Book Review: Lifting the Silence: A World War II RCAF Bomber Pilot Reunites with His Past

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Lifting the Silence: A World War II RCAF Bomber Pilot Reunites with His Past is written by Sydney Smith with his son, David. This book tells the true story of Sydney Smith, a young bomber pilot who is shot down over the French countryside during the Second World War. With the help of the Comete Line (Belgian Resistance) he is able to get out of Occupied France by means of a grueling trek through the mountains into Spain and return to his base in England. Sydney, who later became a dentist, and made his home in Thunder Bay, never spoke of his unbelievable experiences. It wasn’t until his son David began clearing out his grandfather’s effects that he found a letter that Sydney’s father had kept since 1946 from one of the women who had assisted him. Together father and son research and write this amazing story and in the process are actually able to find some of the daring resistance heroes who helped him and many other allies to safety. Sydney was able to reunite with several of these brave souls.

I love this book. It is a great story of a son learning about his father. The story is well written and flows smoothly. I was drawn into the story for many reasons, but especially because it is true and it is simply and yet completely told and there are some great family photos which help even more to make the characters real. St. Thomas is even mentioned in the story which gave me a little thrill.

Give it a try.

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