George Armstrong Custer Posted 17 April , 2012 Share Posted 17 April , 2012 Review from the Great War Book Reviews page on Facebook: ANZACS ON THE WESTERN FRONT - The Australian War Memorial Battlefield Guide by Peter Pedersen with Chris Roberts There are infrequent watersheds in the field of military history, when a book appears which so perfectly fills an obvious gap in the historiography that you realise that you are holding an instant classic the moment that you pick it up. ANZACS On The Western Front: The Australian War Memorial Battlefield Guide represents one such rare moment in military publishing. Not only will it become the essential text for those following in the footsteps of the ANZACS on the Western Front, but anyone visiting the Western Front would be foolish to leave home without it. But this is more than a handbook for use in the field; it is also a succinctly erudite reference tool, which will be taken down from the book shelf of students of the Great War on the Western Front with regularity. Amongst its many other virtues, this book represents a terrific up to date summary of current knowledge and analysis of the ANZAC contribution to the costly but war-winning Allied campaigns against the main enemy force in the main theatre of war between 1916 and 1918. Yet it is written in a clear and easy to follow prose which makes it accessible to the widest possible readership. I only know Peter Pedersen through his reputation as a formidable scholar of the Australian military experience in the Great War. Pedersen has produced acclaimed texts which range from a study of Sir John Monash as military commander, through anatomies of individual actions such as those of Fromelles, Hamel and Villers-Bretonneux, to his celebrated overview 'The Anzacs, Gallipoli to the Western Front'. But I do have the privilege of knowing Pedersen's co-author, Chris Roberts. Chris is one of those rarities whom it is always a pleasure to meet – an expert in his field who wears his learning lightly and is a thoroughly good bloke. But what gives ANZACS On The Western Front its unique edge is something which no amount of study of the history of war can impart. That is the fact that both authors were formerly serving soldiers who held high rank in the Australian Army. Pedersen commanded the 5th/7th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment. And though he is too self-effacing a man to ever make anything of it himself, Roberts is a retired Brigadier who served with the SAS in Vietnam. As Pedersen says of his colleague, "His comments, as a soldier who has led in battle and also held senior command, on tactics and terrain during our visits to the battlefields were immensely helpful. " Why is this background important, you may ask? Simply this – it renders Pedersen and Roberts' work a bullshit-free zone in terms of what it's like to soldier and in respect of dispensing with both chauvinistic nationalist myths and the need to play the blame game of finding a scapegoat for every reverse in the fortunes of war. Recent years have seen something of a renaissance in the military historiography of Australia, with works like the academic anthology Zombie Myths of Australian Military History (2010) demonstrating that Australian military endeavours contain enough genuine valour and achievement – leavened with occasional and inevitable disaster and failure – to render parochial over-egging of the pudding superfluous. Pedersen & Roberts' book is very much part of this mature approach from working Australian military historians today. Pedersen makes this quite clear in his Introduction when, addressing Australians and New Zealanders who have bought the book with a view to visiting its battlefields, he writes, in respect of what Australia and New Zealand did on the Western Front: "It was the decisive theatre of the First World War and both nations made their greatest contribution to victory there. Gallipoli was a sideshow, though it helped to establish the Australian and New Zealand national identities and enriched the English language with the word ANZAC. But for Australians and New Zealanders a certain romance attaches to Gallipoli, with its idealised images of bronzed men storming ashore at ANZAC Cove and clinging to cliff-top positions. The Western Front, on the other hand, evokes only images appalling slaughter for a few acres of mud. It cost Australia and New Zealand more casualties than all of the conflicts they have fought since put together. Not surprisingly, then, the Western Front has always stood in Gallipoli's shadow. You are helping to bring it out into the sunlight." So here's a book with a great provenance and attitude, then. But where it also succeeds brilliantly is that between one set of covers it is a multifunctional project which manages to seamlessly co-ordinate all of its roles into one lucid and easy to follow package. If the authors have put in a lot of man hours reconnoitring the battlefields of the Western Front, then it's clear that a great many more have gone into conceptualising and executing the laying out of the fruits of that labour to best advantage. Artfully synthesised are the elements of a first-class gazetteer and tour guide, incorporating informed narrative history and biography – and whilst these may be written with an elegant succinctness, this book runs to 574 revelation-studded pages. Ease of navigation around the book has obviously been as much a priority as its main utility of facilitating battlefield exploration on the ground. The Introduction contains guidance on how to use the way the book is constructed to advantage. There are three pages of contents, which list in 28 chapters locations by year from 1916 to 1918, with quick reference subheadings for walking and/or driving the various battlefields and the relevant pages for local information on each. Each of the 28 chapters begins with a Battle Narrative, which expertly and succinctly places the action in its wider strategic and operational setting, whilst also giving advice on how to follow the course of a particular battle despite the often limiting nature of modern day roads and pathways. The narratives, in conjunction with the excellent colour cartography, play a key part in orientating the traveller to relative locations which cannot be seen from one another on the fields of bigger operations. There is an excellent index, which rounds off nicely the user-friendly tools for finding your way around the book. The maps, as noted, are excellent, and each battlefield walk or drive also references the relevant Institute Geographique Nationale Blue Series 1:25,000 maps to enable travellers to orient themselves to areas of interest or relevance beyond. The book is also extremely richly illustrated, and whilst it contains many well-chosen contemporary photographs and paintings (often juxtaposed with a colour photo of the same scene today), the jewels in the iconographic crown are the numerous excellent modern colour photographs of the battlefields which have extremely clear labels and pointers superimposed on them indicating locations of interest and directions of movement etc. This is a book designed to have something for battlefield explorers and historians of all levels of expertise, and its sections on general advice for travellers, together with its glossary, bibliography and useful information page enhance that ubiquity of appeal. A final word on the construction of the book. Make no mistake – pick up this book and you will be immediately aware of its sturdy construction, which one expects but doesn't always find in books designed as much for perusal in the field as in the study. Printed on good quality paper the book is stitched, with header and tail bands. The heavily plasticised cover, akin to those used on the excellent DK Eyewitness Travel guides, is wipe-clean, and gives the book that element of flexibility and imperviousness to damage which is so useful when it needs to be crammed into the battlefield walker's backpack. At nearly 600 pages it inevitably has a certain weight to it but this new classic is worth its weight in gold to the battlefield explorer, and it's not just those following specifically in the footsteps of the ANZACS who will be glad they decided to take this essential text with them on their next visit to the Western Front. ANZACS ON THE WESTERN FRONT, by Peter Pedersen with Chris Roberts. 574pages. Published for the AWM by John Wiley & Sons (Australia), 2012. AU$49.95. ISBN 978-1-74216-981-1 This review © Copyright 2012 George A. Webster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Fair Posted 17 April , 2012 Share Posted 17 April , 2012 Great review... I had a browse through a copy in The National Archives a few days ago and it looks terrific. Will have to find space for a copy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacksdad Posted 18 April , 2012 Share Posted 18 April , 2012 From A New Zealand perspective - This is a superb Book. Fantastic that our Ozzy mates included the Kiwis Battles in the book. It must be about a year ago I ran into Chris head down and bum up in a heap of maps and unit diaries at the NZ National Archives in Wellington working on another project, we went for lunch and the guy knows his stuff - my point is, the Kiwi stuff is not scantly included as an after thought researched only from Australia, Chris has sourced the actual unit diaries and got the facts laid out correctly. What’s more the Kiwi battles in proportion to the size of the book are well represented and lets keep in mind this is an Ozzy book about the Anzacs and including the kiwi battles no doubt meant cutting out a heap more information on the Ozzy battles. I have read and reread the Kiwi chapters and the information is well laid out and as far as I can see good as gold, I am researching a NZ Guide at present so I have a fair idea on the Kiwi battles and I can not fault it. In fact the information on the Ancre valley attack after Puisieux which is poorly covered in any NZ book is clearly laid out – I know from my own research that’s not an easy one to get a handle on. Great work Chris and Peter. Cheers Roger A summary in three words would be: - BUY THE BOOK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crunchy Posted 14 May , 2012 Author Share Posted 14 May , 2012 I guess there is only so much info that can go into the book but did you ever discuss putting info on the 3rd Australian Tunnellers? A very interesting unit that for most of their war experience were based away from the AIF as they did their work near Lens. The cemetery at Hersin would be well worth a visit for Australians on the Western Front. My apologies for not replying earlier Andrew. Glad you enjoyed the book. The focus was the main Australian and NZ battlefields, and unfortunately, within the word limit, we were unable to address every Australian and NZ unit, or every sector the AIF and NZEF served in, such as periods holding the line and all of the Tuneller's efforts. I was surprised, however, when reading the Index just how many units did get a mention, all of the Australian and NZ infantry battalions, and some more. Best wishes Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crunchy Posted 14 May , 2012 Author Share Posted 14 May , 2012 George, Thank you for your most generous review. It is greatly appreciated. I had hoped to remain anonymous, but you have blown my cover. Mmmmm will have to send the boys over! Regards Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crunchy Posted 14 May , 2012 Author Share Posted 14 May , 2012 From A New Zealand perspective - This is a superb Book. Roger, Thank you for your kind words, and recommendation. It was important to us that the Kiwi's were included, too often they are sidelined or lumped in the Australians. The NZ Division was a very fine formation. I haven't forgotten the map of Bapaume, I just need to find it in the bowels of the MH Section. I look forward to your NZ Guide being published. Best wishes Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Armstrong Custer Posted 17 May , 2012 Share Posted 17 May , 2012 Mmmmm will have to send the boys over! Gulp! You'll be getting me as paranoid as old Denis Winter, mate! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PMHart Posted 29 August , 2012 Share Posted 29 August , 2012 ANZACS ON THE WESTERN FRONT: The Australian War Memorial Battlefield Guide Peter Pedersen with Chris Roberts. 574pages. Published for the Australian War Memorial by John Wiley & Sons (Australia), 2012. AU$49.95. ISBN 978-1-74216-981-1 The two authors of this excellent battlefield guide are on the crest of the wave of excellent Australian historians that have been re-examining the battles of the Great War. Both have done valuable work on Gallipoli in the past, but now clearly have a real sense of mission in trying to demolish the popular impression that the misbegotten campaign in Gallipoli in 1915 is the defining Anzac experience of the war. Instead they want to bring the Anzac contribution on the Western Front out of the shadows of Gallipoli into the bright sunlight of modern scholarship; indeed it is evident that the true Anzac apotheosis came towards the end of the long and brutal fight against the might of the German Army. Their book charts the first faltering Anzac steps in 1916 - fresh from Gallipoli - but still inexperienced and in awe at the sheer power of the German guns. Then we see the development of the essential staff and command skills, the growing tactical expertise, all underpinned by a relentless training programme incorporating all the new techniques and hard-won battlefield experience. By 1918 they were truly remarkable... Throughout production values are high, with a sturdy cover that looks like it will resist most of the trials and tribulations of battlefield usage - at least in peacetime! As a guide it is logically laid out. There is a short cogent overview of the ANZACS on the Western Front to provide an overview. Then each battle has an introduction placing it firmly in historical context, a selection of photos and nicely judged pen-portraits of the leading generals and key personalities. This is followed by drives and walks around the battlefield sites defined by clear maps and illustrated copiously by wonderful annotated landscape photos that allow you to accurately place events on the ground as it is today. Short, carefully-chosen atmospheric quotes are presented from the men who were there to allow us a glimpse of the intensity of the fighting. Finally there is a review of cemeteries and other points of interest in the localities. I checked the guide out with the very few Western Front battles I am familiar with and was left in no doubt that it will be invaluable to any battlefield visitor. It is a tribute to the authors that this book can also be defined by what it does not do. It does not belittle the British contribution; it does not seek to portray the Anzacs as 'lions led by donkeys'; it does not seek to give undue prominence to the Australians as opposed to the Kiwis within the narrative. All told it is a thoroughly well-balanced work that has considerable value as a history work in its own right. It is this mature approach that I most admire. Not in any way boastful and nationalist; but all the more powerful and revelatory as a result. One comes away with a tremendous admiration for the Anzac forces who - alongside the Canadians and the best of the British divisions - were a true benchmark for military competence at the end of the war. We should all take pride in their achievements as an integral part of the British Army in the Great War. Peter Hart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Wright Posted 29 August , 2012 Share Posted 29 August , 2012 ANZACS ON THE WESTERN FRONT: The Australian War Memorial Battlefield Guide Peter Pedersen with Chris Roberts. 574pages. Published for the Australian War Memorial by John Wiley & Sons (Australia), 2012. AU$49.95. ISBN 978-1-74216-981-1 The two authors of this excellent battlefield guide are on the crest of the wave of excellent Australian historians that have been re-examining the battles of the Great War. Both have done valuable work on Gallipoli in the past, but now clearly have a real sense of mission in trying to demolish the popular impression that the misbegotten campaign in Gallipoli in 1915 is the defining Anzac experience of the war. Instead they want to bring the Anzac contribution on the Western Front out of the shadows of Gallipoli into the bright sunlight of modern scholarship; indeed it is evident that the true Anzac apotheosis came towards the end of the long and brutal fight against the might of the German Army. Their book charts the first faltering Anzac steps in 1916 - fresh from Gallipoli - but still inexperienced and in awe at the sheer power of the German guns. Then we see the development of the essential staff and command skills, the growing tactical expertise, all underpinned by a relentless training programme incorporating all the new techniques and hard-won battlefield experience. By 1918 they were truly remarkable... Throughout production values are high, with a sturdy cover that looks like it will resist most of the trials and tribulations of battlefield usage - at least in peacetime! As a guide it is logically laid out. There is a short cogent overview of the ANZACS on the Western Front to provide an overview. Then each battle has an introduction placing it firmly in historical context, a selection of photos and nicely judged pen-portraits of the leading generals and key personalities. This is followed by drives and walks around the battlefield sites defined by clear maps and illustrated copiously by wonderful annotated landscape photos that allow you to accurately place events on the ground as it is today. Short, carefully-chosen atmospheric quotes are presented from the men who were there to allow us a glimpse of the intensity of the fighting. Finally there is a review of cemeteries and other points of interest in the localities. I checked the guide out with the very few Western Front battles I am familiar with and was left in no doubt that this guide will be invaluable to any battlefield visitor. It is a tribute to the authors that this book can also be defined by what it does not do. It does not belittle the British contribution; it does not seek to portray the Anzacs as 'lions led by donkeys'; it does not seek to give undue prominence to the Australians as opposed to the Kiwis within the narrative. All told it is a thoroughly well-balanced work that has considerable value as a history work in its own right. It is this mature approach that I most admire. Not in any way boastful and nationalist; but all the more powerful and revelatory as a result. One comes away with a tremendous admiration for the Anzac forces who - alongside the Canadians and the best of the British divisions - were a true benchmark for military competence at the end of the war. We should all take pride in their achievements as an integral part of the British Army in the Great War. Peter Hart Hi Peter. I only wish i could review it, on order since 27th March and still not arrived, not as long as Ralphs book though, ordered that in 2011. 2 books that i am eagerly awaiting and each delivery date goes backwards. Everything comes to those who wait. Tim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crunchy Posted 29 August , 2012 Author Share Posted 29 August , 2012 Pete, Many thanks for your kind review. Glad you enjoyed it, and hopefully will use it. Cheers Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cockney Posted 31 August , 2012 Share Posted 31 August , 2012 Latest release date from Amazon UK is 4th September. We'll see! I have my copy on order. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cockney Posted 8 September , 2012 Share Posted 8 September , 2012 Latest release date from Amazon UK is 4th September. We'll see! I have my copy on order. Book not yet available from Amazon UK. I got an e-mail stating that they would let me know when this book would be released....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin spof Posted 8 September , 2012 Admin Share Posted 8 September , 2012 I ordered mine direct from the AWM bookshop and it turned up well within the stated delivery time for the UK. You'll just have to take my word for it that the wait will be worthwhile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil andrade Posted 8 September , 2012 Share Posted 8 September , 2012 Mine was downloaded - by Amazon - onto my kindle, and it took a while, but it's been in my possession for a couple of months at least. Damned pleased that I spent the money. Well done, Chris ! Phil (PJA) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cockney Posted 9 September , 2012 Share Posted 9 September , 2012 I ordered mine direct from the AWM bookshop and it turned up well within the stated delivery time for the UK. You'll just have to take my word for it that the wait will be worthwhile. Good enough for me! I'll do the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteStarLine Posted 3 October , 2012 Share Posted 3 October , 2012 We hired a wonderful battlefield guide in France (Barbara Legrand from True Blue Digger Tours) and she carries a copy, as did the guest house we stayed at in Pozieres. We wandered down a lane in Pozieres and I walked straight past a semi-hidden WW1 dugout. My wife spotted it and later we found a photo and description of it in the book. This is the level of detail which Chris has gone into. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moggs Posted 3 October , 2012 Share Posted 3 October , 2012 We hired a wonderful battlefield guide in France (Barbara Legrand from True Blue Digger Tours) and she carries a copy, as did the guest house we stayed at in Pozieres. We wandered down a lane in Pozieres and I walked straight past a semi-hidden WW1 dugout. My wife spotted it and later we found a photo and description of it in the book. This is the level of detail which Chris has gone into. Was that on the lane known as the Dead Man's Road which leads to Casualty Corner? If so, the Chalk Pit is still there too. I was wondering if the CP still is being used a dumping ground? It's an amazing lane to walk down. Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteStarLine Posted 4 October , 2012 Share Posted 4 October , 2012 Jonathan, sure was and the structure seemed incredibly strong: Chalk Pit is just as you described it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moggs Posted 4 October , 2012 Share Posted 4 October , 2012 Thanks for that. Interesting Pic too. Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herekawe Posted 31 August , 2013 Share Posted 31 August , 2013 Hi I would like to give "ANZACS on the Western Front" a bit of a boost, I took it on my latest trip to France and Belgium and it was incredibly useful. The colour pictures and maps were easy to orientate and even a relatively featureless landscape like Fromelle was understandable to a first time visitor. In other areas, even where we had been before it added detail. As a New Zealander I found the attention to New Zealand detail in an essentially Australian book to be humbling. We took other books with us, Walking the Somme and the Battleground Series books on Passchendaele, Messines etc, copious notes out of "From the Uttermost Ends of the Earth" which were all were very good and well used but for one overall book which would get the Australian or NZ visitor 90% of the way "ANZACS on the Western Front" would be it. Regards James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crunchy Posted 2 September , 2013 Author Share Posted 2 September , 2013 As a New Zealander I found the attention to New Zealand detail in an essentially Australian book to be humbling. Hi James, We were acutely aware that New Zealand put the NZ into ANZAC, and while it was produced by the Australian War Memorial it was written to commemorate both the Australian and New Zealand effort on the Western Front. The only reason it is weighted to the Australians is because we had five divisions to one NZ division, and hence were involved in a greater number of battles. Otherwise we sought to give equal credit to both forces. Glad you found it useful. Cheers Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Florent Posted 2 September , 2013 Share Posted 2 September , 2013 Hello May I ask you if anzacs attached to the british XXII Corps during the second battle of the Marne are represented in the book ? Its means NZ Cyclists Bn and some Lights Horses and Otago MR squadrons. Thanks Florent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crunchy Posted 3 September , 2013 Author Share Posted 3 September , 2013 Hello Florent, No they are not. The guide covers the battles fought by the 1st to 5th Australian Divisions and the New Zealand Division. Australian and New Zealand units fighting separately with British formations elsewhere are not covered in the book, with the exception of the 2nd New Zealand Entrenching Battalion at Meteran in April 1918 (Part of the Hazebrouck chapter). Cheers Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Florent Posted 3 September , 2013 Share Posted 3 September , 2013 Thanks Chris, Its a shame for these forgotten anzacs, but I well understand this is a "minor" operation with " few " losses. Florent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herekawe Posted 4 September , 2013 Share Posted 4 September , 2013 Hi There is an old (2001) but very good simple guidebook "New Zealand Battlefields and memorials of the Western Front" by Ian McGibbon. This is is only 96 pages and easily fits in your pocket which has a small section on Mafaux. As well "From the Uttermost Ends of the Earth" by John H Gray has some mentions of the activities of the Cyclists and OMR. The Regimental History of the Cyclists is under http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH1-Cycl.html and the Otago Mounted Rifles http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH1-Fran-t1-body1-d15.html#n638 There is a book - probably hard to get hold of, about the Otago Mounted Rifles The Troopers’ Tale: The History of the Otago Mounted RiflesEdited by Don Mackay James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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