From soldier to civvy
By: Cameron Blake
Publisher: Zebra Press; Penguin Random House South Africa; Random House Struik
Published: 2010
Place of publication: Cape Town
Language: eng
Number of pages: 302
ISBN-13: 9781770221345
Subjects: Military History; 20th century; Draftees; Attitudes; Soldiers; Draft; History; Veterans; Biography; Armed Forces
Description: "[The book] explores National Service from a number of different angles. It contains in-depth accounts from a diverse selection of former conscripts ... A number of frank and humorous letters home from a soldier to his fiancée are also included, and there are interviews with women - mothers, sisters, wives and girlfriends - who talk about how National Service affected them and their men. And, finally, former soldiers look back at their time in the army and reveal the powerful and lasting effects it has had on them and how they view it from the perspective of the present."--Back cover.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 302).
Table of contents: title: Pt. I. National servicemen's accounts. Rob: from infantry to Reconnaissance, 1965-1980; title: Marque: dog handler, South African Air Force, 1979-1981; title: Louis: mortarist, State President's Guard, 1981-1983; title: André: Parabat, 1983-1984; title: Matt: gunner, Special Service Battalion, 1985-1986; title: Kevin: loadmaster, South African Air Force, 1985-1986; title: 'Laurel and Hardy': Military Police, 1988-1989; South African marine, 1987-1989; title: pt. II. Letters from Basics; title: pt. III. Women relate; title: pt. IV. Now.