During World War II he served with the Home Guard.
Attended Liverpool University on a government grant and later Durham University for a year to study psychoanalysis.
Author of 40 books, many of which were based on his experiences during World War I.
After lying about his age, he managed to join the British Army at the age of 14. He went on to serve four years in the infantry and was honorably discharged before his 19th birthday.