Alan W Cooper joined and served in everything from the cubs to the Army cadets until when aged 17 he enlisted in the Territorial Army (2nd Monmouthshire Regiment) as a boy bandsman and served with them until 1958 when he was called for National Service with the South Wales Borderers (They of Rourke's Drift fame) but having already decided to become a regular soldier he enlisted in the 4/7th Royal Dragoon Guards band and subsequently learned to march wearing spurs. A year in the Royal Military School of Music followed and then service in Germany and Yorkshire until 1963 when he transferred to the Coldstream Guards band in London. As his interest and archives grew he decided to attempt his first book and in 1982, and had his first book 'The Men Who Breached The Dams' published. It is the story of the raid on the Ruhr dams in 1943, but from the eyes of the men who carried out this daring, and very gallant operation, their efforts, and their story. He has gone on to write many WWII history books, often with the guidance from other men who served

Over sixty years ago a battle took place that, if it had succeeded, could have shortened the Second World war by six months. The operation to take the bridges at Arnhem was given the code name 'Operation Market Garden', Market being the air side of the operation and Garden the subsequent ground operation. The main problem was communications between the ground forces and the re-supply aircraft of the Royal Air Force.Its their efforts and the courage on evident display at Arnhem that the book is based upon. Over a period of seven days troops of the 1st Airborne were taken by the RAF in towed gliders and then in subsequent days showed courage of the highest order to make sure that the ground troops were supplied with ammunition and food to sustain them in their efforts to take the bridges at Arnhem. Their efforts were costly, 309 aircrew and 79 Air Dispatchers were killed and 107 aircraft, which included the men and aircraft who supported the main re-supply armada.One of the re-supply aircraft, flown by F/Lt David Lord DFC, was shot down. Lord was later awarded the Victoria Cross. His courage and dedication are exemplary of the efforts of the men of Transport Command to make sure the men on the ground were re-supplied. The men of the Air Dispatchers, or AD's as they were known, must always be remembered when regarding Arnhem. Their efforts to make sure the supplies were released from the aircraft, and on to the besieged men on the ground, was a vital factor in getting vital supplies to the troops successfully.This is their story, vividly told, and serves a commemorative purpose, memorialising both the events and, most importantly, the men who participated.