from there, one very late section involving (of all things) the Ipswich Town fanzine and a collection of football shirts aside. Just when you think things might be taking a turn for the better, something comes along and dumps all over it. Nevertheless Stoneman remains phlegmatic in the face of overwhelming disappointment throughout, right up until he has an encounter after the close of his tour with a barber who wants to talk about Call of Duty. The ride from the airport home gives a small clue as to how the previous year had imperceptibly gnawed its way into his subconscious. And speaking of gnawing, there’s one horrific incident recounted that we, the reader, by then are similarly desensitized to. Put it this way, this is never going to be required reading at the recruiting office.
Length of Read:Medium
Might appeal to people who enjoyed…
The Chilcot Report.
One thing you’ve learned
If you want to be an officer in The Guards, it really helps if so did your antedecents.
Further reading here: https://mstoneman.com/
Looks interesting @skirky. I’ll be ordering it.
Thanks for the heads-up. I’ve ordered myself a copy. Probably ought to be required reading at every secondary school.