Historic battlefields.

Mass Grave at Fromelles

It has been reported here and here that a mass grave has been located near Fromelles, France.

Whether its the remains of an individual or a group I feel it is important that all are treated with dignity and respect and are laid (or allowed to continue laying) to rest. If, as I hope it does, the site is worked on to recover the remains I just hope the above is remembered.

I have found myself getting irrate at the antics of some of the participants in media coverage of this type of event. No doubt the television companies have a plan and will encourage or edit to meet this, but these were real people, you and I but thankfully seperated by 90 years. Maybe I'm just a bit too sentimental.

Initial thoughts on Cambrai Essay

Still ploughing through the books, articles etc.

I'm starting to feel that part of the success for the British initial operations lay in the previous work done on both plans for attacks/raids in the area and the build up of a logistical infrastructure. This allowed a massing of force which when combined with the change in artillery and armour techniques gave a break into the Hindenburg position.

However, the necessary reserves were not there to exploit this success leading to a dragged out fight for positions such as Bourlon Wood. This left the British vunerable to the German counter-attack which itself ran out of steam as the British fell back on their existing logistics network. This statement is not meant to degrade the importance of the British troops efforts in defence.

I'll try and place a proper bibliography on here very soon.

MA in British First World War Studies

As Gary Smailes has suggested people approach things like a MA programme for many different reasons, in my case it is an ambition to further my education generally (having left school at 16) and specifically my knowledge with regards the British military experience.

Having now reached the end of year one we have covered 3 modules:

Research Skills: Methodology and Sources

Brass hats and Frock coats: British Strategy in the Great War

Operation development in the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front 1914-1918 (my favourite so far)

Each module is assessed by essays, my one for the Research Skills module is here

Regardless of the outcome of the course it has been invaluable in refining my reading, anaylictical and writing abilities-though this might not be evident reading this.

Cambrai essay

As my descent into obsession continues I thought I'd post some detail on my thought process (or lack of) with regards my next essay. I have mentioned elsewhere I'm studying for a MA and this is partially assessed by essays, my next one being on why the British attack at Cambrai initially succeeded and ultimately failed.

Peter and Dan Snow's Twentieth Century Battlefields

Well I'm sure somewhere a pedant has sat up during the night composing their complaint letter to the BBC, maybe it was an email, but either way it would be unjust. The programme was good.

As a mid week, mid evening piece on a non specialist channel the knowledgable/anoraks will no doubt be able to find fault. Maybe it was a Mark iv shown whilst describing the actions of a Mark v tank etc, but it was a balanced piece which didn't descend into the traditional warfare of pro vs anti-Haig, nor did it worship the (worthy) efforts of the colonial troops or degrade the (equally worthy) efforts of British troops.

The look of the programme was engaging, computer graphics won't appeal to everyone but personally, being of a certain age, I like that kind of think and the images of the all arms offensive and penatration tactics worked really well. It was also encouraging to see the removal of the frankly painful "improvisation based on real accounts" seen in the previous series, the talking heads this time being serving soldiers.

Slipping my anorak on for a moment, I believe the Cambrai offensive of November 1917 was the first large scale use of pre-registered artillery and the programme did kind of suggest the this occured at Amiens in August 1918 but it may have been the way I was listening or my current obsession with Cambrai that gave me this impression.

Overall a good programme on the First World War and in particular the Western Front and no poetry!

For more detail see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/programmes/twentiethcenturybattlefields/

Welcome

Welcome to my weblog with which I hope to gather together information and thoughts (mine and of others) on the wars of the 20th century.