A book signing was held at Waterstones to celebrate a new chapter of the Dorset Regiment’s history.

Writer Christopher Jary appeared at the bookstore to sign copies of his new book ‘They Couldn’t Have Done Better’.

Dozens of people attended the event, where Mr Jary also discussed his inspiration for writing the book and particular extracts from it.

The book tells the story of the four Dorset battalions who fought in the Second World War and of the regiment’s post-war service in the years of Britain’s withdrawal from empire, the Cold War and National Service.

Before the book was released, the Regiment’s published histories, which begin in 1702, stopped abruptly in 1939. The new book has been written to complete their story.

Mr Jary told The News: “The day went well and I met some interesting people who came in to talk to me about their relatives.

“The really interesting story, however, was that I was asked to sign a book by a woman called Mrs Hobby for her husband Ken.

“Their surname rang a bell so I looked in the book’s index and discovered that three brothers in the second Dorsets’ battalion fought in Burma – including a Laurence Hobby.

“It turned out that Ken was the fourth brother and wanted a copy of the book, so I was able to inscribe a copy in Laurence’s memory, which was really touching.”

In 35 years of government service, Mr Jary served as a speechwriter for one cabinet minister and worked with 30 more.

The son of a Hampshire officer who fought in 43rd Wessex Division, he also possesses strong Wessex roots.

‘They Couldn’t Have Done Better’ was launched at the end of September at a celebratory event which was attended by more than 200 people.

The launch also fell on the anniversary of the tragic end of the battle of Arnhem in 1945, and was attended by four Dorset Regiment veterans.