Talk:Play Dirty (1969 film)

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Military history: War films / World War II C‑class

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Greeks edit

Latest comment: 11 years ago1 comment1 person in discussion

One of the "Greek" soldiers is described rather as a Cypriot, but I forgot which one. --Error (talk) 23:57, 4 September 2012 (UTC)Reply

Unreferenced book section edit

This might all be true but it;s unreferenced and not really much help to the main article, so I moved it here.

Novelization

A novelization was published by Pan Books by Zeno the "pen name" of "Gerald Lamarque" who has also used the name "Kenneth Sidney Allerton".^{[citation needed]}

Lamarque adopted the name "Allerton" in 1940 on "jumping ship" in Ireland. He made his way to Belfast and enlisted in the army. "Val" as he was more familiarly known to his friends in the 21st Ind Co is reputed to have been serving with an Irish Regiment when war was declared. He returned to his native England as soon as possible and enlisted in the Buffs.

A first-class Soldier and NCO, he very soon reached the rank of Sergeant and volunteered for the Parachute Regiment. In 1943 he was selected for the 21st Independent Parachute Company in that rank and was posted to No.2 Platoon as Platoon Sergeant, subsequently serving with the Company in N. Africa, Italy and Holland. Back in the UK on 12 April 1944, No.2 Platoon took part in exercise 'Tony' with the 1st Parachute Brigade. Val was caught up under the aircraft and was eventually rescued after hanging for 45 minutes by one leg. For most of the time it appeared likely that he would either have to take his chance on landing still hanging from the aircraft or have his strop cut over the sea and risk being picked up alive. He was eventually hauled back into the aircraft after much buffeting and pain, but was his usual ebullient self within minutes of being rescued. Shortly after landing and being passed OK by the Medical Officer, when asked by the OC if he would be prepared to continue jumping, he offered to go up again there and then! Such was the measure of the man - it was little wonder that the men in his Platoon looked up to him. He wrote the story of this incident and the Daily Mirror accepted it for publication, but D-Day intervened and it never actually appeared in print in this paper.

Val was still with the Company at Arnhem, where he fought with distinction, often taking complete charge of the Platoon and ignoring enemy fire to look after his 'lads'. He suffered a slight wound in his foot, which he laughed off after makeshift surgery and dressing. Much to his Platoon's disgust, he was commissioned in the field shortly after the Company's return to the UK and was posted to 3rd Parachute Battalion. He was demobilized in the rank of Major after peacetime overseas service.

Nothing was heard of Val after the War until his best friend in the 21st, Sergeant Joe Smith of No.3 Platoon, probably the only person who knew he was serving under an assumed name, read in the newspaper that Gerald Lamarque was serving a life sentence for murder at Wormwood Scrubs Prison. In 1959 Lamarque had killed his former girlfriend's boss who was sexually pestering her. Immediately after this deed he had given himself up to the police. He pleaded guilty and was quite prepared to accept capital punishment. Hanging was abolished, however, before he came to trial and he was sentenced to life imprisonment. In prison he started to write and submitted the story he had written for the Daily Mirror for entry in the Arthur Koestler Awards Competition. Originally placed second, his story was awarded first prize when it was discovered that the winner has already had his entry published in America. The story was published in an annual anthology of stories called 'Winter's Tales'.

Thus encouraged, Val settled down to write "The Cauldron", which was widely acclaimed on publication. He followed this with another book "Life", an account of his years spent in prison which became required reading by students of Sociology and may still be recommended reading for this subject.

He was released after 9 years for his good behaviour.

He continued as "Zeno", writing "Grab", "The Four Sergeants" (which again utilised his experiences with the Company) and the book of the film 'Play Dirty'. Gerald Lamarque or Kenneth Sidney "Val" Allerton/Zeno died on 28 October 1978.

This information was found on www.arrse.co.uk

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