I have just received from the printers, the book about my father's 46 Royal Marine Commando Unit which I have researched, designed and produced myself. The project has taken me 5 years to finalize and the idea was inspired by the hand-written autobiography by my father about his childhood and military career.

The book consists of 352 pages with detailed personal accounts, photos, and copies of original documents. It describes through those eye witness accounts how young men signed up to join the Royal Marines; their rigid training at Achnacarry to earn their coveted green berets; and the special Commando training and preparation for D-Day.

The book culminates in a detailed account of how 46 RMC liberated the French village of Rots in a horrific encounter with the elite 12 Waffen SS Hitlerjugend on the 11th June 1944.

At the same time as 46 RMC was being formed and preparing for D-Day I have described in parallel what life was like in the village of Rots during the German occupation and I have recorded how the villagers themselves fared during the battle.

Included are eye witness accounts from not only the 46 RMC, but also from those who served in the 12th SS and from a veteran detailing their training (the Division was grounded almost at the same time as the 46RMC!), as well as a description of what happened to them during the battle. It's a story from three sides.

Whilst my father was alive and even now the People of Rots have not forgotten the price the 46 RMC paid for their liberation and that is why it was so important to include their story too.