By alan james o'reilly (Alanor) (62.254.64.5 - 62.254.64.5) on Saturday, October 20, 2001 - 10:42 am:| By alan james o'reilly (Alanor) (62.254.64.5 - 62.254.64.5) on Saturday, October 20, 2001 - 10:42 am: |
Dear Recipients
Some years ago I researched aspects of the British Airborne forces in WW2, in particular the battle at the Arnhem Road Bridge, during Operation "Market Garden", (Episode 4, Band of Brothers). I was able to obtain first hand information from surviving WW2 British paras.
I turned the researches into a fact-based novel, although it was never published. However I would be happy to forward an e-copy to anyone interested to receive one - provided you don't mind waiting until I have scanned the only hard copy into a WORD document!
If you would be interested, please contact me via the email address on the profile.
Yours sincerely
Alan O'Reilly
North Yorkshire, England
| By alan james o'reilly (Alanor) (62.254.64.5 - 62.254.64.5) on Saturday, November 03, 2001 - 03:27 pm: |
To Tom and Mark
Thank you for contacting me about my research into the British Airborne in WW2. I am still working on getting this book into a WORD file but unfortunately last week lost all my emails and addresses owing to a power surge.
If you would kindly forward a message to me again, I will make sure I don't lose the addresses this time!
Regards
Alan O'Reilly
P.S. Was enthralled by Ep. 6 featuring medic Eugene Roe. A very authentic looking scene was created with a strong message of the real cost of war and the sterling efforts of those engaged in saving lives, even at the risk of their own. A nurse also features in the book I wrote, using reminiscences of British nursing sisters who served in WW2, most sadly now passed away I think.
| By alan james o'reilly (Alanor) (62.254.64.5 - 62.254.64.5) on Sunday, November 04, 2001 - 07:22 am: |
HELP!!!
This week I lost all stored emails and web sites due to a power surge that blacked us out for a few seconds. One of the saved web sites featured a recent close up photo, possibly taken during the Utah Beach tour, of Major Winters conversing with Lt. Spiers (I have used his WW2 rank). Major Winters is on the left and both men are wearing the distinctive yellow waterproofs. I think Lt. Spiers is wearing a cap (I think it was Lt. Spiers!!)
If anyone can give me the address, I would be most grateful.
| By Peter van de Wal (Roadkingpeter) (212.187.82.181 - 212.187.82.181) on Sunday, November 04, 2001 - 09:50 am: |
I have a lot of photo's on my website, also from Speirs and Winters. Maybe you'll find what you are looking for on my site:
http://www.bandofbrothers.ontheweb.nl/
Good luck.
Peter
| By alan james o'reilly (Alanor) (62.254.64.5 - 62.254.64.5) on Sunday, November 04, 2001 - 10:17 am: |
Peter
Very many thanks, I will check this out.
Best regards
Alan O'Reilly
| By alan james o'reilly (Alanor) (62.254.64.5 - 62.254.64.5) on Monday, November 05, 2001 - 07:05 pm: |
Dear All - but especially those who expressed interest in the book about British Airborne in WW2, i.e. Tom, Mark and Mike.
I have now completed an Introduction to the book which puts things in context. If anyone would like to receive a copy by email attachment, please contact me OL. (It is a WORD '97 document.)
Best regards
Alan O'Reilly
| By Jennifer Nelson (Jenelson) (208.241.47.165 - 208.241.47.165) on Tuesday, November 06, 2001 - 04:37 pm: |
Peter,
Your website is quite extensive and the photographs are phenominal! I'm impressed with the variety of photos that you have and the quality - candid photos are the best and tell the most wonderful stories. Thanks so much for listing your website - I've got it book-marked so that I may return to it after business hours. 
-Jennifer
| By alan james o'reilly (Alanor) (62.254.64.5 - 62.254.64.5) on Sunday, November 25, 2001 - 09:44 am: |
To Ian S.
Re: British Airborne in WW2
I sent you a copy of the Intro. to the book on Nov. 9th but apparently it was undelivered.
If you can please let me know when you are back on line, I'll happily forward it to you again.
Regards
Alan O'R
| By alan james o'reilly (Alanor) (62.254.64.5 - 62.254.64.5) on Thursday, December 06, 2001 - 05:24 pm: |
Book Based on British Airborne in WW2 - Update:
Just an update to let recipients know that the transcribing of the hard copy is proceeding well and the full text should be available as an attachment early in the new year. Watch this space.
If anyone would like a copy of the introduction, please contact me OL. It has had a section added about the 2 main characters, so any respondent who received an early copy without this but would like the updated version should also contact me.
Episode 10:
I watched episode 10 twice. It was a 'warts and all' portrayal but no less rivetting for that. Perhaps the best part was the way that the German Commander's parting speech spoke deeply to the men of both sides, through Joe Liebgott's astute translation.
Yet it was great the way that Damian Lewis' narrative at the end blended seamlessly into the interview with the real Major Winters. There was a most appealing surreal quality where Lewis, with a young man's voice and appearance, described events far in the future at the ball game but now in the recent past or present. (I agree with another sender who would have liked to have have known what happened to Don Malarky and Sergeant Grant, who evidently survived. The former of course was still alive at the time of filming and is a lifetime member of the 506th.)
"For those growing old, for those to whom long life was denied..." (Cyril Falls, an officer in the Great War, 1914-1918.)
I think that ball game was one of the healthiest broadcast scenes anywhere on television for a long time, for all sorts of reasons and a fitting conclusion to this magnificent miniseries. One could have earnestly wished that the veterans could have remained 'forever young', as they were then, enjoying the victory they had fought and suffered so much for, in those breathtaking surroundings.
For those who did not come home or have passed away since, again one earnestly hopes that as far as possible, the words of the poet and WW1 Red Cross Orderly, Laurence Binyon, are true of them:
"They shall not grow old,
"As we that are left grow old,
"Age shall not weary them,
"Nor the years condemn,
"At the going down of the sun,
"And in the morning,
"We will remember them..."
Alan O'R
P.S. Looking forward to the documentary tomorrow night!
| By jzyeabyz (24.164.58.7) on Sunday, December 23, 2007 - 09:05 am: |