Under the Bearskin: A junior officer's story of war and madness

Description

'A fast-paced, thrilling account of British heroism, brave men surrounded and fighting against overwhelming odds. This is the real, sometimes shocking, and deeply personal story of modern warfare and PTSD.' Andy McNab Trapped in an isolated outpost on the edge of the Helmand desert, a small force of British and Afghan soldiers is holding out against hundreds of Taliban fighters. Under brutal siege conditions, running low on food and ammunition, he experiences the full horror of combat. As the casualties begin to mount and the enemy closes in, Evans finds both his leadership and his belief in the war severely tested. Returning home, he is haunted by the memories of Afghanistan. He can't move on and his life begins to spin out of control.

Mark Evans (Author) Like many boys who don't want to be train drivers or astronauts, Mark grew up wanting to be a soldier. After a standard schooling involving rugby, football, girls and all manner of detentions he left Oxfordshire for University College London to study archaeology. Discovering a lack of real-life Indiana Jones moments, Mark eventually fulfilled his boyhood ambition and was commissioned into the Coldstream Guards in 2004. From Nigeria to Canada, Belize to Buckingham Palace, Mark had a diverse and fulfilling career, seeing active service in both Iraq and Afghanistan. On his return from Afghanistan Mark was diagnosed with PTSD and subsequently left the army in 2010 after reaching the rank of Captain. His experiences have led him to work with Help for Heroes and Combat Stress to raise awareness for those affected by recent conflicts. After a turbulent couple of years dealing with the aftermath of war Mark is now happily settled in South West London with his girlfriend.

Authentic. Revelatory. Shocking. Edge-of-the seat heart-thumping dust and blood and sheer guts. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a hidden time-bomb amongst British veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan. This hugely timely book reveals in gripping detail the personal stories of its hidden victims - lest we forget. - Damien Lewis Code Black is a tale of our war in Afghanistan told by one of the men who fought there. It is visceral, truthful and, above all, thought-provoking. Code Black is an impressive achievement and a compelling read. - Bernard Cornwell An absorbing, authentic and movingly accurate account of the fight in Helmand and at home. - Patrick Hennessey, author of Kandak and The Junior Officer's Reading Club An excellent read, the pressures of command and combat intercut with the pressure of subsequently trying to make sense of what happened, how he reacted and whether it was worth it. - Sunday Times Magazine A fast-paced, thrilling account of British heroism, brave men surrounded and fighting against overwhelming odds. This is the real, sometimes shocking, and deeply personal story of modern warfare and PTSD. If you're going to buy one book about the Afghan conflict, make it this one A must read for anyone interested in our soldiers in Afghanistan. - Andy McNab