The Man Under the Radar

<p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>This biography of Jack Maurice Nissenthall written by his daughter Linda Nissen Samuels draws heavily on Jack's own writings: The Wizard War an unpublished autobiographical account of his part in the development of radar before and during WW2 and its impact on the eventual outcome and original letters and photos. Through them we hear this Unsung War Hero telling his own story in his own words.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>At the heart of Jack's story is the written order that he accepted as the anonymous RDF (Range and Direction Finding an early term for radar) expert - that he was to be adequately protected by bodyguards from the South Saskatchewan Regiment because under no circumstances was he to be allowed to fall into enemy hands. Effectively this meant that ten Canadian soldiers specifically tasked to assist him were also in Jack's own words a sort of negative safeguard my execution squad. That he was not captured and did indeed survive was due partly to his physical fitness and the cheerful and resourceful courage that shows in this book. (From the Foreword to Jack's own manuscript- written by Prof R. V. Jones Britain's Assistant Director of Air Intelligence in World War II.)</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>This present book answers the question: what made him do it?</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>It also recounts many episodes which demonstrate how Jack's whole life exemplifies dictionary definitions of a hero - as a person of high moral integrity resourceful passionate and patient energetic courageous confident and caring who willingly takes risks and makes sacrifices for others. But Jack is not a common-or-garden rough tough hero. You'll be charmed to read how as a love-struck twenty-something he wears his heart on his sleeve writing to his girlfriend Dally about their first kiss.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Why is it then that this exceptional person was undervalued and overlooked by the powers-that-be at the end of World War II? And why was he not decorated for bravery? Indeed an article proposes that he is The VC that never was.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>This book gives an insight into why nearly eighty years later Jack Nissenthall's extraordinary war service is still largely unknown and unsung (except in Canada) and why there are still so many unanswered questions about it.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>But in the end readers will surely acknowledge this hero's modest and cheerful embodiment of integrity - and want to sing his well-deserved praises.</span></p>