Shand joined the 12th Lancers in 1937, with socialising, hunting and riding on his mind more than anything else. Horses were only for personal time, as the regiment actually operated Morris armoured cars and Shand commanded ‘A’ Squadron when they deployed to France in October 1939. His active career included the subsequent campaign and evacuation, before further action in Africa until he was captured late in 1942. The book concludes with his time as a POW.

There is a fairly interesting account of the events in France in 1940. There was a lot of sitting around and socialising. When the German’s attacked there was a steady withdrawal and the witnessing of much chaos. Shand gradually loses his vehicles and crews in his screening duties. They are allocated a policing role for Dunkirk and the Luftwaffe was much in evidence. Actual detail on battle though is fairly scant. There are certainly close calls with German elements but Shand is not really forthcoming on this. It is similar with North Africa and even Alamein. There is a lot of back and forth and continual whittling away of the unit. There are tragic deaths and wounds but the combat is not really strongly revealed. Shand’s time as a POW is of interest but there’s not a lot of variety in such a situation.

Shand is more forthcoming in relation to those he served with. He rated and described some colleagues very highly, others a great deal less so. Not everyone is a good organiser or people person and the stress of war makes it all harder again. Even so, Shand shows how the officer corps generally was mostly able to conduct themselves in a professional and courageous manner. Shand himself won the MC twice and attained the rank of Major. I prefer my war memoirs to focus on the combat but Shand’s account is also of value in showing the doings of his social class. After the war he was successful in business and was father to Lady Parker Bowles, who ultimately married Prince Charles. As a war memoir it is more of interest as a perspective of the life of an officer. It is well written and wryly humorous at times. 3 stars overall.