This riveting memoir of the Second World War constitutes a rare insight on WWII seen from perspective of a young French soldier fighting alongside the American GI's. After the German "Blitzkrieg" and sudden defeat of French troops, the young Raymond Lescastreyres feels great sadness and shame. In 1940, when only Britain continues fighting heroically, the seventeen year-old Raymond is smuggling mail across the "demarcation line" at Mont-de-Marsan in southwest France. Reported to the Gestapo, he must flee overnight and he crosses over to the Free Zone where, lying about his age, he enrols in the French army. Following two years of training in North Africa where he marvels at the technological superiority of the American equipment, he eventually lands on French soil in September 1944 at Saint Raphael. His regiment of Sherman tanks takes part alongside the American Infantry in the liberation of Alsace. Twenty year-old Raymond lives a victorious epic that takes him all the way to the shores of Lake Constance in Austria when the armistice signals the end of the conflict. These years of war were also the years of his youth which he reminisces in this moving chronicles with personal anecdotes, writing with astonishing clarity, humour and a great concern for accuracy. The book is illustrated with numerous photographs from the author's private album. This account of the Second World War as seen through the eyes of a young French soldier is not only an inspiring story but also a great reference tool for the historians and a testimony for future generations as well as a fresh perspective for those who have already read everything on the subject.

How to cast bronze? This complete tutorial will show you a simple, safe and easy way to cast a small, fist size sculpture in bronze at little cost and little effort. The method described in this manual is called the thin ceramic shell, lost wax technique. This is the same technique implemented by modern art foundries; it has simply been adapted to make it possible in the backyard and is the easiest way for the home founder to make a small sculpture to a high degree of quality at little cost and with easily found tools and materials. This manual focuses on a simple yet rewarding 5 days project that will allow the home enthusiast to cast a small piece safely, quickly, cheaply and to a high standard of quality. The manual will introduce you to the basics of wax working, sprueing a wax model, mixing and applying a ceramic slurry, making your own crucible and making an efficient yet affordable furnace, melting and pouring the metal and finally chasing and fettling the bronze before applying a simple patina. The second part of the manual discusses more advanced casting techniques and gives further advice and guidance on how to set up a small scale home foundry. The tools and materials necessary are easy to find. An appendix lists many stores where specialised materials can be purchased in different countries.