“Rommel?” “Gunner Who?” – A Confrontation In The Desert, Spike Milligan

The second volume of his war biography from humourist and Goon Show star, Spike Milligan. This volume covers Spike’s march to war in the desert: a tragi-comic saga of bawdy farce mixed with introspection and day-to-day reportage of the fears and fun of a group of gunners, nursing in their bosom the embryo Goon, forever punning, playing his trumpet or, if on guard duty, disguising himself as a tree in a hole. The confusion of war for the private soldier is conveyed in a touching and characteristically Milligan manner. The language is rich and racy, the wisdom earthy and soldierly. Faced with irreverent humour such as this, Rommel didn’t have a chance. Hardcover, 192 pages.