This new book is very welcome. Few battles have been as deliberately mythologized as the Battle of Cambrai as tank propagandists tried to 'prove' their point that tanks (and tanks alone) held the secret to success on the Western Front. This viewpoint is comprehensively demolished by Bryn Hammond who restores the new British artillery and infantry tactics to centre stage without feeling any need to denigrate the men of the Tank Corps. Throughout the book is fair to all sides and indeed he gives full attention to the equally dramatic German counter-attacks; again not getting carried away in his cogent analysis of the new stormtrooper tactics.

Yet this is no dry 'textbook', it is an extraordinarily well written, smoothly weaving in personal experience accounts that let us see the consequences of the Generals' tactics at ground level amongst the men who actually fought the grim battles in the trenches, on the guns, in the tanks, or up in the skies above Cambrai. You get a powerful feeling of tension as the suspense builds up before the attacks; a real empathy for the men caught up in this awful blood-soaked battle. All in all a great addition to anyone's library...

Yes I know he's my colleague at the IWM and people think he's my chum, but they're not taking into account our eternal rivalry:- he supports Everton (I'm Liverpool); he supports Nottingham County Cricket Club (I'm with the sublime Derbyshire CCC) and he is from Mansfield (I spent my teen years in Chesterfield) So in a sense we are natural enemies!

All I can say is read it yourselves - it is great!!!

Pete

I must say that I was looking for a review of this book on the Forum some time ago, so I am pleased it has kicked off!

I have had the book a couple of days and am well into it, despite having several others on the go. I find it very easy reading, in complete contrast to a certain recently published work on the Ardennes 1914 (which, I know, has considerable merit - it is just very hard going!).

So far I find it well set out, well argued and with plenty of quotes from the IWM resources, particularly. It is a bit of a shame that there is no bibliography and there seems to be limited references to NA documents - but it promises to be the most readable and 'popular' authoritative account of the battle that I have read. It will be interesting to have Jack Sheldon's book (which I have seen in draft form) on the same battle when it is out.

Thoroughly recommended.

Hi Pete,

Has this been released yet, last time I looked it wasn't available, was hoping to buy a copy from Bryn last week when he was due to give our WFA talk, unfortunately he had to cancel for personal reasons and I'll have to buy an ordinary unsigned copy now!

Sean

About two thirds of the way through the book and agree with the comments made.
Will be going to look at Bourlon Wood etc next year so a very good resource.

Hi Sean,

Yes it's been out since September. Available from all good, most bad, and some very bad booksellers indeed.

Of course you are aware that it will only be the rare unsigned copies of Bryn's books that have any value in years to come?

Pete

Cheers Pete,

Back to amazon for me now then, unsigned books are the only ones of value? Hmm and here's me with 4 signed books by a P Hart.... mind you he wouldn't let you buy an unsigned copy!

Cheers I'll get you a beer when you up at the branch in march.
Sean

(I'm with the sublime Derbyshire CCC)

Surely a typo here from Peter Hart

(Somerset fan in the First Division)

Derbyshire are hiding their light under a bushel in the Second Division. We will soon emerge like Assyrians from the metaphorical fold and pillage the entire First Division! Hmmmm! Wishful thinking for Beginners is another very good book by the way...

Pete

Why are books listed as "available from all good booksellers"? Often they are not. And, perhaps bad booksellers would be encouraged if they were added to the publishers pr bull.

Agree with you Nigel about the "Ardennes" , hard going just statistics in my view.

Colin.

Good to see that the book challenges and demolishes the 'tanks are the answer to all problems' theory.
I have always felt that too much expectation was unfairly put on the tanks and the Tank Corps soldiers themselves seemed to be the only ones who had a realistic idea of what the tanks could do.
Does the book cover and discuss in detail Harpers actions? If not then maybe that could be Bryn's next book.

As for you Peter - don't forget your roots!
You're from County Durham, in football you should support Darlington (top of League 2, Champions League by 2013) and in cricket, Durham (Champions).

Sean

Pete,

Thanks for the encouragement. I took this to Cambrai for a week at the beginning of the month, unfortunately newly delivered and unread and it remains (almost) in that pristine state: I persuaded myself that it was enough to have read some of Bryn's thesis and to have heard him speak at Birmingham last year. I was frightened to unpack it in our excellent Cambrai hotel where our splendid host's own book on tank warfare was on show. It will now come off the shelf.

Congratulations to the editor and the publisher who have allowed it to go to press with a decent typeface and a line spacing that does not leave my aging eyes lost in a sea of text. Perhaps the price of this was the loss of a bibliography which can however be deduced by combing the footnotes. The chapter heading 'Shock and Awe' might lose its particular modern resonance before this book ceases to lose any of its validity. The insights into training with the 51st Highland Division look to be most interesting, especially as I am looking at the division's particular interpretation of SS 143 at the time.

I would not have expected a true alumni of the University of Liverpool (I think my memory serves correctly) to have to name a second team (no comparative or ordinal value implied, honestly) having previously mentioned the words 'Everton' and 'rivalry' in the same sentence but I suppose those educated beyond the city might need the enlightenment. Dr Hammond's football affiliation is enough to persuade me to read on.

Ian Riley

There is a very detailed discussion about General Harper and his role in the Battle of Cambrai here.

Robert

I must get this, US Branch WFA 2009 trip, which I organized after 3 prior ones, goes there.
Ardennes book is unreadable, I gave up half way through and it's too bad cause he did some great research. Maps are useless too.

Brilliant ... when I find two hours to read with maps in hand! Only managed the first page so far. Thanks.

I notice that Bryn Hammond on gives credit to the Great War Forum in his acknowledgements

Ian

This is a terrific book amd much better mapped than most though, maddeningly, he puts side by side maps of the November 27 situation with the right page situation to the west of left page!

Pete signs as many copies as he can to ensure the unsigned ones he still has are worth more ...................

I'm looking forward to Bryn's talk on this subject at my local WFA Branch next year.

You will enjoy it, I heard it in Durham in October.

Mick

A tremendous read; I was taken aback momentarily at the vitriol reserved for Christopher Baker-Carr (a 'founding father' of the MGC) but on balance Dr Hammond has a good case to make. I have an interest in Bourlon Wood also, not least for Byng's ill-judged in the official enquiry on Cambrai to blame the MGC - making some asinine remark that they needed a good dose of Guards NCOs to drill them, being undisciplined. Then I think of how many Emma Gees did not come back from the first day of the March Offensive when they stayed to the last allowing the infantry to get away. What were your thoughts on them then, General?

I digress. An excellent book in a good year for the subject.

Rats! Thanks, Paul, for spotting this. I'll try to ensure it gets changed in the paperback.

Thanks to all those who have posted kind comments here. As someone stated, I have mentioned this forum and the great help I have received from various members here. I am grateful. At present, I'm just getting back into things after the recent death of my dad so I'm 'just visiting' the forum off and on at the moment.

Please do tell me any errors you spot. Apparently "on p. 341 In the list of lost artillery 6-inch howitzers get mentioned twice - presumably one figure is for guns, or a different calibre of artillery" so that one I know. There will be others. The cover picture and the index are the responsibility of the publishers - hence 'Chauffer to Brigadier' and a Mark IV in the Ypres Salient.

Bryn

Reverse psychology! If your book shop does not stock the book in question are you a "good bookseller" in the eyes of prospective customers?

Steve.

This is now on my Xmas list; this being of particular interest to me from the standpoint of Cambrai as a whole, and not just the tanks.

As a footnote, I don't think the role of the tanks can be ignored purely because of the way they were employed - operational en masse as opposed to the previous deployment of ineffective 'driblets'.

I'm presuming that silent registration must take some credit? The Gruppe system on the part of Boche as well as the storm troops?

I was having a browse in Waterstone's at the weekend: must add it to the ******mas list.

Is there much on the actions of the Mhow Cavalry Brigade?

Incidentally, if Mr Hart is still reading this: do Derbyshire CCC still wear those baggy caps, a la Aussies? It's just that they don't seem to appear at the Rose Bowl too often........

Yes. Lots! I am happy to say!
Bryn

I am going to recommend this to our US Branch WFA folk, 19 now, who are going to western front in April for 2 weeks. We spend time at Cambrai. This is the 4th one I have organized, 5th overall. This is really first rate, no weaknesses at all. The information on attempted use of cavalry and actual cavalry action is most interesting. Also it's not at all dry becasue it's well written with lots of personal accounts.

Thanks. Think you have another sale.

I haven't seen the book yet, but this sounds encouraging!

Bryn, I hesitate in questioing your veracity, but are you sure " Rats " is the word you used on reading this?

Paul,

I can safely say that in all the many long years I have known young Bryn Hammond I have never heard a profanity pass his lips ! His moral virtue is also unquestioned - it is his commonsense and judgement in football and cricket matters that is dubious in the extreme!

Pete

Pete, you make me ashamed, shame on me, assuming others have the same weakness as me!

When I was digging around for material for my forthcoming Cambrai book, I came across the following observation, dated 28 Nov 17, by Generalleutnant von Moser, who commanded all the German divisions in and around Bourlon. In the light of Post 20 above concerning Byng's remarks, it makes interesting reading.

'One hundred Irish Guardsmen marched past my headquarters. These were all upright, well-built men, who reacted to the words of command of their NCO by marching to attention with such precision that it could only have been achieved through lengthy practice of drill. How come all the talk of German militarism ?! The contrast between these Guards and the scruffy prisoners belonging to the 62nd Division could hardly have been more striking.'

Jack

Further to my last post and regarding this one 'Drat!'

Champing at the bit to get your book, Jack. Assuming it's all in the hands of the publishers now. Tell them to get their fingers out! Customer waiting!
Bryn

Which recent "Ardennes 1914" book did someone mention?

hi all, forgive me if i`m intruding on a particular book thread,.... i`v just finished reading "band of brigands" by Christy Cambell, and i found it a very good read. i am a 'novice' when it comes to ww1 tanks ,but i found this a really easy and informative book. has any of the more 'enlightened' pals had a read of it?.... cheers ..mike.

Just got my copy today and look eagerly forward to reading this book. We do one present each on the two sides of my family - a kind of secret santa. This was my choice and my dear old nan got it for me.

I, too, am waiting for Jack Sheldon's work on the same battle.

Happy NY all.

I am going through the first proofs right now, but it will be a few months before it appears. Patience, patience!

All the best for the coming year

Jack

QUOTE (Staffsyeoman @ Dec 9 2008, 09:18 AM) the vitriol reserved for Christopher Baker-Carr (a 'founding father' of the MGC)

"I haven't seen the book yet, but this sounds encouraging!"

George,

Me too, I was going to wait until it was in the £3 section in Tesco (only kidding Bryn - no fightin'), but now, especially with respect to the comments about Baker-Carr, obtaining it sooner and reading it seems a more likely proposition.

Aye

Tom McC

The Battle of the Frontiers: Ardennes 1914, Terene Zuber. Saw it available for 7.95 from N and M P in a recent catalogue, which is definitely a bargain price. The book is interesting but also, in my opinion, very hard going. Still, there is so little on the battle that it is worth it for that alone. You will just have to put up with the completely inappropriate cover illustration; this is acknowledged, but the blurb says there are no combat photographs 'during the period of' the Battle of the Frontiers. I must say that I do not find that a completely convincing statement.

Hi chums,

Just a quick note to say that Bryn has now sworn at me contrary to my previous impressions of him as a latterday saint - something me being a blankety-blank troublemaking, blankety-blank ******* landing him right in the mud and with a blankety-blank ******* 12 hour return trip to blankety-blank Dundee! What can he mean?

Anyway on an entirely different topic I am pleased to confirm that Bryn will be speaking on the subject of his fab new book to the newly formed Tayside WFA Branch in 2009!

Cheers,

Pete

P.S. Relations with Bryn are at a new low after the FA Cup put our respective football Liverpudlian teams at each others' throats!

Pete,

Good for him, I've put my broadsword and white cockade away, so it will be great to see Bryn up in Dundee giving the talk about his new book/Cambrai. I am pretty sure he will enjoy the crack.

I'm just going to highlight this fact to 'The Major'

Aye

Tom McC

Heh Young Tom

Spot on - after serious and indepth talking i've managed to persuade Bryn to come to Bonny Dundee end of November to address the Tayside WFA.

I'm absolutely delighted on behalf of the branch.

He has waived his £2000 fee saying that instead i should spent it on Group 4 Security to guarantee his safety.

Major Boab

Better still just deduct the cost of Bryn's security from Pete Hart's £4,000 fee for January's talk. (I do hope the taxman is reading this! )

Boab:

"He has waived his £2000 fee saying that instead i should spent it on Group 4 Security to guarantee his safety."

Who are you trying to kid, that'll be the bar bill...and well you know it

Aye

Tom McC

Note to George

Do not take any of your U.S. cavalry pattern swords with you to this meeting otherwise we'll have to enforce the parliamentary practice of the combatants...sorry attendees...sitting at least two sword lengths apart!

regards

Ian

Fee? I can charge fees? I'll never get this speaking lark. I'll be bust in a week ...

Bryn

Of course you can charge WFA Tayside fees - it just you will have no chance of ever getting paid.

Your only hope of dosh is if we put the old Wembley goalposts we stole a good few years back on ebay.

Dont worry - you'll be well looked after in Tayside, the hospitality and friendliness is second to none. Worth every minute of a 12 hour return train journey !

Bob

Well it's just after midnight and I have just finished this book. In the little free time I have had since the end of Christmas, I haven't really wanted to put it down.

Make no mistake, this is a fantastic book and one which I will refer to again if need be. I may have said in other posts that Cambrai has been of particular interest to me for various projects of my own.

I think the many first-hand accounts really do it for me; although not exclusively. To have so many George Coppard's and Harry Patch's is very illuminating to say the least. I particularly enjoyed the first two chapters as well; the first, I think, illustrating the situation on the Western Front particularly well and the second, on armies and weapons really taught me a great deal about the science behind silent registration and counter-battery fire, including the increased reliance on topography and the spotting/ranging techniques employed. Some of this stuff was very, very interesting to me and really brought home the reality of the GW as an artillery war.

As a bit of a tank buff (not much of an expert yet) I also liked Hotblack's retort to Churchill's view on how the war on the WF could be won when Churchill points to Cambrai as the example to follow. Not with THOSE tanks!

A brilliant effort and one I would not hesitate to recommend, but it's time for ZZZZZ-hour.

Cambrai isn't really my field of interest (aside from Wain, V.C., who went to my old school) - Julian Byng on the other hand has always interested me. Is there much on his supposed "blaming" of the men after the battle? I ask because Byng's biographer, Lt Col Jeffery Williams stated quite clearly that the Official History had been unfair to him and any of his comments taken out of context and referred to the standard of training the men had received.

Cheers,
Simon