ROBERT KERSHAW
Born in 1950 and a graduate of Reading University, Robert Kershaw joined the Parachute Regiment in 1973. He served numerous regimental appointments before being selected to command the 10th Battalion (10 PARA). His active service includes several tours in Northern Ireland, the First Gulf War and Bosnia. He has exercised in many parts of the world and served in the Middle East and Africa. His final army appointment was with the Intelligence Division at HQ NATO in Brussels Belgium.
On leaving the Army in 2006 he became a full-time author of military history as well as a consultant military analyst. He has written a paper on the military impact of HIV AIDS for Cranfield University and more recently was the historical editor for ParaData, an on-line archive for the Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces.
His books combine succinct military analysis drawn from thirty four years as a serving soldier with the physical and psychological impact of conflict on ordinary soldiers. What did soldiers at the Little Big Horn in 1876 or Arnhem in 1944, see, smell, hear or touch?
He has written seven books, the first six of which are now in paperback with titles printed in the US, Germany, Poland and Russia.
He has recorded for BBC radio and interviewed on various TV documentaries including Dutch TV and National Geographic as well as publishing a number of magazine and newspaper articles for The Times, The Sunday Times, Sunday Telegraph and Daily Telegraph.
He has just completed a book about the human history of parachute and airborne soldiers from around the world entitled Sky Men.
For more information visit www.robertjkershaw.com
LATEST BOOK: SKY MEN
Seventy years ago the army’s elite air assault force, the Parachute Regiment was formed, tough and well-trained, designed to fight hazardous operations behind enemy lines, with little or no backup.
These are the ‘Sky Men’. Dropping into the middle of enemy territory, these tough British, American, German and Russian soldiers engage in gruelling combat the most dangerous conflict zones in the world.
Robert Kershaw, an ex-Parachute Regiment officer, reveals the history of these airborne forces, and their role during the most dramatic battles of the twentieth century. He finds out what makes them tick, what drives a ‘Sky Man’ to take these extraordinary risks, and what marks these sky warriors out from ordinary soldiers.
Based on exclusive interviews with soldiers from around the world, as well as letters and diaries, Sky Men is full of vivid personalities and nail-biting action.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Sky Men. Hodder and Stoughton, 2010. Never Surrender. Hodder and Stoughton. 2009.Tank Men. Hodder and Stoughton (2008), Yauza (Russia). Red Sabbath. Ian Allen. (2005). (USA).War Without Garlands. Ian Allen,1999. (USA, Russia).D-Day. Piercing the Atlantic Wall. Ian Allen,1994. (USA, Poland). It Never Snows in September. Ian Allen, 1989. (USA, Germany).
