Through the 1930s Tony Vercoe's carefree college days in Nelson had seemes remote from the rise of Nazism on the other side of the world. Then as a response to looming war, territorial service in Wellington led to a journey across diverse wartime landscapes, through actions graphically described, and among people faithfully recalled.

Lyriacal and forthright, Tony Vercoe's tightly written, fast-moving chronicle describes events rich in humour and humanity:

- Baptism of fire and blood in the desert

- Rommel himself at Sidi Azeiz, and what really happened there

- Leading the singing of 'Silent Night' in Bardia at Christmas

- From the Turkish border to Minqar Qaim and the nightmare of Benghazi

- Malaria, escape and betrayal in northern Italy

- Planning escape from German Stalags; the bombing of Dresden

- A long march westwards and the impact of Buchenwald

- VE-Day in London.

YESTERDAY'S DRUMS evokes one man's war with power and immediacy - it is an engrossing, memorable read.

- from the dust-jacket.

Yesterday's Drums - Echoes From the Wasteland of War
Tony Vercoe
Steele Roberts
Wellington
2001
First edition
Hard-back
Black cloth board with gold titles on front and spine
pp.207
Very good second-hand condition
Binding tight
Pages clean
Security tag affixed to back pastedown end-paper
Dust-jacket slightly yellowed, otherwise as new