Today’s additions, with thanks to Messieurs AB64 and Bamboo43 for the recommendations. Grabbed the Kindle editions of the Burma books. It’s not the same as the feel of a real book, I know, but the Kindle prices were excellent, too good to resist.
Museums looking at hard times during this virus nonsense. When I first looked at Bovington's shop I think it was about £13 post for £20 of books, so didn't bother. They've sorted the postage out, so, y'know - charity, innit. Nothing to do with a compulsive urge regarding cheap Haynes manuals. They also sell life size 'accurate' inflatable tank shells, so that's Christmas for the whole family sorted next order. Churchill one in an 'icons' series that seems to be the same content as the manuals but a smaller format. Was only a fiver for one I'd never got around to, but will look a bit odd on the shelf.
Jolly good VP. I noticed in one of David Willy's latest videos that they also make a flask which looks like a cannon shell After moaning again today that none of the books I have ordered have been delivered, I discovered a package at my door this evening. Tried to take my own photo of them but it was terrible. The Men Inside The Metal looks like it will be useful for identifying items in stowage sketches etc. I did not realize that Bill Munro's book here includes ARVs and such so the overall detail won't be as great as I had hoped. I hadn't realized that it was by the same publisher as Rob Griffin's book on the Conqueror. About 20 pages on procurement and development, 30 pages on later marks (well, Mk 3+), 20 pages of technical description, 37 pages on recovery and engineering vehicles, 40 pages on overseas sales and service. But, lots of pictures and good-sized renditions of the stowage diagrams! edited PS I opened up The Men to read the chapter on personal equipment and who do I see on the first page but TROOPER RON GOLDSTEIN!
Don't know if it's me, or just the browser on the phone, but Amazon appears to have deleted their 'advanced search' link for books, and I have yet to get back to the page. It's not like it was great in the first place, dragging up all manner of crap, so I'm not sure I'll be bothering to wade through even more generic results. Let's go and have another look... That's on top of the loss of sellers' 'products' tab which was a convenient - if unintended - means of checking their newer stock! /rant
Hopefully just your phone pal, you do seem to get far more options on a laptop from what I can work out. I tend to search by publisher when I’m browsing as that seems to cut out lots of the crap.
On the PC now and it's not there either. The page still exists: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Book-Search-Books/b/?ie=UTF8&node=125552011&ref_=sv_b_1 - unsurprisingly, that's what I've got bookmarked. I know they need to make more room for 'Join Prime by Accident' links but that really seems a stupid move.
New arrivals: Harmsen's histories of the war in China are very readable so hopefully this carries over into this series. Flying boats are an interest so into the cart it went, the 149 Squadron book has some interesting coverage of their use of the Heyford and the Basalt book was an impulse buy at $5.00 all in.
Had two more late arrivals today which was great because I worried they might have gone astray. Rhineland: The battle to end the war, by W D & S Whitaker. This looks solid, about 400 pages. Delightfully the authors seem to have interviewed a lot of people - the list of interviewees takes 11 pages. There is a 21 page chapter on the Canadians at the Goch-Calcar road - not surprisingly since Whitaker was the RHLI CO!?!? I should have made the connection before ordering the book but this is a great surprise. The Pegasus and Orne Bridges: Their Capture, Defence, and Relief on D-Day, by Neil Barber. A book which I don't think needs any introduction, and which also involved a lot of interviews. I was really struck in an interview that Barber did with the WW2 Nation Podcast that reportedly many of the men involved had not been interviewed before Barber did so. I hope the book is a fitting testament to their bravery.
Chris, I'm of two minds about the Whitaker books. I remember eagerly looking forward to reading their first, Tug of War (1984) and being so very disappointed when I did. I've read that Shelagh does the writing, so maybe it was her fault, but I thought the book was so badly written as to be unreadable. I mean, how does the term 'Royal Canadian Army Tank Brigade' make it into the final product, including the paperback edition? I decided not to read their work again. Well, time moves on and the Whitakers became prolific writers of Canadian Army Second World War history. They produce a book about the Normandy campaign called Victory at Falaise: The Soldiers' Story (2000) and their work comes to my attention again. I took a chance, purchased a copy and found this one to be quite good, particularly the parts explaining precisely what Major Currie did to earn his Victoria Cross. Which brings me to my two minds about the Whitakers. Was their first book just a one-off after which Shelagh found her niche? One day I may invest in a Whitaker book again, or borrow a few from the library when they reopen. Maybe we can get a review of Rhineland after you've finished it. I'm always willing to be proven wrong about something. Cheers, Dan.
Hi Dan, Sure, I will try to review Rhineland. I do note two things - one is that Victory at Falaise is much later than Tug of War, so Shelagh may have gotten a lot more practice. Another is that Terry Copp was involved in two of their books according to wikipedia, one of them being Victory. Wikipedia only lists "selected works" and not in chronological order either. If I put them with the dates I can find and in order, I get: Tug of War: The Allied Victory That Opened Antwerp (1984) The Battle of the Scheldt (1985) (maybe Tug of War under a different name for some regions?) Rhineland: The Battle to End the War (1989) Dieppe: Tragedy to Triumph (1992) Victory at Falaise: The Soldier's Story (w Copp) (2000) Normandy: The Real Story of How Ordinary Allied Soldiers Defeated Hitler (w Copp) (2004) So maybe I shouldn't expect too much from Rhineland. :-/ Cheers, Chris
Chapter 12 on the Goch-Calcar Road ("The Goch-Calcar Road: a narrative of Battle") is excellent. It contains a lot of tactical details of the actions of Whitaker's own battalion the RHLI. These 21 pages made the book worthwhile to purchase (though I bought a cheap second-hand old Library copy - complete with stamps and all that). I still have to read the rest (maybe this summer), but from a quick look at it also have a mixed feeling about its contents.
Whitaker's books are a mixed bag but I've taken something from every one. Even when the writing is a little shaky, I believe Whitaker's perspective on the war and individual actions is unique. He saw it from various vantage points over an extended period and fills a void where there is little content from other Canadian commanders. Few other authors have that degree of appreciation for the day to day context of those times. On balance, I think his material is must read for any serious student of Canadian actions.
I've never read one of Bernard Fergusson's books and been disappointed. Wilderness is a great collection of veteran anecdotes and experiences.
Enjoyed that one. Woy could write, and deserved the plaudits it received on publication. He also knew a thing or two about jumping political ship, not unlike Churchill.
I just ordered a copy of The Story of 57th (East Surrey) Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery (T.A.) Part Two: Home Forces and North Africa 1940-1943 from Ray Goodacre who is a poster here.
Very much looking forward to reading both. Tell me Steve, I was considering Fergusson’s “Beyond the Chindwin” too, but would I be duplicating my efforts in any way, what with already having “Wild Green Earth”? Martin
I was going to spell his name just as you have VP, but with all the PC elements of today's news stories, I didn't. I'm slipping, I know I am!!