For a dad who is into military history, Normandy '44 by James Holland covers D-Day and the 76 days of fighting in Normandy that followed, using eyewitness accounts from foot soldiers, tank men and fighter pilots. If he prefers aircraft, Lancaster by John Nichol is about the bomber and the crews who flew it, and for something to browse, World War II: Infographics tells the story of the war through graphics, charts and diagrams.
This guide is for anyone choosing a birthday or Father's Day present for a dad who reads about military history. Most of the picks cover the Second World War, including the Normandy campaign, RAF Bomber Command and escapes from Colditz. There are also soldiers' memoirs, a biography of Napoleon, and two visual gifts for someone who likes maps and diagrams.
For a dad who wants one campaign covered in depth. Holland's 864-page account of D-Day and the 76 days of fighting in Normandy that followed draws on archives and eyewitness testimony from foot soldiers, tank men and fighter pilots.
For a dad interested in tank warfare. It follows the Sherwood Rangers, a tank regiment that had fought in North Africa, from D-Day to the end of the war: from the Normandy beaches to the bridges at Eindhoven and into Germany, told through eyewitness testimony.
For a dad interested in the RAF and Bomber Command. Nichol writes about the Lancaster bomber, its crews, and the men and women who kept it flying in the Second World War, when more than half of the 7,377 Lancasters built were lost to enemy action or training accidents.
For an aircraft enthusiast. With an introduction by aviation historian Dilip Sarkar, it collects the leaflets, books and manuals issued during the Second World War to help pilots fly the Spitfire, with sections on aircraft recognition, how to act as an RAF officer and bailing out.
For a dad who likes escape stories. Pat Reid, one of the first prisoners held at Colditz and one of only a few men to break out, describes life in the camp, escape plots, and the code systems used between the War Office and Colditz.
For a dad who reads soldiers' memoirs. Carton de Wiart's autobiography covers a military career that took him from service as a trooper in the South African War in 1899 to three years as Churchill's representative to Chiang Kai-shek (1943–46), including the First World War, in which he was wounded eight times and lost an eye and a hand.
For a dad interested in special forces. Rusty Firmin, who commanded one of the two assault teams at the Iranian Embassy siege in 1980 and served with the SAS in the Falklands and Northern Ireland, writes about his 15 years in the Regiment.
For a dad whose interest goes back before the world wars. Andrew Roberts's 976-page biography draws on the new French edition of Napoleon's letters and covers his battles, his reform of French law, education and administration, and his final defeat at Waterloo in 1815; Roberts has walked 53 of Napoleon's 60 battlefields.
For a dad who likes maps, charts and numbers. It tells the story of the war visually through graphics, charts and diagrams, covering more than 50 themes, from the rise of the far right in pre-war Europe to military tactics and technology and the financial and human cost of the conflict.
For a dad planning a trip to the Normandy beaches, or as a small extra alongside Normandy '44. The map shows the sea assault formations for Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword beaches, the air assault formations around Sainte-Mère-Église and Pegasus Bridge, the D-Day objectives and the ground gained on D-Day.
Start with the period he reads about most. For the Second World War, Normandy '44 covers one campaign in depth and Lancaster suits a dad interested in the RAF. For something to browse rather than read cover to cover, World War II: Infographics explains the war through graphics, charts and diagrams.
The Regiment is by Rusty Firmin, who served with the SAS in the Falklands as well as in Northern Ireland and at the Iranian Embassy siege. It is an account of his 15 years in the SAS rather than a history of the Falklands War.
First-hand accounts give a different angle. Colditz is by Pat Reid, who was held at the camp and escaped. Spitfire Manual 1940 reproduces the leaflets and manuals issued to Spitfire pilots during the war.
Napoleon the Great by Andrew Roberts is a biography of Napoleon, who transformed France and Europe in the twenty years from 1795 to his defeat at Waterloo in 1815. Happy Odyssey starts just before the turn of the century, with Adrian Carton de Wiart's service as a trooper in the South African War in 1899; the rest of his career, including both world wars, falls in the 20th century.
Selected by Fox & Fable from books in stock. Last updated 30 September 2026.
