The 11th Armoured Division famous for its Black Bull insignia was widely recognized as being among the best armoured divisions in north-west Europe during the Second World War. This book tells the story of the Division in the words of the soldiers who fought with it: of its part in the three ferocious battles in Normandy
- Operations EPSOM GOODWOOD & BLUECOAT the great Swan to Amiens the taking of Antwerp; right flanking for MARKET GARDEN back-up in the Ardennes & the final slog into Germany across well-defended river barriers to the liberation of Belsen Lubeck & the Danish frontier. The Division suffered 10 000 casualties with almost 2 000 lost in action & so this is also a story of courage & the hardships of a winter campaign of being wounded comradeship & fighting fear. Contributions are included from twelve of the regiments who proudly wore the sign of the Black Bull. Memories from troop commanders & riflemen bombardiers & signalmen tank crews troop leaders & from the dashing GOC are brought together to reveal what life was like at the sharp end. The Black Bull is liberally illustrated with contemporary photographs showing the Division in action. It will appeal not only to those who still have memories of the battles & to those who fought in the Second World War but also to readers interested in the day-to-day actions & thoughts of soldiers in the front line for almost a year.
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When a terrible fire claims his parents Ciel Phantomhive must step up as the head of his father's company & as Earl Phantomhive. It would be a lot for the young boy to handle were it not for his faithful butler Sebastian. Ever at Ciel's side it seems there's little Sebastian can't do whether it's saving a dinner party gone awry or probing the dark secrets of London's underbelly. He's almost too good to be true...or at least too good to be human... ...

Just a stone's throw from London lies the manor house of the illustrious Phantomhive earldom its master one Ciel Phantomhive. Earl Phantomhive is a giant in the world of commerce Queen Victoria's faithful servant...and a slip of a twelve-year old boy. Fortunately his loyal butler Sebastian is ever at his side ready to carry out the young master's wishes. & whether Sebastian is called to save a dinner party gone awry or probe the dark secrets of London's underbelly there is practically nothing Sebastian cannot do. In fact one might even say Sebastian is too good to be true...or at least he is too good to be human... ...

Grelle's chainsaw-like scythe cuts through anything quickly overpowering Sebastian as Madame Red attacks Ciel. Grelle kills her when she refuses to kill Ciel. Memories of her sister & her sister's husband the Earl of Phantomhive are played out an effect of the scythe. Sebastian attacks Grelle & tangles Grelle's chainsaw with his coat. Sebastian tries to kill Grelle with the scythe but the shinigami William Spears stops him. William apologizes for Grelle's actions & takes Grelle away for punishment. After Madame Red's funeral Ciel is warned against sinking into darkness. Ciel's aunt & fiancee visit the estate. Ciel & the Marchioness engage in a hunting competition but when the group is attacked by a bear Ciel protects Elizabeth & Sebastian kills the bear although it appears to be the Marchioness' handiwork. The Middlefords & the servants wish Ciel happy birthday the true purpose of the visit ...

Sebstian Michaelis. Occupation: Butler. He makes his master's afternoon tea polishes the silver &.. .heads up murder investigations?! As London is seized by fear when Jack the Ripper begins his killing spree in Whitechapel Queen Victoria commands Ciel Phantomhive & his seemingly superhuman butler Sebastian to step in. What will happen when the case takes a surprising turn that shatters one of the few truths Ciel holds dear? ...

His royally sanctioned dinner party a shambles & a murderer on the loose Ciel Phantomhive is a veritable prisoner in his own home alongside those of his guests who still live. & in the most shocking of turns the young earl finds himself now without his indispensible manservant Sebastian. Never one to take misfortune lying down Ciel seizes control of the investigation into the suspicious deaths. But as the mystery deepens there happens upon the young earl's doorstep an odd priest wearing an insolent smile & an inverness cape which flaps & splashes being him... Is this mysterious thirteenth guest the perpetrator of the crimes that have bloodied the halls of Phantomhive Manor? ...

When one curtain falls upon the stage at the big top another rises behind the scenes as young Earl Ciel Phantomhive & his virtuoso butler Sebastian face off against the villain behind the children's disappearances. But as Sebastian under orders from his master single-handedly draws the gruesome tale to its sad conclusion on one front battle lines are drawn on another! With the master-less Phantomhive manor under attack from the Noah's Ark Circus & Sebastian nowhere near to protect its inhabitants is Ciel's home once again headed for the same tragedy that took the lives of the young earl's parents? ...

Is that butler really deceased?! Jeremy the great detective who arrives at Phantomhive Manor at the behest of the late Sebastian is actually
- ?! In order to effectively execute his own plan to catch a killer at the manor before his untimely passing what other machinations did the unparraled manservant put into motion?! Will the case of the Phantomhive Manor Murders finally be closed? & will the house get its butler back? Or is this really the end?
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Earl Ciel Phantomhive's satisfaction in the successful conclusion of the case of the Noah's Ark Circus is fleeting as Queen Victoria's very own butlers come marching into the Phantomhive manor & comandeer the house & all its residents for a lavish banquet sanctioned by Her Royal Highness. Preparations for such an event are quick work in the hands of the Phantomhive's most able butler Sebastian but corralling eminent guests during his young master's first ever attempt at playing host may prove to be rather more of a challenge. For this dinenr party is anything but & as a stormy night batters the outside of the grand residence a far more violent storm begins to unfurl within the confines of the manor...and no one is safe from the havoc it will wreak
- not even one seemingly impervious manservant...
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Ciel Sebastian & Lau investigate a case where British citizens returning from India are attacked stripped & hung upside-down outside Indian pubs in London. Attached to each victim is a letter insulting the English. The group is attacked by poor Indian men during their investigation but are helped by the Indian Prince Soma & his butler Agni who are searching for Somas servant Meena who was taken away by a British man. Although Agni is human as a fighter hes on a par with Sebastian but he rejects such compliments however saying that he once had power & wealth which he abused until he was to be hanged. He was saved by Soma who gave him a new life & name & who Agni now views as a god. Agni leaves the manor at night & the group including Soma follow him to Lord Wests home. When he hears Meena mentioned Soma quickly reveals the groups presence. Agni refuses to obey Somas orders but begins to act on Wests order to beat Soma. A disguised Sebastian saves Soma & the group escapes to the manor. ...