Souls Run Wild (Paperback)

A gripping biographical novel that chronicles the harrowing journey of a British Army officer during The Troubles in Northern Ireland, Souls Run Wild explores covert operations, personal sacrifice, and the psychological cost of war. Through firsthand accounts laced with vivid detail and raw emotion, David Payne presents a powerful narrative of loyalty, trauma, survival, and unflinching truth in the face of terror.

Family Heritage and Early Influences Born in the heart of England's Midlands, David was raised under the watchful eye of his father, a Birmingham City Police Inspector, and descendant of a family renowned for engineering innovations, particularly the newspaper paper feeder for the printing press. While strict in discipline, his father also nurtured the inventive spark of his ancestors in a modest home workshop, where David first discovered that precision and creativity could coexist harmoniously.Early Life and EducationDavid's formative years were shaped at Wellesbourne, a prestigious private boys' school in Warwick.Academics saw him as comfortably average, but it was on the playing fields where he truly shone. Mornings started with cross-country runs; afternoons were devoted to rugby scrums and cricket matches.By age fourteen, he had secured the All-England cross-country title representing Warwickshire-an early testament to his relentless stamina and will to win.Engineering Degree and Family ExpectationsAlthough a restless longing for travel tugged at him, David honoured his father's wish to carry on the family's printing heritage. He enrolled to study mechanical engineering at University and earned his degree with solid marks.Channelling his athletic discipline into thermodynamics and machine design, he graduated with a BSc in Mechanical engineering. His senior thesis-an optimisation of the newspaper paper feeder-was praised by local press magnates but left his spirit hungry for uncharted horizons.Military Career: Leading Where Others Dare Not GoUnable to resist the call of adventure, David joined the British Army, serving in Berlin, Belize, West Germany, and other countries.He was often the first soldier reconnoitring uncharted terrain and the last to secure withdrawal routes. His talent for uniting diverse units earned him commendations and a reputation as a leader who could draw out the best in everyone.Turning Point: Injury and ReinventionA devastating bomb blast in Northern Ireland shattered more than concrete; it fractured David's belief in conflict as a lifelong vocation. During his recovery, he discovered a talent for strategic problem-solving that extended beyond battlefield scenarios.Once healed, he transitioned into corporate project management, applying military logistics to streamline operations at a London-based German engineering company. His knack for motivating teams and pre-empting obstacles propelled him swiftly into senior management, but the boardroom lacked the visceral challenge he craved.Entrepreneurship and Boardroom TriumphCombining discipline with innovation, David founded a service company specialising in German-made switchgear, securing major contracts across the UK.Market upheavals and the pressures of CEO life, however, took their toll on his health, prompting an early-but reluctant-retirement.Embracing the Pen: A New Chapter in StorytellingRestless in retirement, David turned to writing as a means to process decades of intense experience. He spent long nights transcribing memories of wartime camaraderie, industrial breakthroughs, and moral quandaries.Three qualities define David's journey:Resilience: Overcoming injury, career changes, and health crisesLeadership: Inspiring confidence on battlefields, in boardrooms, and elsewhereCuriosity: From family workshop inventions to overseas deployments Present situation: Living in the South of England, enjoying a well-earned retirement, with his beloved Tibetan Spaniel. Still an active member of the local community when able, however now having a few health issues.