dunmore44 Posted 2 January , 2006 Share Posted 2 January , 2006 can anyone recommend a good illutrated book about the BEF in 1914. including maps, photographs etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryBettsMCDCM Posted 2 January , 2006 Share Posted 2 January , 2006 1914 By FM Sir John French of Ypres[if you can find a Copy]contemporary or The Mons Star by David Ascoli or 1914 by Lyn McDonald Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianw Posted 2 January , 2006 Share Posted 2 January , 2006 I'll second the Ascoli but am not so keen on L Mc. I thinkk there is a bit of a dearth of good books on the subject. I like the 2 books contemporary books by Frederick Coleman "With the Cavalry" is one title. a bit gung ho but captures the flavour of 1914/1915. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Sheldon Posted 2 January , 2006 Share Posted 2 January , 2006 The other one is 'From Mons to Ypres with French' I bought them both in a car boot sale in York for 10p each. Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Sheldon Posted 2 January , 2006 Share Posted 2 January , 2006 The other thing I meant to mention is that the official history (Mil OPs France and Belgium) : Mons, The Retreat to the Seine, the Marne and the Aisne' is an excellent, detailed account of the camaign. Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesmessenger Posted 2 January , 2006 Share Posted 2 January , 2006 Keith Simpson's The Old Contemptibles: A Photographic History of the British Expeditionary Force August-December 1914 is accompanied by an excellent text, including many quotes from its members, and is hard to beat if you are looking for an introduction to the subject. Charles M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stebie9173 Posted 2 January , 2006 Share Posted 2 January , 2006 The Mons Star by David Ascoli is my recommendation. Rather scathing of Sir John French but generally gives credit to most commanders at various points. Certainly food for thought if read with French's own book... Just picked up Mons - Retreat to Victory by John Terraine from the local cheap book store but yet to read it. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Robertson Posted 2 January , 2006 Share Posted 2 January , 2006 "Wipers" by Tim Carew - it gave me an insight and an appreciation for the "Old Contemptibles". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gericht 1914 Posted 2 January , 2006 Share Posted 2 January , 2006 In addition to those already mentioned, try also... The Old Contemptables (The BEF 1914) by Robin Neilands The Old Contemptables by Matthew Barthorp (osprey "elite" series) The First Seven Divisions by Ernest Hamilton The IWM Book of 1914 by Malcolm Brown Dave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Filsell Posted 12 January , 2006 Share Posted 12 January , 2006 Farewell Leicester Square by Anne Caffrey and the latest book on Ypres Ian Beckett's Ypres: The First Battle 1914 should be added. Wipers is I thnk both dated and in parts innacurate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Michelle Young Posted 12 January , 2006 Admin Share Posted 12 January , 2006 Fifteen Rounds a Minute edited by J M Craster is a fascinating book, but with poor maps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roxy Posted 12 January , 2006 Share Posted 12 January , 2006 I enjoyed 'Death of an Army' by Anthony Farrar-Hockley (Wordsworth Military Library ISBN 1 85326 698 1) Roxy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gericht 1914 Posted 12 January , 2006 Share Posted 12 January , 2006 I enjoyed 'Death of an Army' by Anthony Farrar-Hockley (Wordsworth Military Library ISBN 1 85326 698 1) Roxy An excellent book on 1st Ypres that! It also happens to be one of the first factual books (with no pictures ) on the conflict that I ever read. Got me hooked on Flanders but was quite heavy going for an 8 year old!!!! dave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike10764 Posted 12 January , 2006 Share Posted 12 January , 2006 Just ordered a book from the local library(in a library swap) called First Ypres 1914-The Graveyard of the Old Contemptibles, by David Lomas. I'll let you know what it's like when I get to read it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 13 January , 2006 Share Posted 13 January , 2006 "Wipers" by Tim Carew - it gave me an insight and an appreciation for the "Old Contemptibles". I have "The Vanished Army" by the same author: is this the same book under a different cover? (Mine was a Corgi paperback published in 1971, originally printed in 1964. Cost me 35p, new!) gericht suggests Rob Neillands book "The Old Contemptibles"; personally I find Neillands' generally hard-going, so might not be a first book on the subject. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike10764 Posted 15 January , 2006 Share Posted 15 January , 2006 gericht suggests Rob Neillands book "The Old Contemptibles"; personally I find Neillands' generally hard-going, so might not be a first book on the subject. That's what I thought about Neillands Book too, not a first book on the subject(and I thought it was just me being confused ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armourersergeant Posted 15 January , 2006 Share Posted 15 January , 2006 Farewell Leicester Square by Anne Caffrey This is a book I hold in fond memory. It was one of those that set me on my way on the Great War. get it, read it, love it. Arm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 15 January , 2006 Share Posted 15 January , 2006 That's what I thought about Neillands Book too, not a first book on the subject(and I thought it was just me being confused ) Actually, Spike, I've found all the Neillands' books I've tried a bit hard-going. Waterstone's seems to be flooded with titles by Rob Neillands - I think the word prolific is an understatement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike10764 Posted 15 January , 2006 Share Posted 15 January , 2006 This is a book I hold in fond memory. It was one of those that set me on my way on the Great War. get it, read it, love it. Arm Sound Advice, Arm, sound advice..... Actually, Spike, I've found all the Neillands' books I've tried a bit hard-going. Waterstone's seems to be flooded with titles by Rob Neillands - I think the word prolific is an understatement. Steve-I'll avoid the others then (well I won't really,as with most books, Great War, I'll be too intruiged not to read them eventually ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 16 January , 2006 Share Posted 16 January , 2006 Farewell Leicester Square is a superb book and the first WW1 hardback that invested in - still dip in to it from time to time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcerha Posted 16 January , 2006 Share Posted 16 January , 2006 Farewell Leicester Square by Anne Caffrey Farewell Leicester Square is by Kate Caffrey and was published by Andre Deutsch in 1980 - and its excellent. Riding the Retreat By Prof Richard Holmes is my favourite - if a bit Aug/Sep 14 specific. regards David PS - you can always have a look at " The British Campaign in France and Flanders - 1914" By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle if you can gethold of a copy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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