Following the 70th anniversary of the Battle of El Alamein, the vivid account of the life of Second World War soldier Elfed Davies (1919-2002) from Cardiganshire and his time as a young soldier in the North African Campaign has been published in a new book, called Salem Soldier.

Salem Soldier is a tale of two halves, as it is the story of a father and son, Elfed and Brian Davies, both raised in the tranquillity of north Cardiganshire hamlets, Salem and Penrhyn-coch. They lived dramatically different lives: Elfed Davies recalls his journey from north Cardiganshire to the ravages of war, when he served his country in Egypt, Libya and Italy during the Second World War. When he returned to Salem in 1945, the place and his world had changed dramatically.

Higher education provided a gateway to a career in outdoor education for Brian, and the means to travel extensively - from Penrhyn-coch to the Alpine ranges of Europe, the Far East and the extreme ends of our planet in South Georgia, Antarctica, Svalbard and Iceland. But, just like his father, the longing to return to the area was paramount in his mind. Salem Soldier portrays Salem and the surrounding north Cardiganshire area through the eyes of two generations as Elfed and Brian Davies tell of how our world changed.

During one particular journey with my father to Machynlleth some years ago, we took a detour and started reminiscing, said Brian Davies. My father recollected needing to borrow a copy of Old Moores Almanack before planning local concerts or eisteddfods in the old days, to find out the night of the full moon a clear night would illuminate the journey for the participants and audience alike.

I suggested that these recollections should be recorded and shared, and some time later I was presented with a moving, detailed account of my fathers early years, explains Brian. My own memories of a childhood within this caring community then came to mind. My fathers formative years, his wartime separation from the community, his marriage and my own birth, and some of my own memories, have led to an appreciation of the significance of cynefin to the Cymry cefn gwlad.

Brian Davies was born in 1946 and was educated at Ardwyn Grammar School, Aberystwyth and Cardiff College of Education. He has spent most of his career teaching at outdoor education centres and was chairman of the Association of Heads of Outdoor Education Centres, 19992002. His interests lie in mountaineering and walking, photography, wildlife, travel, fishing and the local history of north Cardiganshire, especially the lead mining industry.