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A Few Deeds Short of a Hero: A candid account of life in the Armed Forces from one of the few men alive to have served in all three branches.
Robert Widders is one of the very few men to have served in all three branches of the armed the Royal Navy, the Army, and the RAF. A Few Deeds Short of a Hero tracks his life from childhood through naval service in the NATO rapid response Atlantic Squadron during the cold war, through Army military manoeuvres in Germany and active service in No4 RAF War Hospital during the Gulf War.
Through his life-long service and brief period AWOL, for which he served military imprisonment, he paints a colourful picture of both the boredom and tragedy of war interspersed with the shenanigans of a young man sliding towards alcoholism, and a penchant for feats of physical endurance including running the Bahrain ultra-marathon and expeditions to both the Sahara and Mount Everest base camp. Robert Widders has emerged on the other side of conflict and a life shaped by the military as a balanced individual and has achieved success as an historian and a teacher.
"Graphically charts the highs and lows, boredom and excitement, camaraderie and tragedy of military life."
Liverpool Post
"Wonderfully self-deprecating."
Ryan Tubridy, the Tubridy Show, Radio 1 (Ireland)
"Adventurous is an understatement when describing Robert Widders."
University of Birmingham, Alumni News
"A unique insight into the mind-set of the enlisted man."
Ireland's Big Issue
www.robertwidders.co.uk
Through his life-long service and brief period AWOL, for which he served military imprisonment, he paints a colourful picture of both the boredom and tragedy of war interspersed with the shenanigans of a young man sliding towards alcoholism, and a penchant for feats of physical endurance including running the Bahrain ultra-marathon and expeditions to both the Sahara and Mount Everest base camp. Robert Widders has emerged on the other side of conflict and a life shaped by the military as a balanced individual and has achieved success as an historian and a teacher.
"Graphically charts the highs and lows, boredom and excitement, camaraderie and tragedy of military life."
Liverpool Post
"Wonderfully self-deprecating."
Ryan Tubridy, the Tubridy Show, Radio 1 (Ireland)
"Adventurous is an understatement when describing Robert Widders."
University of Birmingham, Alumni News
"A unique insight into the mind-set of the enlisted man."
Ireland's Big Issue
www.robertwidders.co.uk
370 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 26, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 18, 2021
Well worth a read!
Very entertaining story of this mad impatient guy. I strikes me that had he stayed at any of these various episodes in his life he would have gone to the top. What a life
Very entertaining story of this mad impatient guy. I strikes me that had he stayed at any of these various episodes in his life he would have gone to the top. What a life
November 26, 2023
Wow - what a life
Excellent book written with just enough humour to keep the pages turning but still sensitive and down to earth portrayal of life in the armed services.
Rekindled many fond memories for me
Excellent book written with just enough humour to keep the pages turning but still sensitive and down to earth portrayal of life in the armed services.
Rekindled many fond memories for me
October 25, 2022
First Class Read
A surprisingly open and honest view of the ups and downs of military life. A very entertaining and interesting read.
A surprisingly open and honest view of the ups and downs of military life. A very entertaining and interesting read.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews