Dog Stags & NAAFI Growlers

“Not every soldier gets to be a hero.”

Dog Stags & NAAFI Growlers is the gritty, honest account of London-based author James Marc Ivimey’s experiences in the Army, based on diaries he kept during his 10-year military career. Real and vivid anecdotes, both funny and poignant, reveal the highs and lows of life as a rank-and-file soldier in the 80s and 90s.

“I have had the diaries that the book is based on for more than 20 years, but when I saw my children growing up I finished the book as a piece of social history,” Ivimey explains. “Many people, my father included, served and did what was asked of them by their country. They weren’t heroes, but all were prepared to risk their lives to do what needed to be done. This book is a testament to those soldiers and their unsung exploits – unless these experiences are recorded, when these people die, so will their stories.”

In his military memoir, Ivimey recalls the highs and lows of the day-to-day teeth and bones of barrack-room life, focusing on three of his most memorable postings: Hong Kong, Belize and Northern Ireland. He describes what it was like to serve time in a Chinese prison, what happened when soldiers had too much time on their hands and even reveals what they managed to get away with on patrol. Couple that with growing up, negotiating girlfriend trouble and adventures that young men only dream of and Dog Stags & NAAFI Growlers is a fantastic read for anyone with a military background, or those interested in war stories and memoirs.