When a boy from Dartmoor took a day trip to London to see the Changing of the Guard, his mind was made up: Malcolm Cleverley wanted to be a soldier when he grew up.
So in May 1975, 16-year-old Malcolm bid farewell to his family, hopped onboard a train and began his adventures as a ‘tankie’ in the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment.
Through the chapters of his memoirs, readers will discover how he evolved from a naïve young farm boy into a proud service man. He recounts his first experiences of basic training, to his adventures serving abroad at the height of the Cold War.
From the agony and embarrassment of basic training – being suspended upside down from a tree during one particular camp – to sharing meals of cold fish with German soldiers, and looking on as a fellow ‘tankie’ ends up covered in raw sewage during a seemingly simple exercise. Through stories like these,
Armoured Farmer captures an insightful snapshot of what a ‘tankie’s’ life was like during that era.
Unlike many soldier’s memoirs, he has chosen to record his stories by using each chapter to outline a certain experience rather than simply retell his life story in chronological fashion, meaning that wherever you open up the book, you can start to read and enjoy.
Malcolm adopts an honest but amusing writing style for his storytelling. His use of language is certainly colourful, so the easily offended are perhaps advised to stay clear. But for those who are used to and appreciate a bit of military banter, it simply adds to the lighthearted humour.
This is a must read for anyone who enjoys an entertaining bit of non-fiction, whether they’ve been in the Tank Regiment or not.
Copies of
Armoured Farmer are available from
www.malcyart.co.uk
