New book, Path Of Duty – No. 16 Sqdn SAAF – Graeme Gibson

Hi all

I’ve been waiting for this book for some time now as the subject matter and planned production values have promised something very exciting. I was lucky to visit Graeme before Christmas and be shown his research and what he’s collected to make this two-volume history happen. I know the word “epic” is thrown around a lot these days but nothing else can describe this book. Graeme has sent me an advance copy for review. It delivers on everything it promised … and then some. It’s been printed in Hobart (Graeme, an ex-pat, now lives in Tasmania) and every inch of it exudes quality. The paper stock is top notch, the photo reproduction is perfect and the colours of the original artwork (like the cover) bring the whole thing to life. Other than that I’m pretty much at a loss for words as to how well Graeme has done this. It does not read like a dry squadron history but more like a a masterfully crafted narrative. The commissioned pencil sketches and paintings – the same idea as Graeme’s earlier Coastal Strike (the biography of John Clements DFC) – have to be seen to be believed. The two South African artists, Sean Thackwray and Darryl Legg, deserve to have their work seen and collected worldwide alongside the likes of Taylor, Trudigan etc. So much for being at a loss for words!

The book runs through the squadron’s history “from South West Africa to Cyrenaica 1939-1943” (with volume two taking up the tale with the arrival of the Beaufighters) and finishes with appendices of aircraft histories, more than 20 highly accurate profiles (I’ll post some of those later) and, as you’d imagine, a very comprehensive bibliography. I am still digesting this book and still can’t quite fathom what is before me. This is a squadron that deserved a strong work to honour their memory and it has certainly got that. Path Of Duty is simply brilliant.

I need to write a proper, well thought out review to get into some magazines (and on my site) as soon as possible but thought I’d try to get the word out there to like-minded types who get excited about this sort of thing. A book like this makes me reflect on why I love this genre so much. Close to 500 pages of perfection – it looks great, feels great and even smells great!

Drop Graeme a line – graemegibson6ATbigpond.com – if you’re interested in a copy or if you have 16 Sqdn material/knowledge you can add to his work.