Kevin Shannon’s father, Bill, took part in Operation Tonga. Shannon joined the British Army straight from school; his varied career including service in armoured reconnaissance, intelligence, and infantry. After leaving the army, he studied for a degree in Liverpool and then taught history in a secondary school. He took early retirement in 2010 to work as a full-time writer and historian.Stephen Wright, a former teacher and youth officer, is the nephew of Billy Marfleet who was killed on Operation Tonga. Wright is the author of 'The Last Drop: Operation Varsity March 24-25 1945', a speaker on the Glider Pilot Regiment and Airborne Forces, and a founder member of The Glider Pilot Regiment Society.