The Preface


The stories told over meals and at family gatherings eventually touched my consciousness as my years matured. On realising that they were actually very interesting and historically valuable, I became compelled to record them before they were lost. I did so not with the intention of writing a book, but as I organised my written notes onto computer so a book gradually evolved. It was a long time before I started talking about 'my book' but as my confidence grew so did the number of chapters.
It became clear to me after several false starts that the information had to be presented in the form of a biographical novel. In that way I felt that I could ensure that it would be read by more than avid family members keen to learn of their roots. Now, on this third print run, I can say that many family members have indeed read my book. It has also been read by thousands of others, in many countries around the world - a wonderful bonus.
Some events and the portrayal of some individuals may not sit comfortably with everyone, but I hasten to add that this story merely represents my perception of people and events, both first hand and from the information portrayed to me by those I thank in the acknowledgements and sources.
I have visited every place of any significance - from Tidworth to Weymouth, from walking the streets of London and Martinsburg, visiting Omaha Beach and its cliffs, the fields of Normandy and Virginia. I have communicated at length with B Company veterans (116th Regiment, 29th Infantry Division, US Army) as well as people local to the places and time about which I have written. I have been helped by many: historians, researchers and by those who claim no title but who provided invaluable insights, priceless information of days gone by.
I spent many interesting hours poring over B Company's morning reports, detailed maps of France and veterans' memories to piece together the battle trail of Dalton and B Company. I have followed that trail and looked out upon the same landscapes, attempting to understand what it must have been like and probably did not even come close. I accept and have tried to take account of the fact that not all memories are sound after 60 years and can change due to experiences in the intervening years. Only by cross checking could I be sure that I was getting near the truth and yet some people may still feel I am far from it. Well, that's life.
Writing this book has truly been a journey for me of many years; a journey driven by weight of events and partly by my desire to do justice to them. It grew from something I did in my spare time to absorb me with a passion.
This is likely my first and last book. My training was in Physics and Computer Science, not in English or as an author; expect not great literature but a story that I hope proves of great interest.
Thank you.


If you have read the book and would like to communicate with me about it, then please do so via 
this web site's message facility or via 

 slaughterrjmybook@yahoo.com


Robbie Slaughter