Coming Soon to a Bookshelf Near You

Another bloody good one from ATB.

Excellent, arrived in mail this am.

 

Death was our Bedmate.

March 20th.
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The book tells the story of a little known artillery regiment, the 155th (Lanarkshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment, RA which saw constant action during the ill-fated Malayan Campaign of 1941/42 and whose members later experienced the worst kind of hell as POWs of a cruel and bestial enemy. Following the Japanese invasion of Malaya, the Regiment fought a brave and resolute rearguard action all the way down the Malayan Peninsular and onto the so called impregnable fortress of Singapore. Held in the highest respect by comrades and foe alike, this former territorial cavalry regiment fully deserved its Royal Artillery moto - Ubigue - 'everywhere'. In the years that followed, the Gunners slaved, suffered and died on the infamous Burma Railway, in Kinkaseki copper mine of Formosa and camps throughout the Far East. More men of the Regiment died as POWs than fell in action. They should not be forgotten. Included is a full nominal roll which allows the reader to identify the camp/s where each individual Gunner was held. A Roll of Honour provides the date, place and cause of death and place of burial/commemoration of the Regiment's casualties.
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I've been waiting for this one for a while now, and met Drew a couple of times at Kew.
Agnes father was in Kinkaseki and Kukutsu with my F-in-L.

Mike

 

The Secret War for the Middle East: The Influence of Axis and Allied Intelligence Operations During World War II: Amazon.ca: CDR Youssef H. Aboul-Enein USN, Basil H. Aboul-Enein: Books

Due in Oct 2013 from Naval Institute Press
It can be argued that the Middle East during the World War II has been regarded as that conflict's most overlooked theater of operations. Though the threat of direct Axis invasion never materialized beyond the Egyptian Western Desert with Rommel's Afrika Korps, this did not limit the Axis from probing the Middle East and cultivating potential collaborators and sympathizers. These actions left an indelible mark in the socio-political evolution of the modern states of the Middle East. This book explores the infusion of the political language of anti-Semitism, nationalism, fascism, and Marxism that were among the ideological byproducts of Axis and Allied intervention in the Arab world. The status of British-dominated Middle East was tailor-made for exploitation by Axis intelligence and propaganda. German and Italian intelligence efforts fueled anti-British resentments; their influence shaped the course of Arab nationalist sentiments throughout the Middle East. A relevant parallel to the pan-Arab cause was Hitler's attempt to bring ethnic Germans into the fold of a greater German state. In theory, as the Sudeten German stood on par with the Carpathian German, so too, according to doctrinal theory, did the Yemeni stand in union with the Syrian in the imagination of those espousing pan-Arabism. As historic evidence demonstrates, this very commonality proved to be a major factor in the development of relations between Arab and Fascist leaders. The Arab nationalist movement amounted to nothing more than a shapeless, fragmented, counter position to British imperialism, imported to the Arab East via Berlin for Nazi aspirations.


The Gathering Storm: The Naval War September 1939 to April 1940: Amazon.ca: Geirr Haarr: Books

New release date Oct 2013 from Naval Institute Press
This is a superb survey of the fierce naval struggles, from 1939 up to the invasion of the Norway in April 1940. Beginning with the sinking of the German fleet at Scapa Flow in 1919, it then covers the rebuilding of the Kriegsmarine and parallel developments in the Royal Navy, and in the European navies. Focusing on the actions at sea after the fall of Poland, this history covers the sinking of Courageous, the German mining of the British East Coast, the Northern Patrol, the sinking of Rawalpindi, small ship operations in the North Sea and German Bight, the Altmark incident, German surface raiders and the early stages of the submarine war in the Atlantic. Researched extensively in German, British, and other archives, the work is intended to paint a balanced and detailed picture of this significant period of the war when the opposing naval forces were adapting to a form of naval warfare quite different to that experienced in WWI.

 

Now available from RZM publishing:



RZM.com- Your online source for WWII books & more!

"Kampfraum Arnheim" (Battle Zone Arnhem), is a unique in-depth photographic documentation of the German ground forces which opposed the Allied Airborne landings in Holland in September 1944. Their response to this Anglo-American offensive, code-named "Operation Market Garden," was chronicled by eight German war correspondents whose 16 rolls of film are the primary focus of this publication. The material was acquired exclusively from the German Federal Archives and depicts Heer, Luftwaffe and Waffen-SS troops in action at Arnhem, Nijmegen, Mook and Osterbeek.

Presented in chronological order, the photos are accompanied by detailed captions which include the date and location of each photo as well as the photographer's name and the negative frame number. Never before has a work on this subject been presented so thoroughly from the combat cameraman's point-of-view, providing a fascinating look at late-war German infantry, panzer, and FLAK artillery units in fierce defensive fighting. Written by Harlan Glenn, author of "For King and Country: British Airborne Uniforms, Insignia and Equipment in World War 2", with additional research provided by a team of Dutch experts, "Kampfraum Arnheim" stands out as the definitive visual history of the German units which participated in this crucial battle.

 

The Defence and Fall of Greece 1940-41: Amazon.ca: John Carr: Books

Due July 2013 from Pen and Sword.
The author's previous book On Spartan Wings was an excellent look at the Royal Hellenic Air Force in WW2 so I'm looking forward to this as it will have a lot of Greek information.
On 28th October 1940, the Greek premier, Ioannis Metaxis, refused to accept a deliberately provocative ultimatum from Mussolini and Italian forces began the invasion of Greece via Albania. This aggression was prompted by Mussolini's desire for a quick victory to rival Hitler's rapid conquest of France and the Low Countries. On paper, Greek forces were poorly equipped and ill-prepared for the conflict but Mussolini had underestimated the skill and determination of the defenders. Within weeks the Italian invasion force was driven back over the border and Greek forces actually advanced deep into Albania. A renewed Italian offensive in March 1941 was also given short shrift, prompting Hitler to intervene to save his ally. German forces invaded Greece via Bulgaria on 6 April. The Greeks, now assisted by British forces, resisted by land, sea and air but were overwhelmed by the superior German forces and their blitzkrieg tactics. Despite a dogged rearguard action by Anzac forces at the famous pass of Thermopyale, Athens fell on the 27th April and the British evacuated 50,000 troops to Crete. This island, whose airfields and naval bases Churchill considered vital to the defence of Egypt and the Suez Canal, was invaded by German airborne troops the following month and eventually captured after a bitter thirteen-day battle. The remaining British troops were evacuated and the fall of Greece completed. John Carr's masterful account of these desperate campaigns, while not disparaging the British and Commonwealth assistance, draws heavily on Greek sources to emphasize the oft-neglected experience of the Greeks themselves and their contribution to the fight against fascism.

 

A forum members book (SeanOC) about ex-RAF playboy Neville Heath

Handsome Brute: The Story of a Ladykiller: Amazon.co.uk: Sean O'Connor: Books

 

The Art of Belmonte

128 satirical cartoons covering mainly the period between the World War II and the early Cold War. Created by Brazilian cartoonist Belmonte (1896 - 1947), they illustrate the political and military conflict in an intelligent and provocative way.

 

One book I am looking forward too is `The Last Torpedo Flyers: The True Story of Arthur Aldridge`. The courage of torpedo bomber crews is often forgotten in contrast to Bomber and Fighter Commands.

 

D-Day Operations Manual
Jonathan Falconer
Haynes
ISBN 978-0-85733-234-9
£21.99

A must have book, wonderfully illustrated with contemporary photos, covers a multitude of topics see the contents list I have attached

 

Consolidated B24 Liberator - 1939 Onwards (all marks)
Graeme Douglas
Haynes
ISBN 978-0-85733-159-5
£21.99

A well researched, well illustrated account of this iconic long-range bomber used in both maritime and ground bombing roles as well as being used to drop agents by SOE/OSS

 

Deserter:the Last Untold Story of the Second World War....Charles Glass...French author with knowledge of Paris...home to deserters from most of the armies of Europe ....Publisher Harperpress RRP £25

According to Glass the British Army had 100.000 deserters in the Second World War while the US had 50.000.But only one British deserter is researched by Glass, a John Bain who told his interrogators that he only wanted to write poetry ".We'll send him to a psychiatrist.He's clearly mad"

Reports Eddie Slovak as a conscientious objector rather than a mixed up young man who in his hour of need was not afforded adequate representation at his C.M......the only Allied deserter to pay the supreme penalty.

Looks like a good read....some stories of deserters who acted as gangsters in Paris and Naples stealing Allied supplies, might be interesting to the forum veterans.

 

Coming in November 2013 from Naval Institute press

Naval Anti-Aircraft Guns and Gunnery by Norman Friedman who's produced some references that have become the standard on the subject.
At 400 pages it will be a weighty (and not cheap) tome.

http://www.amazon.ca/Naval-Anti-Aircraft-Gunnery-Norman-Friedman/dp/1591146046/ref=reg_hu-rd_add_1_dp

 

John Buckley author of the excellent British Armour in the Normandy Campaign has a new book set to release in November 2013




Monty's Men: The British Army and the Liberation of Europe
368 pages, Yale University Press

http://www.amazon.ca/Montys-Men-British-Liberation-Europe/dp/0300134495/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368934761&sr=1-2

Definitely one I'm eagerly awaiting.

 

This is a shameless bit of self-promotion but I hope you will all indulge me

In November 2013, my first book will be published. Well to be honest I am one of the co-editors with two friends, Stuart Mitchell and Michael LoCicero though I do contribute a chapter on the transformation of land based air support for amphibious operation between 1942 and 1944. The book examines the process of transformation that occurred within the British military from 1792 to 1945. It is based on papers given at a symposium we co-organised in 2011 at the Centre for War Studies, University of Birmingham. We are publishing with Helion and Company, which has been a great experience. Helion is a publisher with some interesting plans to make a difference in publishing military history and hopefully begin to bridge the gap between popular and academic presses.

Here is the book’s blurb taken from the Helion website:

Here is a list of the books chapters that includes a few focussed on the Second World War:

Introduction by Michael LoCicero, Ross Mahoney and Stuart Mitchell

1. The British Army, 1795-1815: An Army Transformed? by Andrew Limm
2. ‘Forsaking the good cause’? The Changes and Obstacles in Reforming the British Army, 1815-1854 by Peter Randall
3. Resistance and Reform: Transformation in the British Army Medical Services 1854-1914 by Andrew Duncan
4. “The Most Resistless and Revolutionary Weapon of Naval Warfare that has Ever Been Introduced”: The Royal Navy and the Whitehead Torpedo 1870-1900 by Richard Dunley
5. The Thin Khaki Line: The Evolution of Infantry Attack Formations in the British Army 1899-1914 by Spencer Jones
6. Learning to Manage the Army: The Army Administration Course at the London School of Economics by Peter Grant
7. The Royal Navy’s Adoption of Oil Before the First World War by Martin Gibson
8. Naval Wing Good, Military Wing Bad? An Orwellian inspired analysis of British Aviation Doctrine, 1912-1914 by James Pugh
9. “Hopeless Inefficiency”? The Operational Performance and Transformation of Brigade Staff, 1916-1918 by Aimeé Fox-Godden
10. Vanishing Battalions: The Nature, Impact and Implications of British Infantry Reorganisation prior to the German Spring Offensives of 1918 by Simon Justice
11. From ‘Jock Column’ to Armoured Column: Transformation and Change in British and Commonwealth Unit Tactics in the Western Desert, January 1941 to November 1942 by Neal Dando
12. ‘Lessons Learnt’: The Royal Air Force, Operation JUBILEE, and the Transformation of Combined Operations, 1942-1944 by Ross Mahoney
13. British Aero-Naval Co-Operation in the Mediterranean and the Formation of RAF No. 201 (Naval Co-Operation) Group by Richard Hammond
14. Re-evaluation of Wartime Communications: British Despatch Riders and Communications Reliability during the Second World War by Sarah McCook

Epilogue – Military Transformation in Crisis: The Future of Britain’s 21st Century Armed Forces by Matthew Ford

You can find the book here on the Helion website.

Ross

 

I have just published a book entitled "13 - Lucky For Some". It is the history of the 13th (Lancashire) Parachute Battalion and is available from Amazon.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/13-History-Lancashire-Parachute-Battalion/dp/1482029162/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370620270&sr=8-1&keywords=13+lucky+for+some

It covers their formation, D-Day, Ranville, Putot-en-Auge, Pont L'Eveque, the Ardennes in the Battle of the Bulge, Holland, Operation Varsity, the march across Germany to Wismar and the Far East including the "mutiny".

 

Looks rather interesting! Will have to add to a ever growing list of must have books.

 

"Currently unavailable"....

 

Still showing as unavailable, Andrew - is it possible to order a copy direct from you, or do you know if Amazon will have more copies?

Thanks

Alan

 

Sorry guys... had a slight hiccup! Sorted now and should be back on in next couple of days. I'll repost when it's back on.

Thanks for the interest by the way.

Andrew

 

It's back on Amazon now and now at a slightly discounted price...