A SOMERSET Military historian has written a new book with a special significance for him and a Taunton resident.

Author Dr Paul Winter has written "D-Day Documents", a collection of National Archives material published to mark the recent 70th anniversary of the Normandy landings.

And one document in particular took on a special significance for Dr Winter, as it involved D-Day veteran, and Taunton resident, 94-year-old Jim Booth.

A Royal Navy Lieutenant and member of the elite Combined Operations Pilotage Parties, specialising in covert beach reconnaissance work, Mr Booth was involved in a highly-important operation on the morning of D-Day.

Codenamed Gambit, it involved the use of two midget submarines, X-20 and X-23, to act as navigational markers for the Royal Navy and top secret amphibious tanks destined for ‘Sword’ beach.

As a crew member of X-23, Mr Booth was key in the success of the operation receiving the French Croix de Guerre in recognition of his courage.

On their return to England, the captain of X-23, Lieutenant George Honour, wrote a report on Gambit which is now preserved at the National Archives, London.

While researching D-Day Documents, Dr Winter discovered this file and incorporated it into his book.

But it wasn't until later that he discover that Jim Booth lived not only in Taunton, but was the sole surviving member of the operation.

Dr Winter arranged to meet with Jim and give him a copy of his book and photocopies of original documents relating to Mr Booth’s D-Day exploits kindly donated by the National Archives.

During 2015, Dr Winter, President of the Wessex Military History Society, will be hosting monthly lectures at the Castle Hotel, Taunton.

The society’s inaugural lecture (Thursday 19 March) is on British special forces’ operations against the Argentine Exocet threat in 1982, and will be delivered by Lieutenant-Colonel Ewen Southby-Tailyour RM.