Book
Review By Michael D Booker (August 2006)
RATS’
ALLEY
British Trench Names of the Western Front 1914-1918
Author: Peter Chasseaud
Publisher:
Spellmount Publishers
www.tempus-publishing.com
ISBN:
1 86227 276 X
Published:
February 2006
UK
Price: £21.25
This
unique volume from Spellmount is certain to prove invaluable
to Great War military historians, Battlefield Guides /enthusiasts
and serious family history researchers alike, as it is the
first ever study of British, Australian, Canadian, New Zealand
and Indian trench names of the Western Front to be published.
All
battlefields, from Ypres, Loos, Vimy Ridge and Arras to the
Somme, Cambrai and the 1918 battles are covered and the reader
is provided with a very useful gazetteer of an unbelievable
10,000 plus trench names, which in themselves prove the important
part that trench warfare actually played during the Great
War.
The
background information on British trench naming policy provides
interesting reading too and the fact that many trench names
chosen by the troops actually reflect the background of the
men involved, where they came from, the conditions in which
they lived and of course the full horrors they experienced
is useful from a cultural point of view. Lovers Lane, Lavender
Walk, Idiots Corner, International Trench, Nonsense Trench,
Chaos Trench, Gangrene Alley are just a few names chosen for
these muddy pits of death - confirming that despite all the
hardships and suffering the troops were experiencing at the
time, they still had a remarkable sense of humour and imagination.
As
well as providing the researcher with a long list of names,
it also includes all map references and some superb aerial
photographs too, making it an important aid for those wishing
to pinpoint sites of specific battles and actions etc.
Certainly
one for the Great War bookshelves! |
Book
Review By Michael D Booker (September2006)
AN
UNORTHODOX SOLDIER
Peace and War and The Sandline Affair
Author: Lt. Col. Tim Spicer O.B.E.
Publisher:
Mainstream Publishing
www.mainstreampublishing.com
ISBN: 1 84018 349 7
UK
Price: £7.99
Lieutenant
Colonel Tim Spicer's autobiography provides the reader with
a fascinating insight into the world of private military companies
and the interesting career of a typical British Army officer
in the years leading up to the end of the cold war.
An Unothodox Soldier is well written and I am sure that Tim
Spicer’s experiences in the Scots Guards will be inspirational
to any young man contemplating joining the British Army today,
as well as being invaluable to anyone researching our military
involvement in Northern Ireland, the Falklands Campaign and
Bosnia. Tim also spent a great deal of time on what many will
consider more mundane duties, including a United Nations tour
in Cyprus, training in West Germany, the Trooping The Colour
and other ceremonial duties in London
His role in the Falklands and Northern Ireland are worthy
of books in their own right, however it is the Sandline affair
that is covered in great detail and here he tells his own
intriguing story and the truth behind the ‘arms for
Africa” affair that rocked the comfortable lifestyle
of many politicians and diplomats worldwide.
Tim was also captured at gunpoint and held in captivity in
Papua New Guinea and I guess shot at on more than one occasion
– his life and career certainly hasn’t been dull
– nor is this book! At £7.99 it is excellent value
for money and a cracking read! |
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Book
Review By Michael D Booker (September 2006)
A
CHILD AT ARMS
Author: Patrick Davis
Publisher:
Spellmount Publishers
www.tempus-publishing.com
ISBN:
1 86227 337 5
Published:
February 2006
UK
Price: £14.99
This
is a welcome re-print and updated edition of the excellent
Spellmount Classics publication covering the fascinating account
of a young man’s war against the Japanese in the jungles
of Burma in years1943-45.
The
author - Patrick Davis enlisted as an 'hostilities only' officer
in the army during the Second World War. After his initial
training, he was posted to one of the outstanding Gurkha battalions
of Slim’s “Forgotten Army”. As one can imagine,
as a young and inexperienced officer serving in this campaign,
the pressures and learning curves were great, however despite
the discomforts, fears and tragedies he experienced along
the way, with newly found courage and stamina, he survived
the war against a ferocious enemy and all the accompanying
dangers of the tropical jungle.
There is no doubt, this splendid volume provides the reader
with a fascinating insight into the training our troops undertook
in India and the subsequent lead up to battles that resulted
in a member of his battalion earning a much deserved Victoria
Cross.
The
author is very modest in his approach to this story, however
having listened to the similarities to my own Father’s
experiences as a Chindit, I this volume accurately sums up
what it was really like for our troops in this theatre of
war at that crucial time in history.
I
am sure this will provide the reader with a most enjoyable
read. It will also be invaluable to anyone researching the
Burma Campaign especially the 4th/8th Gurkha Rifles at that
time. |
Book
Review By Michael D Booker (September 2006)
THE
WAR FOR ALL OCEANS
The British Navy’s Struggle Against Napoleon
Author: Roy and Lesley Adkins
Publisher:
Little Brown Book Group
London WC2E 7EN
www.littlebrown.co.uk
ISBN:
0316 72837 3
Published
: September 2006
UK
Price: £20.00
Following
the success of their first book – “Trafalgar”
(published last year), Roy and Lesley Adkins - the husband
and wife duo, who enjoy the unique combination of being writers,
historians and archaeologists, have produced another excellent
volume, which will I am sure, enjoy the same success as “Trafalgar”
has and prove to be an invaluable research tool for a wide
range of readers too.
This
splendid title starts with the British defeat over the French
at the Battle of the Nile and ends nearly twenty years later,
with the famous success at the Battle of Waterloo. I believe
that this period is one of the most interesting and colourful
in British history and the authors skill and excellent narrative
successfully brings to life vivid accounts of everyday life
for the sailor at that time . From press gangs to prostitutes
and prisoners of war through to the first hand accounts of
the actual daring actions a sea involving lone ships through
to whole fleets are covered.
For
the reader who believes amphibious assaults, costal bombardments
and espionage are products of the twentieth century, think
again, as these events are also covered along with the famous
action in which the Presidential White House was actually
burned to the ground.
To
add to the value of this publication, the researcher will
be delighted with the two black and white photo sections featuring
a total of 32 photographs, there are also 18 splendid maps
–mostly from antiquarian sources including a plan of
the Battle of the Nile and a massive 9 page bibliography and
a detailed index.
There
is no doubt that this particular volume, like the earlier
publication has been well researched and will provide fascinating
reading for anyone from the casual reader who normally enjoys
the Hornblower style novels, through to the serious family
and maritime history researcher and naval historian.:
This
volume in my opinion is a must read! |
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Book
Review By Michael D Booker (September 2006)
ALDOF
HITLER – A PORTRAIT
Author: Michael Fitzgerald
Publisher:
Spellmount Publishers
www.tempus-publishing.com
ISBN:
1 86227 322 7
Published:
2006
UK
Price: £20.00
The
author – an acknowledged authority on Gemany between
the period 1918-1945 has produced a volume that I think many
readers will agree, is a very different biography of Adolf
Hitler, one which will therefore will appeal to many historians
and students of military history, as well a large number of
general readers too.
This
excellent volume is based on the author’s extensive
original research and reveals in print for the first time,
many aspects of Hitler’s life that were not widely known
until now. It is said that this is the first book to convincingly
explain the basis of Hitler's anti-Semitism and in that respect
alone it will be invaluable for many. From another angle,
he also demonstrates the importance of art in Hitler's life
and his vision for the future of the German people.
It
also reveals the truth behind the 1939 assassination attempt
on Hitler’s life and with the extracts from Mein Kampf
and the many excellent photographs also included (which I
personally believe tell a story all on their own), this volume
provides the reader with a fascinating insight into the dictators
life in general and thought processes,therfore making it a
very interesting and readable volume.
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Book
Review By Michael D Booker (September 2006)
THE
BRITISH ARMY HANDBOOK 1914-1918
Author: Andrew Rawson
Publisher:
Sutton Publishing
www.suttonpublishing.co.uk
ISBN: 0750937459
Published
: 2006
UK
Price: £25.00
As
many readers are aware, the British Army of 1914 was comparatively
small and ill-equipped for the war it was about to fight,
however from those modest beginnings and in what really was
a comparatively short period of toime, it grew into a much
larger, better equipped and well trained organisation, that
soon became the most effective fighting force in the field
at that time. This larger Army with almost seven million men
was now much more complex than it had ever been in its entire
history.
This
volume – one of several in a series from this specialist
publisher, provides the reader with an excellent insight into
this unique army during the Great War period and covers just
about every aspect of its operation and organisation from
conscription and training, equipment , vehicles and weapons
through to tactics and communication and so much more. I personally
found the section on divisional organisation and histories
useful and I am sure the part pertaining to sites of interest
and remembrance will be invaluable to those visiting the battlefields
today.
In
fact, military historians, family history researchers, militaria
collectors together with anyone with even the slightest interest
in the Great War will find this splendid publication provides
fascinating reading and an invaluable source of reference
for the future too. Many will agree with me, that it is a
must have in their collection or library and will therefore
want to go on an read other titles in the series. |
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