Click Here To Purchase Love and Sand

Author: Howard M. Layton

Publisher: Three Spires Publishing

ISBN: 978-0-9676008-5-7 

After reading the glossary of technical, foreign and unusual terms which I found really interesting and helpful, I read the foreword and then began the first chapter which put me immediately in the picture. It was exhilarating, frightening, amazing and I marvelled at the bravery and skill of these men.

Flying a Blenheim from Aden to bomb the Makale airfield in a surprise attack and get out quickly and safely was all very well but when your Squadron leader decides to return and give it another go, that is another thing altogether. Unfortunately things didn’t go to plan and it was only the skill and bravery of the Squadron leader that allowed them to crawl back. Navigator Howard Layton kissed the ground of that far away airfield. 

This is the beginning of a story with first hand knowledge of those dangerous days in the desert and the action that took place at El Alamein to rid Rommel and his army. It was to alter the course of WW2.

In the next chapter we follow Howard as he tries to overcome his nerves and ask the girl of his dreams, Verna, to go out with him. Fate gives him a hand too. During his courtship we read how his immature behaviour leads to jealousy in his relationship with Verna and how she always forgives him.  

Howard tells us of his hidden longing to become an actor.

His writing is a delight to read, the descriptions are so vivid and it moves along at an appealing speed - you can’t wait to know more.

I loved the chapter of the day he and Verna became engaged but what followed later…well you will have to read this book to find out.

Howard later found himself promoted to flight sergeant navigator and was actually assigned to be an instructor at RAF Pre-Operations Training School at Nakaru, Kenya teaching Australian aircrews.

Frustrated at nothing happening regarding his application to train as a pilot, Howard settled down to making his teaching as effective as he could. Back on duty he was drafted to Cairo to get more aircraft up to Rommel’s supply lines to help the land forces and while there he was delighted to receive the news he had been granted an acting commission in the RAF with the rank of Pilot Officer.

Unfortunately a letter from his mother contained news he didn’t want to read - it was 1942 and the last battle of El Alamein and Howard was supporting the 8th Army to rid the North African scene of Rommel.  Sand blew everywhere, it got into everything, Howard actually woke up one morning and found he’d been sleeping on a scorpion. Everyone was tired but they had to keep flying, time and time again, until Rommel was defeated.

Howard realized that in war time you have to make the most of every minute and live it to the full.  

He left for England in 1945 but not alone. After which he embarked on a career in acting which had been a dream for many years.

Always fretting for Verna but married to another, Howard had many regrets.

This book is an absolute must from start to finish. It is a brilliant story of the author’s life from peace time to the dangers of war to his post-war careers. Did he fulfil all his ambitions and dreams? You must read for yourself.  

A well -written book which I couldn’t put down and I often found myself with a lump in my throat as I read.

There are relevant maps at the back of the book and an excellent up-date on many of the key figures in Howard’s story.

A very evocative front cover to the book too.  WIZARD!