Customer Reviews

Reasons in Writing: A Commando's View of the Falklands War

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There are many things to like about this colorful and delightfully personal memoir by one of the most centrally-placed participants in the Falklands Conflict. Southby-Tailyour's role in helping senior British commanders understand their battlefield and ultimately choose their land course of action was pivotal. He describes his contribution in abundant detail, going back to his pre-war posting in Stanley with his wife and children and his rocky, sometimes bitterly frustrating relations with the Falklands civil authorities, to covering how his detailed knowledge of the geography and weather later influenced wartime operational analysis. Most important, however, are the details he provides about his strangely unconventional role during the land campaign itself, specifically during the amphibious assault at Port San Carlos and the catastrophe that befell Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram in the climactic days of the Battle for Stanley. Readers from other armies will be fascinated by the esprit and courage of the British marines as well as the seemingly murky and disorganized mission analysis and situational thinking of both British sea and land commanders. The complexities of British military-political relations is richly illustrated on several levels. In all, this book is an important contribution to our understanding of the Falklands Conflict and is delightful to read thanks to the first-hand knowledge, enthusiasm and eccentricity of its author.

There are many things to like about this colorful and delightfully personal memoir by one of the most centrally-placed participants in the Falklands Conflict. Southby-Tailyour's role in helping senior British commanders understand their battlefield and ultimately choose their land course of action was pivotal. He describes his contribution in abundant detail, going back to his pre-war posting in Stanley with his wife and children and his rocky, sometimes bitterly frustrating relations with the Falklands civil authorities, to covering how his detailed knowledge of the geography and weather later influenced wartime operational analysis. Most important, however, are the details he provides about his strangely unconventional role during the land campaign itself, specifically during the amphibious assault at Port San Carlos and the catastrophe that befell Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram in the climactic days of the Battle for Stanley. Readers from other armies will be fascinated by the esprit and courage of the British marines as well as the seemingly murky and disorganized mission analysis and situational thinking of both British sea and land commanders. The complexities of British military-political relations is richly illustrated on several levels. In all, this book is an important contribution to our understanding of the Falklands Conflict and is delightful to read thanks to the first-hand knowledge, enthusiasm and eccentricity of its author.

I found "Reasons in Writing" to be an awsome book. The main interest for me was the descriptions of life with the Royal Marine detatchment prior to the invasion and how "backwater" posts such as that can be forgotten by the mainstream public and government. Ewen Southby-Tailyour happened to be one of those military men whose niche comes to the forefront during times of crisis. Often throughout history men and women are propelled to the front of a crisis based solely on their experience in subject matter not found among others.

I found the day by day description of am apmphibous wafrare group, going in harms way, to be compelling and very easy to read. This is a must for our young officers and non commissioned officers especially of the Marine Corps and Navy.

After terrible disappointment and mind-bending boredom inflicted by the author's "Falkland Islands Shores", I promptly committed an admittedly irrational act and returned for more.

Yes, this author is a skilled raconteur, but one can't escape the feeling that he has been dining out on these well-honed anecdotes for years and years. The last half of the book is devoted to the 1982 Falklands War, with every conceivable pat upon his own camo-clad back, but did we really need to know the details of his vasectomy? Does his having roundly dissed his commander, aka Colonel Strawberry, portray a disciplined and loyal officer? And why on earth would we want to know that he got tanked on Black Velvets at the Guinness tent at Cowes?

This book reverberates to the overwhelming refrain of "I-I-I-I, me-me-me-me". Pass up this narcissistic paen by a Royal Marine peon. Read Nick Vaux's "Take That Hill!" instead.