What WW1 books are you reading?

[centurion]

Bloody Victory covering all the battles of the Somme from 1914 to 1940

A History of the Blockade of Germany and of the countries associated with her in the Great War Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey The closest thing to an official history that was written. Makes the point that essentially it was not simply a naval blockade but an economic encirclement by military, diplomatic and covert means

[Doctord84]

Just been to a very interesting seminar : "Understanding WWI, the First World War as experienced..." presented by Andy Robertshaw. Amazing presentation and enthusiasm. Bought his "24 hour trench", which looks very good.

[Black Maria]

Just started reading 'Reminiscences of a Grenadier' by E.R.M Fryer, working as an insurance clerk when war broke out he

pulled a few strings to join the H.A.C and wangled a job as Officers servant/groom so he could join the regiment when it

went to France in 1914, I expect there were not many Officer servants who were educated at Eton, as he was.

The book was originally published by Digby,Long & Co in 1921 as is very rare, the author self published a reprint in the

sixties and there are also modern reprints available.

[MarkTurner]

Just finished Letters from an Early Bird. The Life & Letters of Denys Corbett Wilson 1882 - 1915 by Donal MacCarron which is mainly based on Corbett Wilson's war letters to his mother.

[Guest Elinor]

I work for a publishing house in west Wales. We're interested in finding our more about the Frank H. Hornsey book Hell On Earth. Is there anybody reading this who might have some information? the book was published by Chapman and Hall in 1930, having contacted them, they have no further information to give me. Hope I can unravel some of the mystery with this book.

[Guest Elinor]

Frank Haydn Hornsey is my grandfather. He was in the 11th Suffolks and Hell on Earth was published in 1930. I researched the background to the book and used his trench diary to help. The reprint was published in 2008 with a new introduction, but I could only afford to print 25 copies, which were sent to family members and museums (IWM. Northampton, Suffolk etc.) What is particularly interesting is that the book was used in Germany in 1935,36,37 and 38 by the National Socialist Party as a set book for students. They abridged the book and issued it in a 59 page soft back book. I am sure that grandad never knew anything about this. It is strange to think that it is likely that more Germans than British read the book! It was still a set book in East German schools in the 1960's.

Dear bobgurling,

I work in a publishing house in west Wales. I am interested in finding out more about your grandfather's book Hell On Earth. I believe that there is a Welsh language version. Please could you contact me as we'd like to reprint it to coincide with the centenary commemorations.

Best wishes,

Elinor

[shaner13]

Just reading,The home front:sheffield in the first world war.Quite an interesting book and not my usual type of read regarding the war,I think I will try and get some more books regarding what was happening back in Britain,any recommendations?

[Michelle Young]

Just read Empires of the Dead and The Memorial to the Missing of the Somme. About to embark on Worshipper and Worshipped buy Carole Hope

Michelle

[Knotty]

Just taken delivery of The Old Contemptibles by Robin Neillands.

Recently finished For the sake of Example by Anthony Babington, - -surprised at the lengths the military authorities misinformed Government so that these executions could take place, it was shameful.

[David Ridgus]

Just reading,The home front:sheffield in the first world war.Quite an interesting book and not my usual type of read regarding the war,I think I will try and get some more books regarding what was happening back in Britain,any recommendations?

Ian Becket's book 'The Home Front: how Britain survived the war' did it for me

David

[shaner13]

Thanks David I will give that a try.

[David Ridgus]

Thanks David I will give that a try.

Also I should have mentioned a book frequently recommended on the Forum: Adrian Gregory's 'The Last Great War', which looks at British society before during and after the war. Nothing short of a masterpiece.

David

[robigunner88]

I am currently half way through 'The First Day on the Somme' by Martin Middlebrook. It is actually the first book I have read on the Somme, and have so far found it a brilliant read. I have previously read 'Arnhem 1944: The Airborne Battle' by Middlebrook (released much later than his Somme book) which I thoroughly enjoyed, especially the way the author linked the various actions being fought by various battalions around the Arnhem area.

Like that book, I have been impressed with how Middlebrook has so far described the events of the 1st July 1916; breaking the description of the battle into zero hour, the morning, afternoon and night, with each of these chapters being followed by a review chapter which asses the battle so far during that section of the day.

I had been hoping to read 'When God Made hell' (Townshend) and the 'First Iraq War, 1914-1918' (Barker), but unfortunately these did not arrive in time before leaving the UK. However, I have no regrets in picking up Middlebrook's Somme book as a last minute replacement from the bookshop.

Jamie

[Black Maria]

Have literally just arrived home from work to find my new book has arrived;

From Emmanuel to the Somme (The war writings of A.E.Tomlinson) by Michael Copp

Up to about three weeks ago had never heard of this book even though Tomlinson served as an officer with the 8th Battalion South Staffs on two separate occasions. I am looking forward to reading it, has anyone else read it... Thoughts ?

Dave

I purchased this book when it was first published in 1997, I have read it but it was a long time ago so can't say too much about

how good it is, but I seem to remember it was quite good. I chiefly remember it because I purchased it from my local Waterstones

and I hesitated because it cost £30 and that seemed a lot at the time, though when I think what I have spent since on my older

memoirs it seems quite cheap now.

[Marilyne]

Just fininshed the last chapter (was still on my "to do" list) of Jean-François Jagielski's "Le Soldat inconnu: invention et postérité d'un symbole". goes through the whole process of decision about the unknown soldier in France, the choosing of a burial place and the starting of the flame ceremonies... interesting. He also tackles the problem of the symbol itself and the fact that from the fifties on, and especially now in modern times, there is a feeling of the tomb being more one of the "must-see" sights on your Paris visits, than it is really a place of remembrance and devotion, as it was created to be. If you want the notes, send me a PM...

I just got mail from my mum: a book by Daniel David, from 1987, she found on the market in Spain: "The 1914 Campaign, August - october 1914". Does that book ring a bell?? Anybody read it???

For the rest, offensive is done, I'll have a bit more time to read now...

MM.

[cdr]

Hello Marilyne,

I've read the David book. Not bad but more an highly illustrated story than an in depth study of the campaign.

Hopê this helps

Carl

[David Ridgus]

Hello Marilyne,

I've read the David book. Not bad but more an highly illustrated story than an in depth study of the campaign.

Hopê this helps

Carl

I would endorse that Carl. However I would say there are photographs in that book that I have never seen elsewhere and I often find myself leafing through it for that reason

David

[Jim Hastings]

On Carl and David's recommendation above I've just bought a copy, so thank you. Finished 'Return of the Brute' and found it riveting, and a highly recommended read, not just for those interested in the Irish Guards. It falls into the 'hard to put down' bracket, and although in the novel genre it is soon very apparent that O'Flaherty is basing so much of the story on events he witnessed, heard about and/or the deep feelings he may have felt during his time with the I.G. and that the characters are composites of men known to him. As in other works from veterans, I feel O'Flaherty was purging his war demons in the best way he could, and this was through the written word.

The ending was very well built up to, and, in answering David's post #1948, came as expected to me (although we all react to books differently). I must admit I read the last chapter late last night, and was left thinking for a long time upon it, so much so that I re-read it in the cold-light of day this morning. Interestingly, my good lady said I had been very (...er, extra) 'grumpy' over the last few days and am more joyful today ... maybe the book is more dark and an effectual read than I thought!!!

This book gives a good indication of the relationship between privates and their corporals (very different to today in my experience) and of how the men saw their officers (some things do not change, reminded me of many a 'subby' I knew)

Now back to finishing Her Private's We, in which I was distracted half way through.

Good reading all

All the best, Jim

[David Ridgus]

Now back to finishing Her Private's We, in which I was distracted half way through.

Good reading all

All the best, Jim

Jim

Again I will be interested to hear your views on this from the perspective of your former career. I read it some years ago but I remember that what it didn't have was action and yet at the same time it somehow got across what living and working on the front line must have been like. I thought of it as a less intense and slightly better written version of 'Return of the Brute' but I'm not sure that was fair on either work.

I'm now actually starting a "Reread because Jim has said something interesting about it on the GWF pile" which though not yet rivalling the basic unread pile is getting there!

Enjoy what remains of the weekend

David

[joe19612]

Thought I better enter some that I have read on the Kindle.

Tyneside Irish by John Sheen.

A Soldiers Tale - Private Albert Money by David Tuffley

Retreat and Reargurad 1914 - Jerry Murland (really enjoyed)

The Doings of the 15th Infantry Brigade August 1914 1914 to March 1915 by Edward Gleichen

Quick Download Miltary History - Arnold Crabtree WW1 Britsh Sniper

The Nek - A Gallipoli Tragedy by Peter Burness (really good read howeverever

[Jim Hastings]

Thought I better enter some that I have read on the Kindle.

A Soldiers Tale - Private Albert Money by David Tuffley

Quick Download Miltary History - Arnold Crabtree WW1 Britsh Sniper

Hi Joe,

I've seen these two for Kindle, been tempted but so far resisted. What is your verdict on these two please?

Cheers

Jim

[Jim Hastings]

Jim

Again I will be interested to hear your views on this from the perspective of your former career. I read it some years ago but I remember that what it didn't have was action and yet at the same time it somehow got across what living and working on the front line must have been like. I thought of it as a less intense and slightly better written version of 'Return of the Brute' but I'm not sure that was fair on either work.

I'm now actually starting a "Reread because Jim has said something interesting about it on the GWF pile" which though not yet rivalling the basic unread pile is getting there!

Enjoy what remains of the weekend

David

Hi David,

On reflection I think the thing that most captivated me about 'Return of the Brute' was that I quickly associated all of the characters with comrades I had known and served with, and more than just partially. I find this always happens to some extent when I read memoirs, but not with all of the characters and sometimes to a limited level, being just left with "Oh Sgt Tozzer reminds me of my Sgt C." and the like. But with 'Return of the Brute' I found more closer identification with soldiers I had served with. I had two 'Cpl Williams' (although both were Sgts); I had a MacDonald; a MacDonald/Appleby mix (not someone to share a sangar with!!!); a Jennings (less the cashiered bit, and actually more like Manning's Bourne); a Friel; several Shaw's and a couple of Reilly's, and I have seen the 'Gunn~Lamont' relationship (and how destructive it can be, in a different context). I've already mentioned the officer. As a result, this association impacted on my reaction to the book. I'd agree that 'Her Private's We' is better in, shall we say, literary style, but I can't help feeling attracted to the raw language, soldiers language, used by O'Flaherty. It has been quite a worthwhile and illuminating experience reading Lucy followed by Richards followed by O'Flaherty and now back to Manning (and I have pulled Coppard back off the shelf too - started to dip into again today but forced myself to put it aside to finish off Manning).

I also have a "Reread because David has said something interesting about it on the GWF pile", among other piles lol!!

Have a good one

Jim

[David Ridgus]

It has been quite a worthwhile and illuminating experience reading Lucy followed by Richards followed by O'Flaherty and now back to Manning (and I have pulled Coppard back off the shelf too - started to dip into again today but forced myself to put it aside to finish off Manning).

I also have a "Reread because David has said something interesting about it on the GWF pile", among other piles lol!!

Have a good one

Jim

Another one that would fit nicely in your current run of classic memoirs is Charles Douie's 'The Weary Road'. Although it has nothing like the levels of grittiness in the two novels you have read and it's not up to Lucy's standard for detail, I fall every time for his beautiful use of language and the heartfelt emotion of his tributes to his fellow officers. In addition, the opening chapter 'The Soldier' is fascinating and provides one of the earliest attempts to analyse the different types of memoirs the war was producing.

David

[Jim Hastings]

Not one I've read, so thank you for the recommendation David. My plan is to finish Manning, then re-read Coppard and to go onto Williamson's 'The Patriot's Progress' and then perhaps Jackson's 'Private 12768' (another one half read and distracted away from). I'm then thinking of getting Burrage's 'War is War', another one I've yet to read. All interspersed with re-reading some 1914 stuff ... getting quite interested in the Aisne

Thanks again

Jim

[treetop]

Just finished The Devil's Carnival by John Sneddon after listening to a very interesting talk he gave to the Durham WFA meeting. It concentrates on the 1st Northumberland Fusiliers (the fighting 5th) from August 1914 to December and how the fighting fifth was decimated,regrouped and fought almost continuously for 4 months.It covers Mons,Le Cateau and the Marne,ending with stalemate beginning to set in at Ypres. It touches on the 9t infantry brigade which included Royal Scots Fusiliers,Royal Fusiliers,1st Lincolns and others alongside them in several battles. An excellent book for detailincluding names and lots of detail,and any sales contributes to regimental funds,highly recommended.