Truly one of the great soldier's-eye-view memoirs of the second world war, written by a great historical novelist. Unlike the vast majority of military memoirs, this one is beautifully-written, and Fraser's great eye for detail and ear for dialogue shines through. Combat actually plays a surprisingly small role in the book - most is taken up with the inane dialogue and banter of 9 Section (instantly recognisable to any soldier) and Fraser's general ruminations on the war and how Britain has changed since the 1940s. A warning - he is very opinionated and of his time, and some of the conclusions he draws will be uncomfortable to a modern audience. Nevertheless, he explains his reasonings as well as he can, even if he somewhat delights in controversy. An absolute delight to read, and an absolute must for anyone interested in the Burma campaign, or WW2 soldiering in general.