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The battle to capture the French village of Tilly-la-Campagne is often bitterly described by the Canadians as 'the forgotten action of the Second World War', and the sense of grievance runs deep. It is easy to understand why. In the weeks after D-Day the Canadians and British were given the Herculean task of engaging Hitler's most powerful forces long enough for the Americans to surround the enemy and so reap much of the glory. The Anglo-Canadian mission was thankless and bloody, but on it hinged the question of how quickly the Nazis could be defeated in Europe. Ken Tout, a veteran of the action (codenamed Operation Totalize), is the author of two other military books, but this one lies closest to his heart. He points out that the Canadian 3rd Division lost well over half its fighting men within a month, and gross errors by British commanders resulted in infantry attacks that ranked in slaughter alongside the first day of the Somme. In addition, the Canadians had to contend with so-called 'friendly fire' from the Americans. Mr Tout argues that allied commanders failed to realize until well into the battle for Tilly just how vital an operation it was. Also, they were in too much of a rush for results and did not appreciate the odds against which their men were fighting. The result was one of the bloodiest episodes in the Normandy campaign. As one British soldier said, 'After Tilly, Hell would be a holiday camp.' And a German trooper remarked that fighting the Russians on the Eastern front had been a simple affair in comparison. Tout's account of the conflict is vivid and clearly described, drawing heavily on the reminiscences of its survivors. The one thing it lacks is sufficient illustration - there is only one map, and that merely shows the whole of Normandy. (Kirkus UK)

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