Vincent Orange wrote a perceptive biography of Keith Park (reviewed in 32/4), and has followed up with another interesting work. John Slessor had an exciting Great War, making the first ever aerial attack on a Zeppelin. He then went on to serve in Darfur, where he won an MC, and over the Western Front. He left the RAF when peace was declared, but soon rejoined, to serve in India. Eventually he became CAS and a Marshal of the RAF. All this after contracting polio at the age of three, which caused him to limp for the rest of his life.

What I like about both these books is that they show their subject matter to be very human, with failings and shortcomings, as well as the brilliance for which they will both be remembered. Slessor was an unashamed Trenchardist, who blindly believed in the power of strategic bombing, a belief reinforced because he saw it work in subduing defenceless tribesmen on the North West Frontier. When he loathed people (Park, Alexander and Tedder in particular), he never hid the fact. He continually suffered the amazing RAF policy of posting people randomly into positions where they had no experience – he ran Coastal Command superbly, even if he was a fighter pilot by training and inclination. In spite of all this, he finished at the very top of his chosen profession. He was a great commander and Staff Officer, despite being tactless, opinionated, blinkered and a very pleased with himself snob. There are family photographs and a huge Bibliography and Index.

Two thoughts: I enjoy revisionist historians – I suppose this happens every fifty years or so, and we all have a great deal for which to thank John Terraine, who started this cycle. Secondly, autobiographies are to be read with extreme caution! This is a good book about a flawed but gifted serviceman.