VF Eberle was educated at Clifton College and Trinity College, Oxford, where he read English - which perhaps explains the mastery of the language that is evident in this book. A member of the Royal Engineer Volunteers whilst in the OTC at Clifton - and coming from an oil industry background, in which he was working in the family firm at the outbreak of the War - his choice of arm is perhaps not so surprising.
He was a keen sportsman, most notably rugby, and he retained close connections with both Bristol and Gloucestershire rugby clubs for the rest of his life. In his retirement he reviewed his copious war time papers and the fruit of his labours is this book, originally published in 1975.