Not All of Us Were Brave

By Stanley Scislowski

Book Overview

This is the story of a young man's journey through World War II. It covers a wide cross section of the strengths and weaknesses of young men not attuned to killing, and not mentally prepared to face the horror of seeing their close friends die violent deaths in battle. The story is about the hopes, the prayers, the fears, the daily miseries and even the lighter moments that the aspiring heroes of the Perth Regiment experienced on the Italian front as part of 11th Infantry Brigade, 5th Canadian Armoured Division. As the title suggests, from his first battle inoculation Private Stan Scislowski realizes he is not destined for the heroic role to which he once aspired. His fears affect him deeply: his burning dream of returning home a national hero becomes more and more improbable, and his attempts to come to terms with his un-heroic nature make the war as much a mental battle as a physical one. His story is much like that of the overwhelming number of Canadians who found themselves in the cauldron of war, serving their country with all the strength they could find, even when that strength was fading fast. Not All of Us Were Brave focuses not on the heroes, but on the ordinary soldiers who endured the mud, the misery, the ever-present fear, the inspiration, and the degradation. The narrative holds nothing back: the dirty linen is aired along with the clean; the light is shown alongside the dark. It shows what war is all about.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1550022989
• ISBN13: 9781550022988
• Release Date: March 1997
• Publisher: Dundurn Press
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.9" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

World War II experiences with The Perth Regiment in Italy

Not All Of Us Were Brave is the autobiographical account of Stanley Scislowski's World War II experiences with The Perth Regiment.Unlike most other personal accounts I've read in the past, Stan jumps into the action fairly quickly, devoting only 60 pages to training in England and then straight to Italy. The book closes at the end of the war, forgoing a detailed follow-up on Stan and his fellow Perths in their post-war lives. That's not to say however that we don't see the personal side of Stan. On the contrary, he spaends a great deal of time laying out the his impressions and experiences as well as the characters he's in daily contact with.Refreshingly, Stan doesn't pull any punches when giving his impressions his brothers in arms, or even the Corps Commander! If he didn't get along with someone, he says so, giving his reasons and citing examples where possible. That's not to say he trash talks his mates, but he's not afraid to point out where he and another disagree on something. Even more surprisingly, Stan is startlingly candid about his own inadequacies. He doesn't shy away from his mistakes and regrets, even detailing occasions when he felt like a coward or a malingerer (though he was neither). Likewise, he brushes aside feats of endurance and heroism as simply "not giving up while the guy ahead was still going."He's similarly unflinching in his description of the horrors of war. There are no euphemisms here, the blood, gore, pain and death of his experiences are laid out for all to see. There's a truly personal feeling to his account that is sometimes missed by wartime autobiographers. When he waves hello to a fellow soldier he hasn't seen in a while only to watch him ripped apart by a teller mine three seconds later, or when he's a stretcher bearer as 14 of his comrades are blown up by a well placed artillery shell, the gut-wrenching despair is almost palpable.In addition to the big things, Mr. Scislowski also details the "little things" that make the experience so rich. From innovative ways to improve your comfort to the boredom of being locked in a sangar all day, you feel the small highs and lows as well as the big ones. Stan is also candid about his escapades as an amateur looter, and again makes no excuses for delving into a "taboo" subject. These were different times.This book is a "worms eye view" of the war, so don't expect to come away with a full picture of how the 5th Armoured Division operated in Italy. It's obvious he's done his research though, as there is a considerable amount of context given for each operation. Other accounts I've read have the author travelling simply from one unnamed hamlet or empty field to another, but Stan takes great pains to detail each portion of his journey up the "boot" providing perspective that makes it easy to follow and relevant.Overall, it may not be as "action packed" as some accounts, but it's a good read for an honest take on the Italian campaign.

An Honest Book

Stan's book was a refreshing, straightforward presentation of his feelings,emotions, actions and experiences in the Italian Campaign. It is probably the most honest book that I've read. It has been well circulated amongst my friends. The response has been incredulous!

A Fantastic " Real Person" account of WW2.

When you read this first person account of what was like as a member of the Perth Regiment in WW2, you really get a sense of what the ordinary man was subjected to. This is not a book full of strategy and what the Commanders or Generals of the Armies in Italy had to say about the conflicts of the Italian campaign, it is the man on the ground, what he saw. And how Stan and his friends reacted to all the situations of war. Good times and bad.A great reading book with a nice introduction by G. Watt. I reccomend it to anyone who is interested in history or first hand accounts of war. A must read for any Canadian.

Great Account of one man's experience in the Italy Campaign

Great account of one man and his Canadian unit's experience during the Italian campaign in WWII. The author is very candid about his feelings, fears and humorous thoughts... Well written and easy to read with alot of old Canadian slang which makes it quite enjoyable. His storytelling ability puts you right onto the battlefield and you can really feel the serious effects of battle and death.... Any one that served in Italy or has relatives that served may want to read this... The Author has an extensive collection of personal recollections of serious as well as humorous times.. He could not have picked a more perfect title for his book.... If you are tired of reading about all headline heros of WWII, try this one, he brings you into the trenches with the real heros...