John Rickett Releases Father's Recently Found War Memoir

It was the recent discovery of the diary of a doctor working during the Blitz of 1940-41 that was the inspiration for the book 'Stretchers Not Available: The Wartime Story of Dr Jim Rickett' (published by AuthorHouse). A medical practice under the threat of war and with bombs landing around is the theme. Told at first hand, it is an archive of that time. A caesarian had to done on the dining room table. Medicine as it was then and never will be the same. The author John Rickett, himself a surgeon and the son of Jim, is able to give insight and comment on the medical aspects. He is launching a revived marketing campaign for the book in 2013.

Later in the war Jim is called up for army service to be a specialist surgeon and to work with the commandos on the strategically located island of Vis in the Adriatic and behind enemy lines. Guerilla warfare tactics were used to interrupt supplies from going north to Hitler's army defending against the Normandy invasion of 1944. With no back-up facilities he had to set up a hospital to deal with the casualties. Beg, borrow and steal - sometimes even from under the eyes of the enemy were the methods used. Resilience, courage and resourcefulness won the day.

An excerpt from 'Stretchers Not Available':

'...I calculated we would need about 200 stretchers and quite possibly even more if evacuation to Italy of the more severely wounded would be delayed...Straight back an answer came 'Stretchers not - repeat not available. To what use would they be put?...'

They had to work closely with the Partisans and an insight is gained into their kangaroo court methods and the way they dealt with misdemeanors.

The unit was inundated with work, but remained the best social centre on the island where stories of the piracy work of the Naval Coastal Forces were told.

This powerful book, as Rickett describes it, is told honestly and with modesty and good humour.

'Stretchers Not Available'
By John Rickett
Softcover | 6 x 9 in | 284 pages | ISBN 9781467008983
E-Book | ISBN 9781467008990
Available at Amazon and Waterstones

About the Author
John Rickett was born in 1935. He trained at Cambridge University, and London's Guy's Hospital. Specialist surgical degrees were obtained, including a Mastership of Surgery (Cambridge) in 1973; he worked as a consultant general surgeon in Devon until he retired in 1996.

Rickett has published professional medical articles that were completed while he was working. After retirement, he has written freelance articles and does charity work for Royal National Institute for the Deaf (now called Action on Hearing Loss). He runs an active (non-commercial) internet website to help those with hearing loss. Rickett's other interests involve walking on the moor and voluntary work in support of wildlife conservation.

AuthorHouse, an Author Solutions, LLC, Inc. self-publishing imprint, is a leading provider of book publishing, marketing, and bookselling services for authors around the globe and offers the industry's only suite of Hollywood book-to-film services. Committed to providing the highest level of customer service, AuthorHouse assigns each author personal publishing and marketing consultants who provide guidance throughout the process. Headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana, AuthorHouse celebrated 15 years of service to authors in Sept. 2011.For more information or to publish a book visit authorhouse.com or call 0800 1974150. For the latest, follow @AuthorHouseUK on Twitter.

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