Book Signing Event!
The Gibraltar Heritage Trust will be holding a book signing on Friday the 23rd September for the recently published book, From a Hard Place to a Rock. This untold story follows the accounts of a few soldiers in the British Expeditionary Force on the run in WWII.
Author Timandra Slade will be at the Main Guard in John Mackintosh Square between 11:00am and 12:30pm, with those interested being encouraged to come along and meet her.
About the Book:
On the 24th and 25th September 1940, the Vichy French staged a bombing raid on Gibraltar as a reprisal for events taking place on the west coast of Africa. Over the two days more than 100 bombs were dropped on and around The Rock. Although many fell harmlessly in the sea there were casualties, and the HMT Stella Siriuswas sunk with the loss of fifteen lives.
Lives were lost on land too. The house ‘Lamorna’, in South Barrack Road, had been requisitioned for use by military medical staff and by chance at the time of the raid was also providing accommodation for seven British Officers of the British Expeditionary Force. They had all previously been captured by the Germans but had managed to escape. Having made their way through France and Spain to Gibraltar, they were now waiting for the next convoy to return them to England. On the 25th September one bomb landed on ‘Lamorna’, killing three of the occupants and burying the remainder alive.
Timandra Slade’s father and uncle happened to be two of the escapees who survived. Whilst in captivity in Spain her father had written an account of his escape which has never been published. Now eighty-two years later, she has used this account, together with letters written by her uncle from a French internment camp, to recount both escapes. Her extensive research has also uncovered details of the bombing raid which prevented some of their fellow escapees from completing their home run.
This month also coincides with the anniversary of the raid and Timandra will pay her respects at the Gibraltar Cross of Sacrifice and in the North Front Cemetery during her time in Gibraltar.
If you already have a copy, you may bring it down to be signed.
If you would like to reserve a book with a dedication enclosed, you must pre-pay for the book and email exec@gibraltarheritagetrust.org.gi with your dedication enclosed or leave it at our shop. Also available to purchase in our shop: https://shop.gibraltarheritagetrust.org.gi/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=339