Ely author tells story of SAS solider Reg Seekings in book

Ely-based author Tony Rushmer will talk more about his work at a book signing at St Peter's Church, in Ely, on October 17. This is part of the Toppings bookseller author events.

Tony will talk about his book at a signing event in Ely next month. (Image: Tony Rushmer)

Tony says Seekings volunteered to join the newly-formed Special Air Service in the summer of 1941. He rose through the ranks to secure squadron sergeant major status, becoming one of the most highly-decorated Special Forces soldiers of World War Two.

In the mid-1950s he returned to Africa to live before spending his retirement years in the West Suffolk village of Stanton where he died in 1999.

Seekings’ name reached a wider audience when his character was depicted by the BBC 1 series SAS Rogue Heroes, which dramatised the early days of the SAS.

Tony's book SAS Duty Before Glory, The True WWII Story of SAS Original Reg Seekings reveals how the son of a Great War veteran emerged from the Fen fields to fight in North Africa with an unconventional unit founded and commanded by David Stirling.

Tony's book will be published at the end of September. (Image: Michael O'Mara Books)

He says: "Seekings’ initiative and courage in the Western Desert campaign earned him a Distinguished Conduct Medal. And after the Allies’ focus switched to Europe, he received a Military Medal for his actions in the 1943 Operation Husky invasion of Sicily.

"A year later, just days after the Normandy landings, Seekings parachuted by night into German-occupied France. During the mission he was shot in the head, but recovered to carry on behind-the-lines activities, despite a bullet remaining lodged at the base of his skull.

"In the early spring of 1945, an Allied offensive penetrated into the Rhineland and once again the SAS were in the vanguard. As so often, Seekings was to the fore and was part of a jeep patrol that helped liberate Belsen in the middle of April.

"The German surrender came the following month and Seekings returned from the war to marry his sweetheart Monica Smith in Stanton village church."

Rushmer, whose last book about champion racehorse trainer Sir Henry Cecil was selected as one of three finalists in a US competition, said: “Reg Seekings’ story kept me fascinated from the moment I discovered it during the first Covid lockdown.

This sign on the river path from Ely to Stuntney. (Image: Rushmer PR)

“I was channel-hopping when I came across an SAS documentary in which he appeared in some archive footage. I was struck immediately by the strength of his character – the way he spoke, his bearing. There was just something about him.

“Also, there was his accent. He sounded very familiar. A quick bit of research showed that he was born and raised a couple of miles away from where I was watching the documentary. I knew that I had to find out more and it wasn’t long before I committed to writing a book about Seekings.

“The whole process has been incredibly rewarding. I soon found out that Reg’s brother Bob was in the SAS too – as was their great mate from Soham, Eric Musk. I also got to meet on many occasions SAS legend Mike Sadler, who navigated a six-man party, including Seekings, for the nascent unit’s very first successful operation in December, 1941.

“Mike was a great help in writing the book, as were members of the Seekings family, the SAS Regimental Association and many others whose support has been invaluable in chronicling Seekings’ incredible story.”

SAS Duty Before Glory: The True WWII Story of SAS Original Reg Seekings is published by Michael O’Mara Books on Thursday, September 26.

Go to the Toppings website to book tickets for the author event.