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MEDIA REVIEWS
YORKSHIRE POST
YORKSHIRE POST
YORKSHIRE POST
“An epic wartime odyssey across the reach of the British Empire.”
BBC TV
YORKSHIRE POST
YORKSHIRE POST
“A journey that took him through U-boat-infested waters to the Middle East. A fascinating story.”
ITV YORKSHIRE
YORKSHIRE POST
WAKEFIELD EXPRESS
“An incredible journey into the heart of the Middle East. Truly spectacular.”
WAKEFIELD EXPRESS
ASPECTS OF HISTORY
WAKEFIELD EXPRESS
“Not simply the memories of one soldier, but a journey through the vast machinery of World War Two. A truly local story on an epic landscape.”
THE STAR
ASPECTS OF HISTORY
ASPECTS OF HISTORY
“The diary tells the story of a different kind of war, of ordinary people in extraordinary times.”
ASPECTS OF HISTORY
ASPECTS OF HISTORY
ASPECTS OF HISTORY
“Observant and utterly authentic… a tribute to every soldier who quietly carried the war on his shoulders without asking for recognition.”
EXPERT REVIEWS
GREG COPE WHITE, author & screenwriter
DAVID WILLIAMS (RAF), military book reviewer
DAVID WILLIAMS (RAF), military book reviewer
"A phenomenal story - from discovering his grandfathers diary to the lesser known WW2 campaigns in the Middle East. A truly remarkable account of war, memory, and rediscovery. There’s nothing like it."
DAVID WILLIAMS (RAF), military book reviewer
DAVID WILLIAMS (RAF), military book reviewer
DAVID WILLIAMS (RAF), military book reviewer
“Everything rings true, you really feel immersed in the journey. One of the best WWII memoirs I’ve read.”
DR. AMANDA BIDNALL author
DAVID WILLIAMS (RAF), military book reviewer
DR. AMANDA BIDNALL author
“A unique glimpse into the war’s hidden machinery. It brings the British imperial world together in a way I’ve never seen.”
AARON R. EVEN, author
STEPHEN HADDELSEY, author
DR. AMANDA BIDNALL author
"Phil Day's remarkable Empire's Witness is worth every minute of your time and attention. It's both a fascinating account of a WWII odyssey and an engrossing journey of personal discovery."
STEPHEN HADDELSEY, author
STEPHEN HADDELSEY, author
STEPHEN HADDELSEY, author
“With empathy, imagination and meticulous research, Philip Day traces his grandfather’s wartime journey across the British Empire and through the many theatres of World War Two. In doing so, he casts valuable light on how that war was fought… and won.”
BBC RADIO LEEDS
STEPHEN HADDELSEY, author
STEPHEN HADDELSEY, author
“A remarkable true story of one soldier’s wartime diaries and his epic journey to the Middle East.”
READER REVIEWS
Amazon Review
JON HALPERIN, TV Executive
Amazon Review
"I was drawn in by the factual nature of the diary wrapped in the details of the time. Not sure if I was going to like it but it turned out to be a great read."
Amazon Review
JON HALPERIN, TV Executive
Amazon Review
"What a great book! Real life is so much stranger than fiction. A man signs up to fight for his country and finds himself not on the beaches of Normandy but in the very heart of the middle east leveraging the last of England's formidable imperial power to crush Hitler's genocidal army. Beautiful pictures and maps."
JON HALPERIN, TV Executive
JON HALPERIN, TV Executive
JON HALPERIN, TV Executive
"Philip Day has proved that the most meaningful and important stories are found in real life. The author isn't just a good writer he is a good detective and he found clues to a story of WW2 that I knew nothing about in a grandfather's long lost diary. Empire's Witness is a provocative historical page-turner."
Amazon Review
MARGOT SWIFT, senior college lecturer
JON HALPERIN, TV Executive
"Empire’s Witness is a very special read. It’s truly a beautiful way to honor the memory of a man who served to protect the freedom we enjoy today. I am able to learn history in a much more meaningful way when presented through a unique human perspective, which is why Empire’s Witness was just the engaging source I was looking for."
Amazon Review
MARGOT SWIFT, senior college lecturer
MARGOT SWIFT, senior college lecturer
"This is an amazing book and a great look into one of the lesser known chapters of the Second World War. Part adventure story, part soldier's diary and part grandson paying tribute to his grandfather. From page one this book grabbed me and would not let go."
MARGOT SWIFT, senior college lecturer
MARGOT SWIFT, senior college lecturer
MARGOT SWIFT, senior college lecturer
“A real privilege to read. Emotionally, it lands perfectly. You feel these remarkable moments as Alwyn lives them; urgent, human, unforgettable."