It turns out, Mr. Sadler's nursing home is a mile from the home of a good friend of mine. He tells me that Sadler was well-known in Cambridge. He met him on several occasions and says he was a "modest man" who "made things better" when he was at an event.
This story, right here, is worth the annual subscription fee. This was something I had never learned much about (I was much more interested in war in the Pacific). Thank you for this historical documentation.
Seems nowadays they are very very rare, doesnt it?
He was a true hero as were so many of the men and women who "went to war". Not only World War II - but all the wars after. The young men & women fighting these wars are not the ones to blame FOR the wars! We sure seem to have an overabundance of those anymore, dont we?
That's a real good one Tom. Somehow, they don't make them like that anymore. Erwin Rommel was an interesting character also. As a Prussian, his loyalty was to the nation only and he was not a Nazi. My highschool sweetheart's father was Rommel's childhood best friend and he needed the trusted friend to lead one of his tank batallions. He used to tell me stories over good German beer sent by friends.
Fantastic tribute to a great man Tom. I don't recall anywhere near that level of detail regarding Mr. Sadler being revealed in the Rogue Heroes series. Appreciated.
FYI. The late lamented BBC Goon, Irish comedian and genuine genius Spike Milligan penned several autobiographical memoirs about his WWII service in the British armed forces. The first, about his call up (drafting) and training was "Adolf Hitler: My part in his downfall" and the second, covering his time in North Africa was "Rommel?" "Gunner who?" Both are sad, funny, and contain Spikes uniquely hilarious observations about the insane logic within authority systems.
Thank you, TC, for sharing this story and the history it highlights. Like many of the greatest generation, he just did a job that needed doing and he figured out how to do it. I found this story very poignant, my son is recently retired Special Forces.
The North Africa campaign seldom gets its due in the history of WWII. Thanks for a detailed account this hero's contributions and his survival in a most treacherous environment, in many ways worse than the jungles of the Pacific, the North Atlantic seas, and the North European and Russian winters.
Actually, I cannot take credit for this post, other than being smart enough to repost it. Credit must go to the Nation's Finest Fishwrap for hiring a very good writer in the Obituaries Department.
Another WOW. A man of stone who was sculpted, in many ways, by the war. Sort of like Michelangelo said about a block of marble. He turned out to be a masterpiece. Wish we all had unerring ability to know where we are, where we are going, and when we would get there. Sometimes, I’d be happy to know which end is turned up.
BTW, when my husband died in the nursing home, someone read his obit and said he really was somebody. I said, this place is full of people who used to be somebody. How true…
Thanks, TC, for this relating of the work done by British SAS forces in North Africa! Mr. Adler and his comrades should be remembered for the grueling work they did in WWII.
It turns out, Mr. Sadler's nursing home is a mile from the home of a good friend of mine. He tells me that Sadler was well-known in Cambridge. He met him on several occasions and says he was a "modest man" who "made things better" when he was at an event.
This story, right here, is worth the annual subscription fee. This was something I had never learned much about (I was much more interested in war in the Pacific). Thank you for this historical documentation.
Why did that story make me tear up?
Great fellow, that Mr. Sadler.
Guys like him are rare.
Seems nowadays they are very very rare, doesnt it?
He was a true hero as were so many of the men and women who "went to war". Not only World War II - but all the wars after. The young men & women fighting these wars are not the ones to blame FOR the wars! We sure seem to have an overabundance of those anymore, dont we?
That's a real good one Tom. Somehow, they don't make them like that anymore. Erwin Rommel was an interesting character also. As a Prussian, his loyalty was to the nation only and he was not a Nazi. My highschool sweetheart's father was Rommel's childhood best friend and he needed the trusted friend to lead one of his tank batallions. He used to tell me stories over good German beer sent by friends.
Fantastic tribute to a great man Tom. I don't recall anywhere near that level of detail regarding Mr. Sadler being revealed in the Rogue Heroes series. Appreciated.
FYI. The late lamented BBC Goon, Irish comedian and genuine genius Spike Milligan penned several autobiographical memoirs about his WWII service in the British armed forces. The first, about his call up (drafting) and training was "Adolf Hitler: My part in his downfall" and the second, covering his time in North Africa was "Rommel?" "Gunner who?" Both are sad, funny, and contain Spikes uniquely hilarious observations about the insane logic within authority systems.
In total, the trilogy has seven books. ;-)
Thank you, TC, for sharing this story and the history it highlights. Like many of the greatest generation, he just did a job that needed doing and he figured out how to do it. I found this story very poignant, my son is recently retired Special Forces.
The North Africa campaign seldom gets its due in the history of WWII. Thanks for a detailed account this hero's contributions and his survival in a most treacherous environment, in many ways worse than the jungles of the Pacific, the North Atlantic seas, and the North European and Russian winters.
It will "get its due" May 4, when "The Tide Turns" is released. :-)
The customary Cleaver attention to detail and providing a complete story with essential context. Thanks.
Actually, I cannot take credit for this post, other than being smart enough to repost it. Credit must go to the Nation's Finest Fishwrap for hiring a very good writer in the Obituaries Department.
That's amazing, I had no idea there was anyone that good left at the former paper of record.
The NY Times does write great obituaries. Thanks for sharing this one, Tom. What a hero he was!
Do they even make guys like this anymore?
It's certainly questionable.
Also, I learned two new words: Wadis and theodolite.
Love your work, TC. Thank you.
Another WOW. A man of stone who was sculpted, in many ways, by the war. Sort of like Michelangelo said about a block of marble. He turned out to be a masterpiece. Wish we all had unerring ability to know where we are, where we are going, and when we would get there. Sometimes, I’d be happy to know which end is turned up.
BTW, when my husband died in the nursing home, someone read his obit and said he really was somebody. I said, this place is full of people who used to be somebody. How true…
Thanks, TC, for this relating of the work done by British SAS forces in North Africa! Mr. Adler and his comrades should be remembered for the grueling work they did in WWII.
Excellent read! Excellent man!
Great story about a lil' known hero! Thank you TC!
That’s a great story Tom, thanks for sharing it.