One of “The Few”

The Battle of Britain stands tall in the heroics of World War 2. Many of us are in awe of The Few.

This book tells the personal story of one those men; William Nelson. This is not a story of the Battle alone but of one its participants and his family. This is also a work of Jewish history as it explores his origins as a first generation Canadian, the son of immigrants and his community in Montreal.

The story is well researched and documented with the sources that were available to its author Mr. Usher.

I found to be quite readable and it's 210 pages and selection of photos are the right amount for the material .

I highly recommend this book. Especially to those with interest in the men of the RAF, their actual lives during that time and North American Jewish History. All these areas are of personal interest to me.

William Nelson was the son of Jewish immigrants to Montreal Canada. his early life was typical of his generation. He had a desire to fly and so made his way to England as a Canadian. He joined the RAF in 1937 and received a commission. His days in that prewar flying club are described.

He met an English girl whom he married in August 1939 as war loomed.

He was part of Bomber Command in the first year of the world war. We learn of the dangers and minimal results which were produced. He was awarded a DFC.

He lived at home and went to war.

After France fell, he transferred to Fighter Command where he received a short conversion course. He then found himself in The Battle of Britain. He shot down five enemy aircraft and was the only Canadian Ace of that Battle. He was lauded as a hero of Canada and its Jewish community.

His wife Marjorie gave birth to a son on August 30, 1940. A son he did not see grow up. On November 1, 1940 while flying his Spitfire, William Nelson was shot down and went missing in action.

The story of his widow and son is continued as they cope with the loss and eventually move to Canada. There after a hard time she remarried. Their new life is then recounted.

The story is not glorious. It is the reality of life in wartime. We do not feel the action and details of flight as in Geoffrey Willum’s account of the battle; “First Light”. We do learn of the life and loss of one man and his family, a story worth reading and remembering.

Note: Battle of Britain Spitfire Ace is also available in e-editions.

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