Having been roundly mocked (probably quite rightly) by half my family for buying this in Chichester today: KGB & Soviet Security Uniforms & Militaria 1917-91 - Bekesi & Torok. (They're no doubt jealous that I now know what a KGB Frontier Guard Sergeant of 1959 would wear during Winter ...) I wondered what other particularly obscure/odd military titles people have lurking on their bookshelves? Cheers, Adam.
Sad very sad - however my Mrs has just doubted my sanity for spending the cash a relative give me for Xmas on death certificates
There used to be an excellent bookshop in Chi, not far from the station. A rambling old Georgian house. I got many, many fine volumes there... for pennies. I haven't been to Chi for years... hope it is still there, even if there are no bargains now.
I wondered what other particularly obscure/odd military titles people have lurking on their bookshelves?. These always seem to get commented on by visitors to my house as being a little too specialised!...
I’ve had the mickey taken out of me for this one: This little book was a response to the Army Authorities requiring a study of Regimental History as part of the syllabus for the Second and Third Class Certificates of Education, and for NCOs’ promotion exams. http://www.naval-military-press.com/short-history-of-the-irish-guards-1900-1927-pr-19006.html
Everything on my bookshelf! But here's my own little contribution to the world of strange book titles: http://www.lulu.com/author/display_thumbnail.php?fCID=320613&fSize=320_&1230481796
Some which get the occasional odd look , Hans Seeger's "Grey Book" is currently the most complete guide to optics you will find from WW1 to the present day.
Some good one's there chaps. This one raises more than the odd eyebrow with some friends... bought in a Leicester secondhand shop a long while back: Mantrapping: Ragnar Benson: Amazon.co.uk: Books It's a field guide to... errr... trapping men. Keep meaning to order this History of the Jerrycan - Jerrycan: 70 Years and Still in Service: Philippe Leger: Amazon.co.uk: Books - had a flick through the English edition at Beltring and it's rather good... ... ... If you like that kind of thing. (Paul, I think the bookshop in Chi you have in mind was indeed the one I was in, very good place.)
I've been reading my way through the family headstone citations of McGeer's wonderful work. Very poignant.
Adam someone told me years ago the storry behind how the 'Jerrycan' came to be...But for the life of me it escapes me at the mo Cheers
Someone recently laughed at my copy of the excellent 'Tank Turret Fortifications'. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tank-Turret-Fortifications-Neil-Short/dp/1861266871 They then went on to snigger at this: Mild stuff I thought. Any more truly OCD-esque military titles out there? I'm in a shopping sort of mood.
Von Poop, I second your review of the tank turret book. It's very good. I was teased for buying this title: But wait...there's more you say?
From the same series as the artillery tractor book (which is now on my Amazon wish list), my next purchase.
I just asked my other half, and she nominated this as one that first indicated to her that I may conceivably have something mildly wrong with me. Now slightly worried she was able to name it instantly. I fear I'm being monitored more than I had thought. Sometimes it's too easy though, almost anything by Tankograd or Schiffer probably counts as obscure to the dilletante. I'm sure we can do better than this.
Mmmm. Makes this seem almost normal Craftsmen of the Army: The Story of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Volume 2 of JR Angolia's set on the Hitler Youth defines my insanity, bought a signed copy from a friend this afternoon for £30 it was a good buy.