Badder's War.

Badder's War: 'Have a Go at Everything'. S.P. Mackenzie. Spellmount. [pounds sterling]20.00. 192 pages. ISBN 978-1-86227-467-9. Douglas Badder remains one of the greatest heroes of the Second World War: despite the loss of both legs in an accident in the 1930s he went on to become a distinguished pilot and, after capture, he tried several times to escape. He was eventually sent to the infamous Colditz. After the war he campaigned for the disabled. But what and who was the man behind the fame? Discovering this is the aim of this book and the author has supplemented Badder's own memoirs with research and conversations with those who knew him. New materials shed new light. The aim here is not to discredit Badder but 'to put what he accomplished in perspective' and to describe his limitations without discrediting his achievements. Badder was loyal and tenacious but he was also arrogant, wilful and determined always to prove himself. His virtues were often his vices put to good use. We have here the hero with his flaws, but a hero still. (T.B.)