Brian Walter

Retired Army officer from a combat arms branch. Author and historian with a particular interest in the British military during the Second World War.

[Brian Walter @AuthorBwalter]

https://t.co/Whs0LecKej

[Brian Walter @AuthorBwalter]

For the British Empire, WWII was primarily fought against Germany, Italy and Japan. Nevertheless, there were times when British forces found themselves fighting against their former French allies. One such event occurred in Syria and Lebanon in the summer of 1941.

[Brian Walter @AuthorBwalter]

For anyone interested, here is a review of my book, The Longest Campaign, which is now out in paperback.

[Script Military & Aviation Books @Script_Military]

🔉New review!
📖 The Longest Campaign: Britain's Maritime Struggle in the Atlantic and Northwest Europe, 1939–1945 by @AuthorBwalter

🛒 Buy the book here: https://t.co/ljS6tAfSWm
👁️ Read the full review here: https://t.co/PkYNHepIJW

[Brian Walter @AuthorBwalter]

In the first 2 months of WWII's Africa campaign, the British held off the numerically superior Italians by launching a series of offensive patrols, hit and run raids, ambushes and deception efforts to harry the Italians and give them an impression of exaggerated British strength.

[Brian Walter @AuthorBwalter]

WWII is replete with events that were materially and strategically consequential, and yet are largely unknown in the public consciousness. One such event was Operation Corkscrew, the British landings on Pantelleria, on 11 July 1943. See The Thin Khaki Line for more info.

[Brian Walter @AuthorBwalter]

Me at my recent book singing in London. Thank you to the staff of the IWM. The Thin Khaki Line is now out in the UK. It is scheduled for release in the USA at the end of June. #ScriptsBooks #CasematePublishers #WWII #BritishArmy #MilitaryHistory #DesertRats

[Brian Walter @AuthorBwalter]

During WWII’s European conflict, May was a particularly satisfying month for the Western Allies as 3 major campaigns (Africa, Italy, NW Europe) came to successful conclusions while a 4th (Atlantic) experienced an important turning point. For more info, see The Thin Khaki Line.

[Brian Walter @AuthorBwalter]

Just a reminder, I will be doing a signing to celebrate the release of my new book, The Thin Khaki Line, on Wednesday 20 May 2026 from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Imperial War Museum in London. I hope to see you there. #BritishArmy #TheThinKhakiLine #DesertRats #CasematePublishers

[Brian Walter @AuthorBwalter]

From December 1944 through early May 1945 the British Fourteenth Army and XV Corps conducted successful campaigns that reconquered most of Burma defeating three Japanese field armies in the process. For more info, see The Thin Khaki Line. #BurmaCampaign #ScriptBooks

[Brian Walter @AuthorBwalter]

In May 1943 the Allies conducted Operation Strike, which resulted in the final collapse of Axis forces in Africa and the collection of 238,243 prisoners. Total Axis casualties in Tunisia probably exceeded 300,000. For more info, see The Thin Khaki Line. #ScriptBooks #DesertRats

[Brian Walter @AuthorBwalter]

Just a reminder, I will be doing a signing to celebrate the release of my new book, The Thin Khaki Line, on Wednesday 20 May 2026 from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Stop by to say hello if you happen to be in the area. #WWII #BritishArmy #DesertRats #Tommy #CasematePublishers #ScriptBooks

[Brian Walter @AuthorBwalter]

Beyond the major Axis nations, the British also had to contend with a number of lesser opponents during WWII. One such example occurred in May 1941 when the British conducted a short, successful campaign that turned Iraq away from its pro-Axis leanings. #TheThinKhakiLine

[Brian Walter @AuthorBwalter]

In April 1945 the Allies concluded their conquest of Italy with the conduct of Operation Grapeshot. This action destroyed German Army Group C containing 439,334 German and 160,000 Fascist Italians for an Allied cost of 16,258 casualties. #EighthArmy #ThinKhakiLine

[Brian Walter @AuthorBwalter]

I am happy to announce that my new book, The Thin Khaki Line, will be released in the United Kingdom on or about 15 May. To help celebrate this launch, I will be doing a book signing at the Imperial War Museum in London on Wednesday 20 May 2026 from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

[Brian Walter @AuthorBwalter]

British stretcher bearers of the East Surrey Regiment and a Churchill tank of the North Irish Horse during the battle of Longstop Hill on 23 April 1943 in Tunisa. Within three weeks, the Allies would conclude the N. Africa campaign. For more information, see The Thin Khaki Line.

[Brian Walter @AuthorBwalter]

By Apr 43 the campaign in Africa was approaching its final conclusion after almost 3 years of combat. With 19 Allied divisions pressing in on 14 trapped Axis divisions in Tunisia, it was only a matter of time before the Allies destroyed these forces. #ThinKhakiLine #DesertRats

[Brian Walter @AuthorBwalter]

In reviewing the Royal Navy’s conflict against Japan during WWII, six armoured aircraft carriers were at the forefront of this effort. These consisted of Illustrious, Formidable, Victorious (shown), Indomitable, Implacable and Indefatigable. #RoyalNavy #BritishPacificFleet #WWII

[Brian Walter @AuthorBwalter]

A few months ago, I shared the news that I had a new book coming out. Today, I am happy to report that my publisher and I completed the editing/typesetting process, and the book has been sent to be printed. It should be out in the UK later this month and in the USA by mid-June.

[Brian Walter @AuthorBwalter]

From Aug 1940 through Dec 1942 the Royal Navy executed 35 major convoys and 28 ferry missions to provide Malta with necessary sustenance and aircraft that ensured Malta’s survival and allowed Malta-based forces to sink about one million tons of Axis merchant shipping. #RoyalNavy

[Brian Walter @AuthorBwalter]

In January 1943 the Royal Navy scored its first significant success against the Imperial Japanese Navy when the submarine Tally Ho (pictured here) sank the Japanese light cruiser Kuma off Penang. This would be the first of many such successes. For more info, see Forgotten War.