Wow! eBook
Reluctant Hero
Author(s): John Hickman (Author)
- Publisher: John Hickman
- Publication Date: 29 Aug. 2011
- Edition: 1st
- Language: English
- Print length: 348 pages
- ISBN-10: 0987094513
- ISBN-13: 9780987094513
Book Description
John tells the true story about his dad, Bill’s involvement in the Second World War. Bill grows up in the slums of Notting Hill, London and leaves school at fourteen. Despite his insecurities, while still in his late teens, he becomes a pilot of Lancaster bombers. He wants to belong to the ‘establishment’ but rebels against the powers-that-be when he realises they think he is expendable. Loss of life and planes is horrendous and to Bill’s mind largely unnecessary. His attitude towards death in combat changes after he meets and marries John’s mother to be, Alice. After the raid over Dresden in February 1945, he becomes angry at the cover-ups, corruption and myriad of lies. Authorities dispute claims that British planes carried out machine-gun attacks on the civilian population but Bill knows otherwise! Against all odds he survives the war but is dreadfully scarred emotionally. After serving his country he is penalised, dismissed without a commission or job. Even told he is unfit to fly! ‘…Prediction is difficult, especially about the future, but had I known then, what I know now, I would never have taken part in World War Two.’
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
John Hickman was born in March 1945 in Kensington, London, England. Carole, his wife of forty-eight years says that should make him a mature writer. Educated at private schools John worked in a bank and then worked in his father’s hotel business in Royal Tunbridge Wells. He joined the Pest Control industry based in the UK before migrating with his family to Brisbane in 1971 as ‘ten pound Poms’. They became naturalised Australians in 1973. John spent a lifetime in business specialising in pest control, fumigation, and timber preservation. In the 1990s his family farmed Javan Rusa deer. After retirement in 2003 he started to ‘smell the flowers’ and realised how most of them smelled the same. Unable to play golf, he discovered a latent passion for writing. John’s first book Reluctant Hero tells the controversial story of his dad, Bill’s, involvement in WW2. He survived as a Lancaster bomber pilot when the majority perished. Tripping Over is its sequel. Sex, Lies & Crazy People was published in 2014 and follows on from Tripping Over. G’day Down-Under is due to be published in 2015 and follows on from Sex, Lies & Crazy People. They are all true stories.
