Author Description

Please note that Tom's memoirs have now been released into one book to make it easier for those wishing to read his entire story, and also save on delivery costs - the book is called Bayonets and Blue Flames. Tom Barker enlisted in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in 1938 seeing action in Palestine, the Western Desert and as a sniper on Crete. In later life Tom became an electrician, an artist, musician, interpreter (when a prisoner of war), engineer, carpenter and most importantly of all, a prolific writer, documenting his life in this series of three books. In September 1940 the 1st Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders were dispatched from Palestine to the Western Desert as reinforcements to the greatly outnumbered British forces (soon to be known as the 'Desert Rats') already there. Arriving by train and then a forced march, the Argylls took up 'prepared' positions to the south east of Mersa Matruh. They didn't have long to wait until the Italians launched their invasion of Egypt, halting at the small coastal town of Sidi Barrani, where they built a chain of small forts. Book two of Tom Barker's memoirs covers what was probably the most tumultuous period in his life. Tom describes the heat, the flies and the boredom of the desert and the terror and violence of taking part in a bayonet charge during the Battle of Sidi Barrani (Operation Compass). This mainly forgotten battle was one of the British army's first victories of the Second World War. The Argylls sustained heavy casualties during the battle and were then given guard duties in Egypt. In May 1941 the Argylls were sent to Crete by troop ship, where they landed just days before the German airborne invasion (Operation Mercury) began. It was on Crete that Tom, operating as a sniper was wounded and taken prisoner. Tom's time as a prisoner of war is covered in Book Three: Barbed Wire and Tattoos.