Q and A: Roger Day

March 5, 2009 12:00 AM

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Roger's full name is Roger John Day. He was born in the small English market town of Marlborough, Wiltshire in 1955. His father managed a farm and his mother was a teacher at the local school. In 1956 he moved six miles east to the village of Ramsbury, where he lived for the following 22 years. Roger started work in 1971 and after a four year apprenticeship qualified as an engineering draughtsman. From a very early age Roger had an interest in World War II and by the mid 1970s had started researching the conflict's impact on the Ramsbury area. He soon discovered that the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment had been based in the village and that an airfield had been built on a hill nearby, which was also used by the Americans. In 1999 he self published his first book entitled Ramsbury at War and eight years later published a second book, about a nearby ammunition storage depot, entitled Savernake at War. He married Sandra in 1978 and has two children. Roger now lives in Hungerford, Berkshire where he has worked as a postman for Royal Mail for the last fourteen years.

Roger's first book for Osprey Publishing, Tonight we die as men: The Untold story of Third Battalion 506 Parachute Infantry Regiment from Toccoa to D-Day is out next month and is available to pre-order now.

1) What are you doing at the moment?

I’m currently employed by Royal Mail and work out of the Hungerford Delivery Office as a postman.

2) When did you get hooked on history and why?

As a young child growing up in the 1950s and 60s listening to relatives talk about their memories of WWII. Some lived in Kent and would tell wonderfully vivid stories of the Battle of Britain and later the V1 flying bombs. I had an uncle who served on Russian convoys and he would delight in showing me his wartime photo album.

3) If you were any warrior from history who would you be?

A soldier in the Roman Army.

4) What is your favourite war film?

The Battle of Britain (1969) staring Michael Caine.

5) Why do you think Military History is important?

All history is important but especially military history. The past is all around us and it’s only by studying military history that we learn the reasons why mysterious features in the landscape, such as ditches, walls or more recent concrete structures, were built. So far as WWII history is concerned it’s vital to record as many first hand accounts as possible from people who were there, and time is running out!

6) What is your favourite quote from history / historical quote?

There are lies, damn lies and statistics (Winston Churchill)

7) If you could fly any plane or drive any tank from history, which would it be?

The aircraft would be the British Spitfire and the tank a German Tiger II.

8) Best military cock-up in history?

Too many to choose from

9) Who is your military hero?

Haven't got one.

10) If you could pit two armies from history against each other, which two would you pick, and why?

No idea!

11) Elephants or horses? Discuss the pros and cons...

I don't know enough about either animal to make a judgement

12) Favourite Michael Caine quote?

You only have to blow the bloody doors off! (The Italian Job)

13) What is your favourite war comic?

The War/Battle/Air Ace Picture Library books published in Britain during the 1960s and 1970s. I was a schoolboy at the time and bought dozens - I still have most of them!

14) Spartan or Roman?

Roman

15) What is your favourite Osprey book?

There are many, but here are two I’ve read recently: British Home Defences 1940-45 by Bernard Lowry and C-47/R4D Units of the ETO and MTO by David Isby.

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Q and A: Roger Day