What WW1 books are you reading?

[CarylW]

Just finished Lost Voices of the Royal Navy Max Arthur. It is what it is - fascinating and harrowing eyewitness accounts of life in the Royal Navy 1914-1945. Would have preferred two separate volumes 1914-18 & 1939-45 with more accounts from each war

Not long started The Secrets of Rue St Roch Janet Morgan, about the spy networks involved in intelligence operations behind enemy lines during the Great War. Very interesting so far now I've got my head around the long list of characters involved, right up my street (no pun intended!)

Before I forget, not solely and entirely Great War, but I noticed a book review in a weekend rag of a new release that cricket fans might be interested in Peter Pan's First X1: The extraordinary Story of J M Barrie's Cricket Team by Kevin Telfer. The book tells the story of the eccentric writers' cricket team called the Allahakberries that included late Victorian and Edwardian authors such as Barrie himself, Conan Doyle, P G Wodehouse, A.A. Milne, Jerome K Jerome and others and covers pre and during the Great War (the team finished at the start of the war) during which time the sons of many of the Allahakberries fell in Flanders. Apparently Barrie himself once bowled out Douglas Haig. I'm not a cricket fan but I would really like to read this!

Available on Amazon, use the link above to buy and help forum funds

Caryl

[armistice]

I see Max Arthur's name mentioned in the previous post.... I just finished reading his recent (2008) "Dambusters: A Landmark Oral History", which was very good.

As for WWI - have recently read...

- Two books by Coningsby Dawson: "The Glory of the Trenches", and "Carry On: Letters in Wartime".

- "The Wolf: How One German Raider Terrorised Australia And The Southern Oceans In The First World War" by Richard Guilliatt and Peter Hohnen

- Two books on Churchill, which cover, in small part, WWI - i.e. "Warlord: A Life of Winston Churchill at War, 1874-1945" by Carlo D'este, and "Churchill and Secret Service" by David Stafford

Recently picked up "Volume III: 1914-1916" of Martin Gilbert's "official" bio. on Churchill.

[toto123]

Having read numerous books now, the best i left to last...well not literally!

Stating one that i am sure everyone knows here: Goodbye to All That, Robert Graves

Fascinating and engaging and illuminating and well wriiten I relate to his criticisms of Public school life and his distaste for authority

and yet his immense bravery and his own mental survival techniques in the trenches. His anecdotes are fascinating-humorous, shocking, revealing and educational that other books cannot match.

Now reading Sassoon's 'Memoirs of an Infantry Officer': also classic and brilliant. My grandad left me a signed copy of his book, Memoirs of a Fox Hunting Man', for which i am eternally grateful. As new condition, numbered and signed by SS and illustrator...priceless.

[CarylW]

.....A different war, but Six Armies in Normandy is also a very good read.

Thanks, I've bought a copy. Like the way he writes so will buy more by John Keegan. I bet his lectures on Military History were very interesting

Now reading Wilfred Owen: A new biography Dominic Hibberd. Very interesting so far, especially reading about his time living in Birkenhead. Haven't read much yet, I'm up to the part where he is a pupil teacher in Shrewsbury. The author doesn't appear to have a very high opinion of poor Harold, Wilfred's brother though, or any of his memories but seems to have researched thoroughly before disproving; in the bit I've read so far anyway

Caryl

[27thBN]

At the moment a book called .At Some Disputed Barricade by Anne Perry.A book of fiction about the cambridgeshire regiment at 3rd Ypres ,fiction aside a very good story that could of happened at the time.

MC

[truthergw]

I have recently read, " Bloody Victory", William Philpott. A bit of a curate's egg, I'm afraid. Some very good information and particularly good coverage of the French contribution. I disagree with much of his analysis but well worth reading and a must for anyone with an interest in the battle of the Somme. I have also been reading Petain's memoirs, an old book and read mainly from interest in the Marshal himself and a much more recent book, " Joffre", Andre Bourachot. The author is a general in the French Army and my edition of the book was published this year. An attempt at a balanced view of the great Marshall's contribution to the preparation for the war and his command until 1916. A specialised interest this one, but a very good read for those who share it. Interesting that Papa Joffre has received almost as much criticism as Haig. No wonder he used to refer to himself as " Pauvre Joffre"! These last two are in French, the Petain I believe would be translated but not the second as far as I am aware. I don't know if there are plans for a translation, I am not sure how much of a market there would be for it. I am awaiting Peter Barton's book on Arras, due out end of this month. A battle which has been very ill served by authors. The OH and Jonathon Nicholls book being the only two I am aware of.

[PBI]

"The Machine Gunner " by Arthur Russell.A no holds barred account of his Military Service at the "Sharp End" in WW1 as a member of the Machine Gun Corps.

Also another gem is "The Bells of Hell go Ting a Ling a Ling" by Eric Hiscock.An Account of his Service as an underage Soldier in the Royal Fusiliers.A real warts and all account of the Life of an underage PBI in the BEF.

[Martin Bennitt]

I'm just starting 'The Great Silence 1918-20, Living in the Shadow of the Great War' by Juliet Nicholson

cheers Martin B

[menright]

Just finished, or rather, it finished me; Gary Sheffield's 'The Somme'. It confused me. It is not a very well written account and the arguments given for Haig's conduct of the battle are vague. Very, very Vaig.

Have commenced Malcolm Brown's 'The Somme'. What a contrast: a seamless narrative, at least through to p.61, where I am to date.

Note to self: next time must find a book without Richard Holmes' recommendation or Foreword in it.

Michael

[ShirlD]

Slowly reading '0ver the Top' by HG Hartnett, picked up 'True WW1 Stories, 60 personal narratives' in a 2nd hand bookshop yesterday, but am guiltily sneaking in 'Girl with the Dragon Tatoo', to see for myself what everyone is arguing over!

Cheers

Shirley

[David B]

Have just finished Anzacs in Arkhangel by Michael Challinger, quite a good read and it got me away from the western front. There is much more to the great war

than the western front - read Africa, Middle East, REussia et al, although have just received a book on the Somerset Light Infantry 1914-1919. I suspect this book

will be a hard read but as I am very interested in the SLI had to go for it.

David

[CarylW]

menright wrote "Have commenced Malcolm Brown's 'The Somme'. What a contrast: a seamless narrative

Haven't read the other book you mentioned but I agree about Malcolm Brown; his were among the first Great War books I read

Shirley wrote "picked up 'True WW1 Stories, 60 personal narratives' in a 2nd hand bookshop yesterday, but am guiltily sneaking in 'Girl with the Dragon Tatoo', to see for myself what everyone is arguing over!

There was a thread somewhere about the True WW1 60 stories, I'm sure someone said they had been reprinted and well worth reading; must try to get hold of a copy

Shirley how could you! Reading a book that isn't about the Great War!

I've read quite a few inbetween for light relief, otherwise I start having bad dreams!. Noticed that in book shops but haven't read it and why is everyone arguing over it?

Picked up Lloyd George War Memoirs Part 1 and 2 over the weekend, 50p each! My bookshelves overfloweth with all these bargains I've picked up lately. Think I'll have to stop it, beginning to feel like an addiction

Caryl

[ShirlD]

Caryl - Ha!

The argument over "GWDTattoo" is whether it has been propelled into the stratosphere of the best selling book list because it is a brilliant read or because of the intrigue and drama of the author's life and death.

Delighted to know my '60 Stories' is a bargain. Had a quick look and it was originally published by C.B. Purdom in 1930 as Everyman at War. I am always drawn to autobiographies and personal stories, but one of the gifts of this Forum has been the interest sparked in battlefields and areas utterly foreign to me

Cheers

Shirley

ps Yours was a good bargain 50p! Mine was $11.

[truthergw]

menright wrote "Have commenced Malcolm Brown's 'The Somme'. What a contrast: a seamless narrative

Haven't read the other book you mentioned but I agree about Malcolm Brown; his were among the first Great War books I read

Shirley wrote "picked up 'True WW1 Stories, 60 personal narratives' in a 2nd hand bookshop yesterday, but am guiltily sneaking in 'Girl with the Dragon Tatoo', to see for myself what everyone is arguing over!

There was a thread somewhere about the True WW1 60 stories, I'm sure someone said they had been reprinted and well worth reading; must try to get hold of a copy

Shirley how could you! Reading a book that isn't about the Great War!

I've read quite a few inbetween for light relief, otherwise I start having bad dreams!. Noticed that in book shops but haven't read it and why is everyone arguing over it?

Picked up Lloyd George War Memoirs Part 1 and 2 over the weekend, 50p each! My bookshelves overfloweth with all these bargains I've picked up lately. Think I'll have to stop it, beginning to feel like an addiction

Caryl

DLG's memoirs for a pound is about right. I think I was £10 for my copies. I bet you another quid that you never finish them. Even as a bet! Chris the Boss, warned me a good while ago and he was right. Mind you, I like to dip in now and then to see what the Welsh Wizard actually said about something, even if it was more than a decade later.

[CarylW]

DLG's memoirs for a pound is about right. I think I was £10 for my copies. I bet you another quid that you never finish them. Even as a bet! Chris the Boss, warned me a good while ago and he was right. Mind you, I like to dip in now and then to see what the Welsh Wizard actually said about something, even if it was more than a decade later.

Tom

I was thinking the same thing myself! Can't see me ever finishing the memoirs, will probably just dip in now and then for reference as you do. Mind you, you just never know. Up the stakes a bit! Nicely bound though; look good on my bookshelf

Shirley, thanks, I'll buy that and see what all the fuss is about

Caryl

[judy7007]

I have just received a copy of 'An Eyewitness Account of Gallipoli', Words and Sketches by Signaller Ellis Silas, AIF, first published as Crusading at Anzac in London in 1916, the current edition published in 2010 by Rosenberg Publishing P/L, NSW. It was most inexpensive (£around 8).

Ellis Silas is noted in the DVD of Gelibolu (Tolga Ornek) which I have recently viewed. I find both the text and drawings keep drawing me back to ponder more - there is something about how he portrays the faces.

Judy

[cdr]

Just finished a book "Niemandsland" in Flemish unfortunately.

Full of interesting information on Belgian demolition teams, the shadowing of German cavalry patrols, Belgian garde civique ((infantry, cavalry and artillery in action), gendarmerie, volunteers, ghost trains, British landing in Ostend, French British friendly fire at the battle of Melle, German attacks by III reserve korps, Capture of Portsmouth bataillon RND after Antwerp

Carl

[menright]

As a relative newcomer to the field of the Great War, I have 'done' 1914 and 1915 in order to get to 1916, my main area of interest.

Some of the books include:

Edward Spears, 'Liaison, 1914': a great read, a really well fashioned account that further entrenched my iconoclastic sentiments toward men in authority.

Sewell Tyng, 'The Campaign of the Marne, 1914': like Spears,a work to be treated carefully for its supposedly arcane writing style which with a bit of empathy for the style of the times, remains a very informative read.

Hew Strachan. 'The First World War, volume 1' and Martin Gilbert, 'First World War': both rubbish, both bland. Each author diminishes themselves by their open sniping of others, usually each other. Neither ever seems to have the other in their bibliographies. A real pair of commodifiers of what they seem to see as 'their' patch of history.

Ian Beckett, 'Ypres: the First Battle': easy to read, easy to understand, builds themes not straw men arguments. Always engaged and informed by this author's writings, A truly Richard Holmes-hasn't-written-the-foreword or 'recommended'-it work.

So there,

Michael

[paulgranger]

Recently started 'Pro Patria Mori' by a well-known inhabitant of this parish. I haven't got to the end of June 1916 yet, and I'm exhausted by all the fatugues, never mind the men who were actually there and doing the job. It really does bring home to me how very accurate the word 'fatigues' was in those days.

[Tinhat47]

Read Cecil Lewis' "Sagitarrius Rising," Harry Patch & Richard Van Emden's "The Last Fighting Tommy," just finished up Arthur Lee's "No Parachute" and am on to "Sapper Martin: The Secret Great War Diary of Jack Martin" as edited by Richard Van Emden. Finally a book about an R.E.!

[leighc]

What are you reading (WWI related) and would you recommend it?

I'm re-reading Ellis's "The Story of the Fifth Australian Division", particularly the chapters on Fromelles and Polygon Wood as preparation for my trip next week to attend the Fromelles commemoration and to follow the trail of my grandfather Frank Collins and his brother Herb, both originals in the 31st Bn AIF and both survivors of Fromelles and Polygon Wood.

Thanks to the Naval and Military Press, I can read their paperback re-print and not damage my original copy.

[jake]

Just Read

Sorry,Lads,But The Order Is To Go By David W Cameron

About to read

The Broken Years By Bill Gammage

[CarylW]

Just started reading Winston Churchill as I knew him: Violet Bonham Carter

Interesting read so far written by the daughter of Asquith who was a confidante of her father, a life-long friend of Churchill and a close friend of Kitchener, amongst others from that era

Caryl

[SFayers]

Currently reading The 74th Yeomanry Division in Syria and France by Major C. H. Dudley Ward DSO MC - following the steps of my nan's cousins who were in the Suffolk Yeomanry!

cheers

Steve

[Michelle Young]

Lutyens and the Great War and also dipping into Walking Arras.

Michelle