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 was a private in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. He was also a prolific writer, documenting his life in this series of three books. He takes the reader on a real life journey, starting with when he was a small boy growing up in England in the 1920's, to his role as a soldier in the 'Policing action' in Palestine. His adventures continue when his battalion is sent to The Western Desert to fight the Italians and then onto Crete to fight the Germans. This third and final book in the series covers Tom Barker's time as a prisoner of war (POW) in Germany during the Second World War, after being taken prisoner on Crete. Tom's memoirs describe his stay at a number of different POW camps before arriving at Stalag IVB - one of the largest POW camps in Germany. Here, after a slight concern about a 'bloke' sidling up to him in the showers, Tom swaps identities with RAF Sergeant Harry Tenny. Tom provides detailed accounts of the day to day life as a prisoner of war (POW), locked behind barbed wire and under the control of German guards for several years. His memoirs range from the mundane to the confronting as he describes the boredom, the hunger, and sometimes the humour that was needed to survive the daily adversity of being a POW. The final chapter of this book details Tom's post war life and describes how Tom took his family to Perth, Western Australia in 1967, where Tom was employed as an electrician and washing machine mechanic, before starting his own business. Tom also continued to sing and play many musical instruments, while becoming an accomplished oil painting artist. Examples of his art are included in the book and at http://www.goodhandpress.com.au