David Niven
‘An inspiration to all under his command’: the cheerful courage of Brian Franks
The second world war hero was awarded both the DSO and MC. But perhaps his finest achievement was securing the permanent future of the SAS
Taki: How I learned to write
Gstaad What I miss most up here in the Alps are the literary lunches conducted on the fly with writers…
The beginning of the end
Both German and Allied troops could be accused of war crimes in the struggle for the Ardennes. It’s a tragic and gruesome history, involving heavy casualties — but flashes of black humour make it bearable, says Clare Mulley
