PMHart Posted 12 January , 2007 Share Posted 12 January , 2007 I've learnt nothing from Portuguese sources, damn my restricted English education! Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paullaw1155 Posted 12 January , 2007 Share Posted 12 January , 2007 A welcome change from usual topic, AChristmas present from my Grand sons Fred Dibnahs autobiography. An excellent read What a bloke Fred was. Every bit as interesting as his TV programmes. Also Just finished Peter Kay's Biography Thoroughly enjoyed that as well. Two great Lancashire Lads. Cheers Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveuk6 Posted 13 January , 2007 Share Posted 13 January , 2007 Just started reading 1915 The Death Of Innocence by Lyn Macdonald Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KateJ Posted 13 January , 2007 Share Posted 13 January , 2007 "The Great War, Memory and Ritual: Commemoration in the City and East London, 1916-1939" by Mark Connelly - a very welcome Christmas present! Kate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 13 January , 2007 Share Posted 13 January , 2007 Kate - I saw that reviewed a year or so ago (if it's the book I'm thinking of), in an English heritage publication. I thought then it looked interesting; academic, I suspect. Is it good - your comment indicates it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
campaign Posted 29 January , 2007 Share Posted 29 January , 2007 I'm reading Alan Bennett's 'Untold Stories' - this takes in his Diaries from '96 to 2004 and last night read his entry for 14 Nov '99 and share it here: On watching the Remembrance Day ceremony on TV............."untelevised, too, is the protest of Mr John Hipkiss, a dedicated Geordie pensioner who is, shamefully, having to campaign for the pardon of those shot for cowardice on the Western Front, and in particular for the boy soldiers who were executed, some as young as sixteen. Shown in tonight's Everyman programme is Dr John Reid, the Armed Forces Minister who is still managing to pretend that there was some justice in these executions, no doubt because one of the seven-foot-tall generals in the MoD has bullied him into compliance. So Dr Reid presumably knows more about cowardice than some of the boys who were shot. Shown on the programme is one of the death sentences passed by a court martial on a seventeen-year-old carrying with it a recommendation of mercy. Except that the recommendation is personally countermanded by Field Marshall Earl Haig, that old brute whose descendants are still (despite his earldom, his country estate and a grateful nation's pension) complaining how unfairly history hs treated their papa." Other comments he makes on Haig reveal to me that he re-wrote his diaries and never visited the front??? I like this authors honest observations whether I agree with them is another matter. Faber and Faber Publishers. 2005. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willy Posted 29 January , 2007 Share Posted 29 January , 2007 [the somme by peter hart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joan and Terry Posted 29 January , 2007 Share Posted 29 January , 2007 They say Women are capable of multi-tasking,I am halfway through reading The German Army on the Somme 1914-1918 author Jack Sheldon,also a quarter of the way into Pioneer Battalions in the Great War author K.W. Miitchinson,both very interesting books.I read Pioneer Battalions in the Great War when I am in bed,and the other book instead of watching soaps or football!!!! Joan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinWills Posted 29 January , 2007 Share Posted 29 January , 2007 I've learnt nothing from Portuguese sources, damn my restricted English education! Pete Obrigado Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 29 January , 2007 Share Posted 29 January , 2007 They say Women are capable of multi-tasking,I am halfway through reading The German Army on the Somme 1914-1918 author Jack Sheldon,also a quarter of the way into Pioneer Battalions in the Great War author K.W. Miitchinson,both very interesting books.I read Pioneer Battalions in the Great War when I am in bed,and the other book instead of watching soaps or football!!!! Joan I think Jack Sheldons books are excellent, his Germans at Thiepval and Germans ay Beaumont Hamel are the best battleground books available. As for multi tasking I can do the ironing while my wife watches coronation street, teamwork. Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PMHart Posted 29 January , 2007 Share Posted 29 January , 2007 Obrigado Eh? Baffled Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryBettsMCDCM Posted 30 January , 2007 Share Posted 30 January , 2007 Just read "MICK" The story of Major Edward Mannock VC,DSO,RFC,RAF,RE/RAMC[TF] by James M.Dudgeon{Robert Hale Books:ISBN0 7090 5169 7} A fascinating insight into a troubled and complex character,who led a difficult early life, & was cut down @ just 30 having won 3 DSOs & 2 MCs,the VC announced after his death. If you have a spare afternoon I'd thoroughly recommend it [& considering the advancement of DNA testing I wonder if "An Aviator of the Great War" buried close to where he fell could be positvely identified as Edward Mannock VC???] @ present reading "Braver Men Walk Away" {Harper Collins ISBN: 0 00 255051 2} the memoirs of the "Worlds Top Bomb Disposal Expert~ Peter Gurney MBE{Gallantry} & George Medal & Bar",not Great War,but an excellent read so far & in parts,like the curates egg~Eggstremely Funny!!!,Starting as an "Army Brat" in the days before the Second World War,his Father was a Sergeant in the RAOC & discarded Munitions were his playthings in the lax surroundings of pre war Camps,going on to National service in the RAOC,following in his Dad's footsteps,but becoming an Ammunition specialist,in Post War German{some super moments with Panzerfausts!!!},then onto Suez,again Terrifying encounters with his Libyian disposal Peers,A Hammer & Chisel & some Anti Tank Mines,Oh and a hilarious encounter @ an "English Country Fair" in Suez;with a "Aged British Lady of Noble Background",A large stick & an Amourous Donkey...!,then Disposal Expert moving on to the Metropolitan Police as Expolsives Officer,the IRA in Belfast & London.... That's as far as Ive got but if the rest is as good as the first 110 odd pages then its another great read Finished it the other night{ Tuesday} a cracking read all told,the book opened with the Mortar Attack on 10 Downing Street,he was the Guy running in the opposite direction {sensibly} when the Transit went up,in the Front Page photo of every Paper in the UK @ the time,covered his Childhood,National Service,Military career & Civil Police Explosives Officer,with the Met,though attached to other forces World wide,the closing pages are sadder as he loses close friends & colleagues,doing the work he & they loved but his & their black humour shines through well worth a read if you find it in the Library;or as I did gracing the shelves of Oxfam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryBettsMCDCM Posted 30 January , 2007 Share Posted 30 January , 2007 Eh? Baffled Pete Just answer Konichiwa!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithfazzani Posted 30 January , 2007 Share Posted 30 January , 2007 truthergw you liked " Le Feu" you would probably like Louis Barthas' book. Sorry I didnt reply only just came back to this thread - in English - you are right it is written in blood and tears - at times I simply couldnt believe it but I,m sure its true - thanks for the other reccomendation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinWills Posted 30 January , 2007 Share Posted 30 January , 2007 Eh? Baffled Pete Pete, I was just thanking you for your contribution - in Portuguese ...... I'll bet you have learnt something from Portuguese sources, however, probably from looking at the pictures! Am I right? Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 30 January , 2007 Share Posted 30 January , 2007 I'm reading "Achtung Schweinhund" by Harry Pearson. It's about an intellectual middle-class bloke's obsession with war stuff, wargaming, comic books, etc. It's OK, but not as good as I'd hoped and was led to believe from the rave reviews in the big Sunday papers. £9.99, probably worth it, and it does have some funny moments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanA Posted 30 January , 2007 Share Posted 30 January , 2007 I have just finished a very unusual and challenging book: 'The Diary of Otto Braun' (Heinemann, 1924). A bit more than a war diary since it begins in 1907 when he was nine years old to 1918 when he was killed at Marcelcave. To say that Braun was a gifted child would be a huge understatement. At the age of twelve his reasoning and analytical thought were judged to be equal to a German doctorate. He appears to have been groomed for political leadership and was quite confident of his powers. (He was probably insufferable!) It is difficult to really understand the mind-set of Braun, steeped in Greek, Roman and German history, art and politics. He was passionate about what he saw as beauty and utterly convinced of the destiny of the German people. It is disturbing to think what may have become of him had he survived the war. To be fair, I can't see him having much sympathy with Hitler and he despised the anti-semite. An unusual war diary which barely mentions the war. He refers to the work of his regiment hardly at all but was, by all accounts, brave and resourceful, winning the respect of his company and the Iron Cross. I suspect that I shall be thinking about young Braun for some time. I don't suppose that any of our German/ German speaking pals could add anything? Is the name remembered at all? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Hesketh Posted 30 January , 2007 Share Posted 30 January , 2007 Peter Barton's 'The Somme'. Excellent stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 31 January , 2007 Share Posted 31 January , 2007 Twelve Days on the Somme, A Memoir of the Trenches,1916 by a company commander in 2d Bn. West Yorkshire Regiment, Sidney Rogerson, reprinted by Greenwood Books 2006 (originally 1933) Unvarnished, meant to correct what he thought was too much emphasis on either the "war is futile, all is ghastliness" on the one hand or the "gallant brave boys cheerfully going over the top" genres.Really good for showing the irrepressible spirit of the British soldier without glossing over the horrors of war, but reminding his readers that there are worse things than war (1933 publication, he had a glimmer of what was on the horizon) and that pacifism at any price was irresponsible. Excellent read, highly praised by among others, Rose Coombs and Martin Middlebrook. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuartd Posted 31 January , 2007 Share Posted 31 January , 2007 John Charmley's 'Splendid Isolation?: Britain, the Balance of Power and the Origins of the First World War'. Very good but heavy in places! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMG65 Posted 31 January , 2007 Share Posted 31 January , 2007 Have just read 'Return Of The Brute' by Liam O'Flaherty for the third time in a year and still can't decide if I like it. Will have to read it again. Sean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred van Woerkom Posted 2 February , 2007 Share Posted 2 February , 2007 CUTTWELL'S HISTORY OF THE GREAT WAR I have read the first 100 pages or so in the paperback edition and enjoyed every page of it. It was first published in 1932 and still has much relevance to us students of the war. His handling of the material and his presentation is masterly and his judgment is fair to all the belligerents, which is remarkable so soon after the war.He concentrates on the important men and events. Cruttwell had the advantage of being among the first to publish an overview history, whereas later writers sometimes feel the need to impress us with the weight of their erudition by including much cumbersome detail (to the general reader,that is) so that the style becomes plodding and pedestrian. Of course the weak point, as almost always with English books, is the maps. I am looking forward to the later chapters. Most writers do well on 1914 but become duller in 1915 , 1917 and have difficulty in concentrating on the main events in 1918 and after. Highy recommended ! Fred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montbrehain Posted 2 February , 2007 Share Posted 2 February , 2007 AGINCOURT by Juliett Barker. Its a very Good read too ! I Have been fascinated by the Longbow for years. But only last year did I make it to AZINCOURT on the way back to Calais from the Somme. There is an excellent museum there and its a highly recommended place to Visit. Once more into the breach....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lyndon Posted 2 February , 2007 Share Posted 2 February , 2007 @ present reading "Braver Men Walk Away" {Harper Collins ISBN: 0 00 255051 2} the memoirs of the "Worlds Top Bomb Disposal Expert~ Peter Gurney MBE{Gallantry} & George Medal & Bar",not Great War,but an excellent read so far & in parts,like the curates egg~Eggstremely Funny!!!,Starting as an "Army Brat" in the days before the Second World War,his Father was a Sergeant in the RAOC & discarded Munitions were his playthings in the lax surroundings of pre war Camps,going on to National service in the RAOC,following in his Dad's footsteps,but becoming an Ammunition specialist,in Post War German{some super moments with Panzerfausts!!!},then onto Suez,again Terrifying encounters with his Libyian disposal Peers,A Hammer & Chisel & some Anti Tank Mines,Oh and a hilarious encounter @ an "English Country Fair" in Suez;with a "Aged British Lady of Noble Background",A large stick & an Amourous Donkey...!,then Disposal Expert moving on to the Metropolitan Police as Expolsives Officer,the IRA in Belfast & London.... That's as far as Ive got but if the rest is as good as the first 110 odd pages then its another great read Finished it the other night{ Tuesday} a cracking read all told,the book opened with the Mortar Attack on 10 Downing Street,he was the Guy running in the opposite direction {sensibly} when the Transit went up,in the Front Page photo of every Paper in the UK @ the time,covered his Childhood,National Service,Military career & Civil Police Explosives Officer,with the Met,though attached to other forces World wide,the closing pages are sadder as he loses close friends & colleagues,doing the work he & they loved but his & their black humour shines through well worth a read if you find it in the Library;or as I did gracing the shelves of Oxfam. Excellent book, I read it a number of years ago. Lyndon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trenchrat Posted 3 February , 2007 Share Posted 3 February , 2007 I've been reading "The Trench: The True Story of the 1st Hull Pals" by David Bilton. I find it to be a very interesting book. A few months ago I saw The Trench on History Channel. I thought that was interesting too. Especially since one of the participants was descended from one of the men in the 10th Battalion. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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