..
THIS COMPETITION NOW CLOSED

137 entries were received, 133 were correct - 4 were wrong!

The 'WINNER', chosen at random was 'PETER GREENE'
(we'll try and get a picture of him here receiving the book)
 

SEELÖWE NORD - the Germans are coming! .....

ShinyCapstar is proud to announce the release of 'Seelöwe Nord - The Germans are Coming' by Andy Johnson (former Regimental Sergeant Major of the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards.

You can have the opportunity to win a personal copy of this sensational book, signed by the author himself by answering this question:

        Seelöwe Nord is a war novel that tells the alternative history of which Operation ...... ?  (the clue is in the text further below!)

        A. Operation Penquin
        B. Operation Sealion
        C. Operation Polar Bear

To enter this FREE COMPETITION:
              All you have to do is find the answer to the above question, and e-mail your answer (A, B or C) to admin@shinycapstar.com.  All correct answers will be placed in a 'cyber-hat' and a lucky winner will be drawn at random.  The winner will be e-mailed and asked for their postal address so the signed copy can be posted to them from the author himself.  This competition closes on the 28th of February and only one answer per e-mail address will be accepted.  Remember, if you want to get yourself a copy of this outstanding novel see here for information on ordering.

Something else that's very special is Andy also promises to donate a minimum of 20% of the profits from this book to military charities, including the Coldstream Guards Charitable Fund.

PLEASE NOTE: In this years Coldstream Gazette, there is an order form that serving Coldstreamers and Members of the Association can use to order signed copies direct from the author. Alternatively, Andy will be at Black Weekend and will be more than happy to sign up books throughout the event whilst I am there, if people have already bought copies elsewhere.


ABOUT THE BOOK:
SYNOPSIS

Seelöwe Nord is a war novel that tells the alternative history of Operation Sealion, the proposed German invasion of Britain in 1940. In Andy Johnson’s debut novel, the invasion actually takes place, but instead of falling on the south coast of England as was expected, the Germans land on the east coast of Yorkshire between Scarborough and Skipsea. The invasion also involves a parachute attack on RAF Driffield and a glider-borne assault against the gun batteries on Spurn Head. In the days following the invasion, the Germans fight their way south-westwards through Holme-on-Spalding Moor in an attempt to cross the River Ouse between Selby and Goole.

While the British forces in the area put up desperate resistance in order to delay the German advance, the British reserves are rushed northwards to deliver a counter-attack, which eventually takes place four days after the German landings. This results in a climactic final battle on both sides of the Ouse in the vicinity of Church Fenton, Cawood and Ricall. In addition to this, the area of Filey Bay, Bridlington and Holme-on-Spalding Moor, become the settings for some spectacular battle sequences, and readers familiar with this part of Yorkshire will be able to follow the action, quite literally, field by field.

The novel is written using the snapshot method, switching between the German and British forces and is written from a soldier’s perspective. The colourful language, black humour and sometimes absurd nature of battle, will resonate with serving or former soldiers. The book contains a mixture of historical figures, such as Churchill, General Alan Brooke, and the German Commander of the SS Totenkopf Division, Theodor Eicke. In addition, there are many fictional characters typical of the low level soldiery from both sides.

Seelöwe Nord is not for the feint hearted and is certainly not a nostalgic trip down memory lane with ‘blue birds over the white cliffs of Dover’. Containing graphic scenes of battle, strong language, and descriptions of war crimes, this is a blunt, robust and unpretentious war story. For the reader who isn’t too fussed about the academic debate over whether Operation Sealion was ever a real possibility, but who is keen to understand the sound, smell and feel of battle for the man at the sharp end, this book is an absolute must.

Seelöwe Nord: The Germans are coming… is out now; available in large paperback from any good book shop by quoting the title and International Standard Book Number 978-1-907294-38-9. The novel is also available from a range of internet retailers including www.amazon.co.uk

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
ANDY JOHNSON

Andy Johnson was born and educated in York, attending Dringhouses Primary School and Ashfield Secondary Modern (now the site of York College).

He joined the Army at the age of 16, just weeks after leaving school, and enlisted in the Coldstream Guards. He served in the regiment for 24 years, seeing service in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan, before retiring in March 2009 as the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Coldstream Guards.

Now married with children and living in Staffordshire, Andy’s wider family still live in York and he is a regular visitor to the city.

He is an active member of the York Branch of the Coldstream Guards Association and was recently awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his exemplary service over the last quarter of a century.


 

EXTRACT FROM PART ONE: SEELÖWE

“Stand-by!” Captain Dullman shouted and slid down the ramp into the hold again. The company commander had been sitting on the main deck, staring through a small gap in the raised drop-ramp, trying to get a glimpse of the enemy shore. “Twenty metres!” Dullman warned them. “Lots of smoke. Don’t worry about it. Just run like fuck for the cliffs.”

Halder had started praying aloud once more. Nuemark ignored him this time; he was too busy staring up at the drop-ramp, his fingers flexing repeatedly around the stock of his rifle, pre-occupied with his own private thoughts. From behind their squad came a harsh, boorish voice. “Hey, Bachman. Don’t you seize up on the ramp like you did on the net
or I’ll kick your arse into the water.” It was the unpleasant Schmidt again, one of the privates in Second Squad.
Saltz turned to give the loud-mouthed private a blast, but Heyman, Schmidt’s own squad sergeant, beat him to it. “Shut the fuck up, Schmidt! Concentrate on your own job.”

There was a loud, repeated, knocking sound on the wooden hull of the barge and Saltz realized with a start that it was the sound of bullets hitting the vessel’s side.
“Oh, fuck.” He breathed quietly to himself. “Oh, fuck, fuck, fucking fuck!”
There was a sudden judder that ran through the very structure of the boat and for a heartbeat, Saltz worried that they had been hit by something bigger and he waited, frozen in fear, expecting the side of the barge to suddenly implode as an enemy shell broke through in an explosive orgy of death. It didn’t happen, and then a second later he heard a metallic squealing noise. He glanced upwards and saw the drop-ramp toppling forwards out of view.
Christ almighty, this was it!

“Okay men,” called Dullman over his shoulder, “let’s go kill some fucking Tommies!”
There was the sound of a loud splash from above. The Navy marshal, who was crouching at the top of the exit-ramp, turned, gave the thumbs-up to Dullman, and slid down into the hold, out of the way. Saltz watched Dullman take a stride up the ramp and shout back over his shoulder.
“Gooo….!”


EXTRACT FROM PART TWO: BREAKOUT

A sad smiled crossed Dill’s features.
“I thought that would be the case.” He said quietly. “As did Newall. Two entire bomber groups are receiving their orders as we speak. There is a lot of cloud up north at the moment, but it is expected to clear mid-morning. I know that the Air Striking Group is already making low level sweeps over the town but, unless the Prime Minister forbids it at our 0730 hours meeting, then at 1000 hours this morning, nearly one hundred bombers will flatten Driffield town.”

Brooke and the Director accepted the information wordlessly. After a while, the Commander Home Forces broke the silence.
“War is a terrible business. And sometimes, we must do terrible things for the greater good. We can only pray that God understands our reasons for such actions.”
Before the Chief of the Imperial General Staff could reply to that, there was an urgent knock on the door, and one of Brooke’s staff entered.
“Sirs,” he began without preamble, “there are two flash signals from Northern Command.” Brooke nodded curtly at the officer.
“Go on, Jamie.”

The staff officer raised the first signal.
“The brigade at Beverley reports that Leaconfield aerodrome has been successfully cratered, and that they are under pressure on a broad front from large formations of enemy infantry and light armoured cars, backed by artillery and mortars. They are withdrawing quickly in order to prevent being enveloped on either flank.”
He paused, looking up for Brooke’s reaction. Brooke turned the information over in his mind quickly, before replying.
“What’s the second message?”

The officer flicked to another piece of paper.
“Lead elements of 2nd Armoured Division are now in a screen five miles south-west of Driffield. They report a column of tanks moving south out of Driffield on the Beverley road.”
Brooke flicked a worried glance at Dill, then the same at the Director.
“They’re going for Hull, after all.” The Director murmured.

Brooke turned back to the staff officer.
“Draft a reply to Northern Command. I’ll be there in a moment to check it over. Tell them to get that brigade back into Hull immediately and to ensure the city is fortified. Also, tell them to find another brigade and get it over the Humber and into Hull, quickly.”
Brooke paused a moment, his mind working rapidly.
“In fact,” he went on, “tell them to make it the Guards Brigade from 1 Div, and tell them to appoint the commander of the Guards Brigade as the Hull Garrison Commander. I want that city held at all costs. Do it now.”

Thus dismissed, the staff officer hurried off. Brooke took a deep breath, casting a serious look at Sir John Dill.
“Tell Newall and the Prime Minister that I fully support the new bombing strategy. Tell them to flatten Driffield by all means; and the sooner the better.”

 

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