Dummy Bullets

Sergeant Wally Huntley (Royal Artillery and ventriloquist) tells his hilarious, thoughtful and historic story that will be appreciated by everyone, current servicemen and woman – and war veterans. This book is the true story of Sergeant Huntley and his ventriloquial dummy, Gunner Jimmy Turner. Walter was in the Royal Artillery as a Territorial before the war started, still in after it finished and never saw a gun fired because he spent most of the war talking to himself! In 1940 Britain stood alone against the threat of invasion. Military chiefs saw it as vital to maintain the morale of the civilian population, the troops who would be defending their homeland and those abroad with their thoughts of home. Entertainment became almost a weapon of war as the Services were ordered to support the theatrical profession by setting up shows of their own. Huntley, who had taken up ventriloquism as a schoolboy, had a full-size dummy, who ‘joined up’ with him and soon became Gunner Jimmy Turner. Both were involved in countless troop shows and posted to the official British Army entertainment unit, popularly known as Stars in Battledress which sent many soldier shows to the front line. Dummy Bullets is a fascinating wartime story and a celebration of a fighting spirit of another kind. Donations from Dummy Bullets’ royalites are beng made to the Royal Artillery Charitable Fund ad the All Together Now.