Historic battlefields.

The Storm of War by Andrew Roberts

Just starting on this one [as per my tweets], full title: The Storm of War: A New history of the Second World War.

Do we need a new history? Well Andrew has already tried to answer that himself here.

 

The German Army at Cambrai- first thoughts

A full review will follow shortly, but from the first page I was enthralled with Jack Sheldon's latest book. The shorter timespan than his early works has allowed his narrative to both focus and broaden, focus on individual units and men, broaden into a valuable discussion of the German staff system. More too follow.

And again

Thank you amazon- more head scratching before I decided their computer is just stupid. "Bloody Victory" as in William Philpott's recent book on the Somme 1916.

Il Divo [DVD] [2008] DVD ~ Toni Servillo (Jul 27, 2009) Average Customer Review: 3 Reviews 5 star:  (1) 4 star:  (1) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:  (1) 1 star:    (0) › See all 3 customer reviews...   (3) In stock RRP: £15.99 Price: £9.98 4 used & new from £7.99

I own it   Not interested   Rate this item  Recommended because you said you owned Bloody Victory (Fix this) And: Duckworth Lewis Method ~ Duckworth Lewis Method (Jul 6, 2009) Average Customer Review: 30 Reviews 5 star:  (26) 4 star:  (4) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0) › See all 30 customer reviews...   (30) In stock Listen to samples Price: £8.98 11 used & new from £7.99 I own it   Not interested   Rate this item  Recommended because you said you owned Bloody Victory (Fix this)

A very unimportant officer by Alexander & Cameron Stewart

What motivates a diarist is often a mystery, but in the case of this book the author, Alexander Stewart, is at least honest about his reasons for re-visiting his wartime diary. In leaving a record for his family's amusement and knowledge, he has provided an invaluable account of the day to day experience within an infantry battalion [albeit an officer's experience].

The diary entries are interesting, but it's the additional comments made post war which hold the reader and the most for the reader. Descriptions of trench routine, training, leave and attacks all benefit from looking back, echoing Charles Carrington's "Soldier from the wars returning" Stewart gives an untarnished account of his experiences and thoughts on the war.

Content to admit when memory fails, the author confines himself to the natural boundaries of the regimental officer, rarely commenting on events or people outside of his battalion and brigade. With a engaging, and often humerous, style it is a pleasure to journey with Stewart through his war, until its premature end when..

First Blitz by Neil Hanson

First Blitz: The Secret German Plan to Raze London to the Ground in 1918 by Neil Hanson. Corgi Books [2009] PB 640 p.

The subtitle of this book is a bit of a misjustice. The book covers, and covers well, the German air bombing campaign of the whole war. The clear narrative focuses at both an individual and unit level, on the efforts of the "England Squadron" and others to break the morale of the the citizens of London and the corresponding British efforts to defence the capital. 

Covering the early phases, including Zepplins, the main thread of the book is the strategic bombing campaign [using Gotha and Giant aircraft] against London, it's surrounds and by extension the Empire's war effort. The author has skillfully weaved together the story of governmental, military and civic responses to this new style of warfare. The personal testimonies included in this book give a raw, often unsettling, insight into the experiences of both the bomber and the bombed.

More detail on the evolution of the Royal Flying Corps in it's efforts to defeat the invader would have been welcome and those who check the book's index for individual squadrons or locations before buying might miss out. My interests lie in Essex and many of the airfields/locations mentioned in the text were missed from the index or only listed once or twice.

The book concludes with an interesting consideration of the lessons learnt by the respective sides and their effects on planning in the inter-war years.

More RAMC sources

As is often the case something was staring me in the face.

Due to my interest in first aid training I was looking at my 1911 RAMC training manual and it has proved to be a wealth of information. Firstly it helped with another blog article, but is also covers the role and organsiation of the Field Ambulance. If you've read my recent posts here you'll know why this has caused so much excitement (well for me anyway).

Whilst it is easy to find out dated material in a manual almost 100 years old, it is also possible to find practices still current.

This technique is still in use in many areas, as shown here.

Battle training

Well, after something resembling a break I'm back. I didn't get onto reading up on the German March 1918 offensives, that will have to wait. Now I'm into training. Because the next module on my course covers Training, Tactics and Technology in the BEF on the Western Front.

I'm getting close to the end of Peter Simpkin's excellent Kitchener's Army: The raising of the New Armies 1914-1916. Pen and Sword 1844155854. Hopefully I'll get round to posting a coherent review but my immediate reaction is one of awe. There is interesting, no fascinating, coverage of the surge(s) in recruitment and the contrasting approaches to filling the ranks.

Now I need to move onto the development, use and results of battle training. The dry war diary entry of "battalion training" is becoming more interesting. Perhaps I need to get out more often.

The German Army at Passchedaele by Jack Sheldon

The German Army at Passchedaele by Jack Sheldon. Pen & Sword Military, Barnsley 2007 352 p.

The 31st July 2007, the 90th anniversary of the commencement of the Third Battle of Ypres, seems the most appropriate day to post this review.

English language accounts of the German forces in the First World War are fairly rare, a situation Jack Sheldon seems determined to change. This companion volume to his The German Army on the Somme 1914-1916 focuses on the entire battle of Third Ypres, not just the closing stages including the fighting around Passchendaele. Using a wide range of sources the author brings home the experience offrontline service from the other side of the wire.

A couple of key themes stand out, the crushing, numbing, paralysing effect of the British artillery and the determination of the fighting soldier. There are numerous accounts of German units being fragmented but drawing together into adhoc formations for both defensive and offensive[counterattack] operations. Reading the book as an Englishman it is also easy to fill pride in the steadfast effort of the Commonwealth troops fighting forward. German defensive tactics are considered and it is interesting to note the difficulties the Germans found in countering the evolving British tactics.

All in all, an excellent read in itself and a much needed insight into the German armies workings.

I read the hardcover edition ISBN 184415564-1

9th Essex attack

The following comes from Burrows, Essex Units in the War 1914-1919 Service Battalions The Essex Regiment Vol. 6.

How the 9th Essex attacked from Arras.

The 9th Essex left the Museum, Arras, at 2.40 am on April 9th (Easter Monday) and proceeded above ground as far as the entrance to the trench at Pont de Fer. The plan that the Battalion should be clear of the exit of the tunnel in Broad Walk at zero-10m. could not be adhered to owing to the congestion caused by the presence of the 36th and 37th Brigades in the O.B trenches. Progress through the tunnel proved to be much quicker than anticipated and the men had a halt of one and a half hours in London Cove before entering the O.B lines. At zero the Battalion left the Cove and took up the allotted positions, the two leading companies being in the front line and "T" Trench and the other two companies in the support line and Ink Trench. Shelter was obtained in the dug-outs. Casualties were incurred in reaching the jumping-off positions. The enemy had registered accurately a communication trench and one platoon lost ten of its forty effectives. At 10.20 am the Battalion moved forward to the attack, with the 7th Suffolks on the right and 5th Royal Berkshires on the left. The advance was in artillery formation until the imaginary line drawn between Henley Lane and Havant Lane was reached. At this point the Battalion came under fairly heavy machine gun-fire from Hotte Work and also from the direction of Tilloy. The leading companies immediately extended, but shortly afterwards the advance was held up and the men sought cover in shell-holes. With the Hotte Work still in hostile possession, further progress was impossible and so two-inch trench mortars were bought up by the 37th Brigade, but before the gun could be put into action 2nd Lieut. Barker, of the 9th Essex, led his platoon to the flank and after vigorous bombing, captured the garrison of the work to the number of thirty. The advance was then resumed until Observation Post was gained. Progress down the eastern slopes of the Ridge was somewhat slow owing to the point-blank fire from hostile guns in Battery Valley firing point-blank at a distance of 200 yards. Lewis guns were turned upon them and the Essex advanced as occasion offered, with the result that in a final rush nine 77mm. guns were captured, together with the surviving members of the crews.

This was a remarkable experience, wrote Captain Barltrop. We had hardly known what free movement at the front was like, but as soon as Lieut. Barker had cleared up the machine gun nest which had poured a deadly fire upon us, the Battalion simply streamed forward in a long irregular mass and at a run went cheering up the slops of the ridge. For the moment it seemed as if we had really broken through, especially when, topping the ridge, we saw nothing but German artillery, most of which as being put out of action by the German gunners, as explosion after explosion bore witness. But here and there gunners fired point blank at us and we soon ceased to cheer, as the shells could hardly miss. We were soon thinned out and the advance by rushes became much more cautious. The gunners ceased their fire as the pressure increased and before long we were in the gun pits, glad to take cover from the machine gun and rifle fire.

Movement in Battery Valley continued to be slow for some time, in consequence of the barrage not having lifted in places and also because of fairly intense machine gun-fire from the Feuchy-Wancourt line. Companies had become somewhat disorganised and touch was lost in some cases.

"C" Company under 2nd Lieut. F C W Brown with its flank on the Cambrai Road, was in touch with the 7th Suffolks on its right and advanced, with a platoon of "D" company, by short rushes until some dead ground was reached. There the company halted and reorganised before continuing the advance. This company did excellent work and later captured Feuchy Chapel Redoubt, without support. "A" company was very reduced in strength by reason of a number of men having become seperated, but, nevertheless, the Company, with a few men of "D" company, entered Tilloy Lane and worked up the trench as far as Chapel Road. At this point it was discovered the Germans had commenced to tunnel under the road and several casualties were incurred by reason of men attempting to cross in the open. Further progress as delayed until the tunnel could be secured. 2nd Lieut. Peters led a bombing attack up the trench, but could get no farther than the edge of the enemy's wire and after the party had nearly all become casualties and the officer, himself, had been wounded, he was forced to retire, having erected a bomb stop fifty yards from the wire. There enterprising work was donw by snipers and Lewis gunners.

Map taken from Essex Units in the War 1914-1919 Service Battalions The Essex Regiment Vol. 6