1536 replies to this topic

[Mark Wilkie]

Just finished "Urgent Imperial Service: South African Forces in German South West Africa 1914-1915" by Gerald L'Ange. A very interesting read.

[MartinBennitt]

I'm now reading a paperback I picked up in a second-hand bookshop called 'Socks, Cigarettes and Shipwrecks, a Family's War Letters 1914-18', edited by Félicité Nesham, a grand-daughter of vicar's wife Gertrude Berryman, whose five sons all saw active service and survived, one in the RAMC, one in the Navy, two in the British infantry and one in the Indian Army. She kept all their letters home, and very interesting they are as a depiction of the thoughts and conditions of the time, with descriptions of Jutland, the Western Front and Mesopotamia. But oh for some proper footnotes -- I am having to scurry to other references to try to find out exactly where they all were at any particular time. I might yet be seeking some assistance from Forum pals.

cheers Martin B

[blackmaria]

Just finished "The breaking of the storm " by C.A.L. Brownlow.A fantastic memoir from an Officer on a R.F.A  Ammunition column during the first five months of the war.This period of the B.E.F's War on the Western front fascinates me and fortunately there are quite a few excellent memoirs written both by Officers and Other ranks that cover that part of the conflict.

[SWorrall]

'Writing the Great War' describing how the Official History came to be written, how the authors were selected and how Edmonds came to be installed as author and series editor.

Simon.

[micks]

Heading back to Gallipoli in March.
At the moment I have my head in Stephen
Chambers Suvla ,August Offensive.

Micks

[hazel clark]

Just finished "Myths of the Great War" which was awful and i reviewed elsewhere but also read Lyn McDonald"s "1915" which, although good, did not find as absorbing as her other books. .  Am in the middle now of "Guns of August" - an old book by Barbara Tuchman.  I had not read it previously and am impressed[ .  It is about the genesis of the war and the first month or so.
h.C.quote name='blackmaria' timestamp='1322993022' post='1677127']
Just finished "The breaking of the storm " by C.A.L. Brownlow.A fantastic memoir from an Officer on a R.F.A  Ammunition column during the first five months of the war.This period of the B.E.F's War on the Western front fascinates me and fortunately there are quite a few excellent memoirs written both by Officers and Other ranks that cover that part of the conflict.
[/quote]

[MartinBennitt]

Just started 'Haig, A Reappraisal 70 Years On', a collection of essays essentially rescuing Haig's reputation by different historians. Edited by Brian Bond and Nigel Cave. The 70 years is the time since Haig's death (it was published in 1999).

cheers Martin B

[Michelle Young]

Reading Blood and Iron, the letters of Hugh Montagu Butterworth, 9th Rifle Brigade. (ed Jon Cooksey) KIA 25th September 1915 at Bellewaarde. Only one criticism of an otherwise excellent book is the inadequate map showing the actions on the day Hugh was killed.

Michelle

[Harry Flashman V.C.]

Somme Mud by E P F Lynch

an absolute cracking read...........

[MJohnson]

The Great War Diaries of Brigadier General Alexander Johnston 1914-1917- Edwin Astill . Am enjoying it very much

[Matt Richards]

Reading "Belfast Boys"!

[MartinBennitt]

Just started 'Le Jour de Deuil de l'Armée Française', as featured on this thread. A pretty weighty tome which looks like it covers the ground extremely thoroughly. Will add my views in due course, which will probably be well into next year

cheers Martin B

[Harper]

The last two books which I read were "Mud, Blood and Poppycock" by Gordon Corrigan.  This is a fascinating, but occasionally infuriating, reassessment of the war.The high level overview avoids getting bogged down in the battle by battle detail.  

The previous book was "Crack Hardy" by Stephen Dando-Collins about 3 Australian brothers at Gallipoli, Flanders and the Somme.  This book sheds light on the day to day life of the infantry.

Both books are worth reading.

[nthornton19179]

Just finished 'Fire-eater - Memoirs of a VC' by Alfred Pollard VC,MC & bar, DCM.

Couldn't put it down once I'd stared it. A great read.

Neil

[hesmond]

A life Apart by Alan Thomas ,£2.50 on ABE first edition super book

[blackmaria]

Totally agree, " A Life Apart"  is one of the best Great War memoirs.I've just finished "On the road from Mons with an Army Service Corps Train" by "It's Commander"(A.Clifton-Shelton).An interesting book that tells of the difficulties of supplying the Troops and the confusion caused by the retreat to the Marne and the trials faced by the A.S.C whilst  advancing to the Aisne in 1914.I will be rereading "The phantom Brigade" by A.P.G Vivian next, which is a superb memoir
and richly deserves to be reprinted(Ive just managed to aquire a First edition copy in the rare dust jacket for under twenty quid...Yipee!)

[truthergw]

I am reading Ludendorff's War Memoirs in conjunction with another little postwar book of his, " Warfare and Politics". ( Not to mention a couple of dictionaries and a grammar).

[Will I Davies]

Just received a copy of "Duty Done". on the history of the 2nd RWF in 1914 to 1918 by Grumpy .

Will

[LiamS]

Engrossed in The Peacemakers by Margaret MacMillan which is easily the best war book I have read in the last six months.

[Glen Family]

Europe's Last Summer
Rites of Spring - great reference to understand the mindset of Europe in the years leading up to 1914
First World War - by John Keegan
Paris 1919

[anneca]

A J P Taylor's 'The First World War - An Illustrated History'.  I'm half way through this and find it extremely interesting - the photographs are also amazing.  I was already a 1/4 way through 'Grey Wolf' - The Escape of Adolf Hitler by Dunstan & Williams, when I put it down to read John Buchan's 'The Complete Richard Hannay Stories'.  Got through three of these before starting AJP Taylor's book which is so compelling  I'll finish it before returning to the Hannay Stories then Grey Wolf.  (not enough hours in the day I fear)

[MartinBennitt]

anneca, on 06 February 2012 - 02:45 PM, said:

A J P Taylor's 'The First World War - An Illustrated History'.  I'm half way through this and find it extremely interesting - the photographs are also amazing.

Taylor's book essentially started my interest in the Great War but it came out 50 years ago and is very much of its time (the Lions led by Donkeys school). A classic nonetheless. cheers Martin B

[SWorrall]

Recent reads have been;
Keith Wilson (ed): Decisions for War
David French: British Economic and strategic planning 1905 - 1915
David French: British Strategy and War aims 1914 - 1916

Currently reading;David French: The Strategy of the Lloyd George coalition 1916 - 1918

Next 4 (in no particular order);

William Philpott: Anglo-French relations and strategy on the Western Front 1914 -1918
David Stevenson: The First World War and international politics
Brian Bond (ed): The First World War and British military history
John Gooch: The plans of war

Simon.

[anneca]

Hi Martin,  I am quite a novice regarding the Great War and my interest only started last year when I began to research my Grandfather and his service in Egypt.  Since then I have been smitten.  I found this book which, unlike some others, is very easy to read and to understand.  I was interested to hear the book started your interest and you have more than likely graduated to many others, giving more accurate information and detail.  I do hope in time to come across more books in order to broaden my knowledge but in the meantime am enjoying this one immensley.  I bought it in a bookshop last week specializing in Second Hand and Rare books, along with Paul Fussell's 'The Great War and Modern Memory' and 'Malcolm Brown's 'Tommy Goes to War' but I want to finish the Richard Hannay series before starting these.
Regards, Anne

MartinBennitt, on 06 February 2012 - 03:59 PM, said:

Taylor's book essentially started my interest in the Great War but it came out 50 years ago and is very much of its time (the Lions led by Donkeys school). A classic nonetheless. cheers Martin B

[Jonathan Saunders]

Currently re-reading Sagittarius Rising by Cecil Lewis.  Id forgotten how good it is.