Simon Kitchener

Canadian French Commando Simon Kitchener

In November 1991, 36 Canadian soldiers, under the initially reluctant leadership of Captain Sid Brusson, participated in a three-week French Commando Course. This is their story. It follows Brusson's initial steps to organise the Canadian's participation, his eventual inclusion on the course, and what happened to Brusson and his men during their time in France. The story culminates in a thrilling final field exercise during which the men experience an unusual turn of events. Full of wit, fear, excitement and recurring self-doubt, this is a true-life story about real people in a very testing environment. It provides the reader with a small time capsule of the period when the Canadian Forces in Europe faced coming home after nearly fifty years in Germany. Told from the perspective of a young, sensitive artillery officer struggling to overcome his own demons while maintaining the respect of those around him, it illustrates how vital are willpower and a sense of humour to soldiering and leadership.