Once A Grunt

Description

Mike 'Farmer' Ledingham writes with humour and great honesty stories about life in the Infantry and the SAS, and the reality of Civvy Street. His stories reflect his keen appreciation of the funny side of life, his intolerance of everyday injustices, and an occasional tendency to be downright bloody stubborn. Be warned: Some of the language is exactly what you'd hear in real life, in the circumstances being described by Mike.

Author description

Mike Ledingham is a father, grandfather, caregiver, keen punter and shrewd observer of life who has little time for bumptiousness and bullying. In his 60-plus years, he's been a farm worker, soldier, small business operator, real estate agent and a reasonably honest labourer. One of eight siblings from working-class Onehunga, Auckland, Mike has lived and worked throughout New Zealand and Australia, and travelled the world. He now lives in Featherston, Wairarapa.

Table of contents

Introduction; Glossary (military terms and slang); ARMY LIFE; Snaky Bit; Soldier Under Sentence; What the Bloody Hell Have I Got Myself Into?; Who Called the Cook a Bastard?; Two-and-a-Half Fingers Left; CIVVY STREET; The Balaclava; Never a Team that Couldn't be Beat; Give the Dog a Bone; To be Sure, To be Sure; Just Desserts