Arthur Spencer was born in February 1921, the only child of Arthur Roy and Rosa Spencer in Salisbury, moving to Southampton when he was very small.
In 1940, as soon as he had completed his examinations, at the age of 19, he, along with many other young men volunteered to support the war effort, the account of which is featured in the book.
After the war, Arthur went on to teach, his passion is English language and literature, and spent many years as Deputy Head at Castle School, Thornbury before being appointed the first Head of Priory School, Weston-super-Mare.