Book cover for A Strange Campaign: The Battle For Madagascar by Russell Phillips. Top third is a photograph of British troops going ashore from a landing craft, overlaid with a Union Jack. Bottom two-thirds is title and a photo of French prisoners of war escorted by British troops, overlaid with a French Tricolore.

Now available: A Strange Campaign

Posted on 5th May 20213rd May 2021 by Russell Phillips

My new book, A Strange Campaign, is now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audio book. Madagascar provided the stunning backdrop for one of the strangest conflicts of the Second World War �... Read More

International Women’s Day: Berthe Mayer, MBE

Posted on 8th March 20218th March 2021 by Russell Phillips

Today is International Women’s Day. This seems like an appropriate time to write about Berthe Mayer, MBE. In October 1941, Berthe and her husband Percy Mayer lived on the island of Madagascar. The i... Read More

The Tetrarch was not designed as an airborne tank

Posted on 13th November 202016th January 2021 by Russell Phillips

The British A17 Tetrarch light tank is best known for its role in Operation Overlord, where they landed in Hamilcar gliders in support of the airborne troops. It’s often said that the Tetrarch w... Read More

Book cover for A Strange Campaign: The Battle For Madagascar by Russell Phillips. There is a photograph of British troops going ashore from a landing craft, overlaid with a Union Jack. There is another photo of French prisoners of war escorted by British troops, overlaid with a French Tricolore.

A Strange Campaign available for pre-order

Posted on 8th September 202019th October 2020 by Russell Phillips

On 5th May next year my next book, A Strange Campaign: The Battle for Madagascar, will be published. This coincides with the anniversary of Operation Ironclad, which marked the start of the campaign. ... Read More

Valentine tank disembarking from Bachaquero

My next book title is …?

Posted on 7th July 202019th October 2020 by Russell Phillips

My next book will be about the battle for Madagascar in WWII. It will cover the entire campaign, from the initial landings to the final Vichy surrender. I’m still undecided about the title. Some... Read More