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Page last updated: 17 October 2020.
The King's Men
Fallen in the Great War
The King's School, Gloucester
Bob Brunsdon
Published in the centenary year of the outbreak of the Great War, this book tells the stories of
'The King's Men', the thirty-five Old Boys of the Gloucester King's School who
fell in the service of their country between 1914 and 1918. It also covers life at the school at
the turn of the century and its use as a wartime hospital.
The King's Men fought in theatres of war across the globe and served in all three of the
Armed Services. They include Captain Eric Harvey MC and Bar, brother of the celebrated poet Will
Harvey and friend of composer Ivor Gurney, Captain Basil Bruton who was killed during the
Gloucesters' valiant stand in Italy in 1917 and Cyril Searancke, a Royal Naval Lieutenant
whose ship was sunk by a mine in the Mediterranean in 1915. Also included are Gloucester rugby
players Guardsman Peter Roach, killed by a sniper on Christmas Day 1914, and fledgling RAF pilot
Douglas Henderson, victim of a flying accident just after the war's end.
The book also includes detailed maps and geo-coordinates enabling visitors to the battlefields
to see the places The King's Men fought and to pay their respects at the relevant cemeteries
and memorials.
The author, a former pupil at the King's School and retired Gloucestershire police officer,
now works as a military historian and battlefield guide. Following in the footsteps of heroes,
he takes groups and individuals to the battlefields, including those of the Great War, to gain a
true perspective of the conflicts that have shaped the world in which we live today.
Victoria Crosses on the Western Front
Continuation of the German 1918 Offensives
Paul Oldfield
Another in the series covering Victoria Crosses on the Western Front written by one of our
expert team of battlefield guides, Paul Oldfield.
In this edition, Paul covers the German 1918 Offensive with his usual eye for detail and a
thorough account of each VC action is set within the wider strategic and tactical context.
Detailed sketch maps show the area today, together with the battle-lines and movements of
the combatants.
A great addition to the library of any battlefield visitor and armchair reader alike.
The Great Promise
Frederick L Coxen
On a spring day in 2009 Frederick L Coxen sat at his kitchen table going through the effects
of his deceased paternal grandparents. Rummaging through the tattered box of relics he came
across a small brown ledger; printed on the front cover of which was "Army Book 152
Correspondence Book (Field Service)". He had stumbled upon the First World War journal
of Captain Frederick G Coxen, his late grandfather.
If that was not enough, tucked deeper in the box was a more recent letter written in 1945.
The letter was addressed to no one in particular and was headed with the title "I Had A
Dream The Other Night". The letter told of a pact made in the summer of 1914 between
four young men to notify one another's family in the event that they became a fatality
in the war — an un-kept promise that had haunted his grandfather, also named Frederick, to
his dying day.
The Great Promise is thus the transition of a previously un-published primary source, the
journal of Captain Frederick G Coxen, into a fascinating historical account of the first
year of the First World War. It is also describes the personal quest of his grandson to
fulfil his un-kept promise.
Captain Frederick G Coxen answered the called to the colours in August 1914 and serve in the
Royal Field Artillery. He was among the first British soldiers to land in France at the
beginning of the First World War and fought in every major engagement until being gassed in
May 1915. His journal covers his first year at the front almost day by day; detailing his
reports, observations, emotional asides, musings, and even occasional jokes. It makes a
fascinating read, one that I recommend all those interested in the First World War.
Fighter Aces of the Great War
Stephen Wynn and Tanya Wynn
A subject that I confess before reading this book I knew little about.
The first ever powered flight was carried out by the Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur,
took place at Kitty Hawk in America, on 17 December 1903. By the time of the outbreak of the
First World War in 1914, aviation was just eleven years old. The dominant force on the
battlefield had until that point been the cavalry, a position it maintained even as war was
declared on the Western Front.
The use of the aircraft was not seen initially by either side of the conflict as an
offensive weapon. Instead they were used as observation platforms, or to take aerial
photographs. Even when they began to be used in an offensive capacity, they did not have
machine guns fitted to them, the crew would simply fire at their opponent with a pistol or
rifle.
As the war progressed, however, so did the application of aircraft. It changed from being
predominantly an observational tool for artillery into that of a fighter or bomber. Never
before had aircraft been used in this capacity and this book looks at the fighter aces from
all sides. These were pilots who had been credited with shooting or forcing down a minimum
of five enemy aircraft, of which there were hundreds. While some of these aces survived,
many of them were killed.
The most famous fighter ace is without doubt the German pilot known as the Red Baron,
Manfred von Richthofen. He was one of those to pay the ultimate price in this new type of
warfare when he was killed-in-action over the River Somme in 1918.
Amiens 1918 - From Disaster to Victory
Gregory Blaxland
Gregory Blaxland has written a superb account of 1918, the final year of the war when the
balance of advantage between the combatants changed so dramatically in a matter of weeks
that summer.
As the realities of the changing nature of warfare by late 1917 made the retention of static
lines, no matter how sophisticated, no longer a long term viable option for the defence; and
with Russia knocked out of the war, the Germans under Hindenburg and Ludendorff determined
on a bold series of major offensives, the first of which was aimed at the British Fifth Army
with the objective of seizing Amiens, a crucial rail head and the city that marked the
boundary between the BEF and the French. Capture this and the Germans had a good chance of
separating the key allied powers. Despite almost destroying Fifth Army and advancing within
ten miles of Amiens, the Germans failed in their objective; they turned to a number of other
hard thrusts along the line but were foiled on each occasions.
Reinforced by substantial numbers of American troops, the allies launched their first,
French led, counter attack on 18 July, which many considered the turning point of the 1918
campaign and, indeed the whole war. Shortly afterwards, on 8 August, the BEF (with some
French support) attacked with Fourth Army before Amiens and was stunningly successful – what
Ludendorff described as the ‘Black Day of the German Army’. There followed a sequence of
blows by all the allies along the Western Front, pushing the Germans back to the borders;
with her allies collapsing and with the Imperial Navy in a state of mutiny.
The book largely concentrates on the British and Dominion troops of the BEF. The first half
is taken up with the attack on Amiens (and, to a lesser extent, on Arras). In the second
half of the book the author provides a cohesive account of the British response in retaking
the initiative from the Germans, though not failing to give allied nations their due.
Besides giving a full narrative account, he also provides a useful critical commentary of
the performance of armies and generals.
This is a welcome reprint of an accessible account of the crucial year of the war, when on
the Western Front the conflict broke free of its entrenched deadlock. Despite the
extraordinary achievements of the BEF in 1918, they still remain remarkably little known and
even less appreciated.
Walking in the Footsteps of the Fallen
Verdun 1916
Christina Holstein
As a frequent visitor to the Verdun battlefield I am very familiar with the
'traditional' battlefield highlights and have guided numerous people around these
sites. This book goes beyond those traditional battlefield sites and details four walks that
connecting features and positions that were of considerable importance to the battle. It
helps make sense of the wider battlefield, that can be difficult to understand in the
forests that cover the ground today, and Christina has used many of the less visited and
often neglected battlefield memorials to bring the story of the individuals and units that
were thrown into the cauldron of Verdun to those following the walks.
This is a very useful book for those looking to go beyond the traditional tour and one that
will enhance the understanding of all who follow its four routes.
British Expeditionary Force - Advance to Victory - July to September 1918
Andrew Rawson
This is the story of the British Expeditionary Force's part in the opening days of the
Advance to Victory. It starts with the contribution to the Battle of Fère-en-Tardenois
in July; the counter-offensive which pushed the Germans back to the River Marne.
Fourth Army's attack on 8 August was called the Black Day of the German Army, but it was
only the beginning of 100 days of campaigning. The narrative follows the advance as it
expands across the Somme, the Artois and the Flanders regions. Time and again the British
and Empire troops used well-developed combined arms tactics to break through successive
lines of defence. By the end of September, all five of the BEF's armies had reached the
Hindenburg Line and were poised for the final advance.
Each stage of the two month battle is given the same treatment, covering the details of the
most talked about side of the campaign; the BEF's side. Over fifty new maps chart the
day by day progress of the five armies and together with the narrative, explain the British
Army's experience during the opening stages of the Advance to Victory. The men who made
a difference are mentioned; those who led the advances, those who stopped the
counter-attacks and those who were awarded the Victoria Cross. Discover the beginning of the
Advance to Victory and learn how the British Army had mastered the art of attack.
British Expeditionary Force - The Final Advance - September to November 1918
Andrew Rawson
This is the story of the British Expeditionary Force's part in the final days of the
Advance to Victory. It starts with the massive offensive against the Hindenburg Line at the
end of September 1918. Second Army launched the first of the British attacks in Flanders on
the 28th, followed by Fourth Army the next day along the St Quentin Canal.
Both First and Third Armies joined in, breaking the Hindenburg Line across the Lys plain and
the Artois region, taking Cambrai by 10 October. The narrative then follows the advance
through the battles of the River Selle and the River Sambre. It culminates with the final
operations, including the actions at Maubeuge and Mons, just before the Armistice on 11
November 1918. Time and again the British and Empire troops used well-rehearsed combined
arms tactics to break down German resistance as the four year conflict came to an end.
Each stage of the six week long battle is dealt with equally, focusing on the most talked
about side of the campaign, the BEF's side. Over fifty new maps chart the day by day
progress of the five armies. Together the narrative and the maps explain the British
Army's experience during the final days of the First World War. The men who led the
advances, broke down the defences and those who were awarded the Victoria Cross are
mentioned. Discover the end of the Advance to Victory and learn how the British Army reached
the peak of their learning curve.
Hero on the Western Front - Discovering Alvin York's WWI Battlefield
Michael Kelly
They knew it was the end. Weakened by four years of war, the reality had finally dawned on
the Germans that their armies could never stop the combined might of the Allied forces, now
bolstered by the fresh, enthusiastic Americans, who were now determined to be involved in
the conflict that had engulfed the world.
The US effort in 1918, in what became known as the Hundred Days Offensive, was focused on
the Argonne Forest. It was there that 1,200,000 men were deployed in what was to be the
largest offensive in the United States' military history.
It was in the fighting in the Argonne Forest that one of the most remarkable incidents in
the entire First World War took place. In October 1918, Corporal Alvin Cullum York
single-handedly captured 132 Germans and killed twenty-one in a desperate fire-fight.
York's battalion of the 328th Infantry Regiment had become pinned down by heavy
machine-gun and artillery fire. Its commander sent Sergeant Bernard Early, four
non-commissioned officers, including the recently promoted Corporal York, and thirteen
privates to infiltrate the German positions and neutralise the machine-guns. The small
American force came upon a large group of enemy troops having breakfast, and these were
taken prisoner. They then came under fire from German machine-guns which left eight men were
killed or wounded and York as the senior NCO. York and the survivors returned fire and
silenced the enemy, allowing the Americans to rejoin their battalion with the 132 prisoners
in tow. York was promoted to Sergeant and he received the Congressional Medal of Honor.
The site of this famous action was believed to have been identified in 2009 and a memorial
erected by the French authorities. However, a team of archaeologists, with help from the
French Department of Archaeology and the use of modern day Geographic Information Science,
believe that the memorial is incorrectly situated, and have uncovered thousands of exhibits
to support their claim.
Complete with detailed plans and diagrams, and a rich variety of photographs of locations
and artefacts, Michael Kelly presents not only a fascinating account of York's
determined courage, but also a detective story as the team unravels the evidence to reveal
the exact ravine where the most famous US military action of the First World War took place.
The Badges of Kitchener's Army
David Bilton
Badges of Kitchener's Army is based on thirty years research in museums, archives and
collections. It is an exhaustive study of the development of the battalion, brigade and
divisional signs of the thirty divisions raised by Kitchener's appeal for men.
While the divisional signs are well known, there has been little authoritative work on the
signs worn by the infantry battalions. The book will illustrate the unique cap and shoulder
titles used, as well as cloth signs worn to provide easy recognition in the trenches. Each
service battalion, of each regiment has a listing, which provides a brief history of the
unit and detailed information on the badges worn.
It is prodigiously illustrated and contains much information, like why a shape or colour was
chosen, when it was adopted, what size it was, whether it was worn on a helmet, what colour
the helmet was and even what colours were used on horse transport; the majority of this rich
and detailed information has never been published before. What helps make the information
accurate and authoritative is that much of it comes from an archive created at the time and
from personal correspondence with hundreds of veterans in the 1980s, many of whom still had
their badges and often had razor-sharp recollections about wearing them. The book will also
provide some comments from these veterans.
A further unique aspect of the book is that it will look at the uniforms and badges worn
before the battalions left the country, providing much new information that will enable
people to identify any photographs they have lying around.
A Visitor's Guide: The Battles of Arras South
Jon Cooksey and Jerry Murland
The companion to their A Visitor's Guide: The Battles of Arras North, this book covers the
battlefields to the south of Arras, including Battery Valley and Observation Ridge,
Telegraph Hill, Monchy-le-Preux, Wancourt, and Bullecourt. These are among the most famous
and more often visited sites on the Western Front, rivalled only by those around the Ypres
Salient and the 1916 battlefields of the Somme. This clear and concisely written guide is an
ideal introduction to them and a valuable addition to the library of the battlefield visitor
and armchair reader alike.
The guide helps visitors trace the course of each battle across the modern landscape and
gain a fascinating insight into the nature of the fighting in the area – and the wider
conflict across the Western Front – throughout the war. The book covers the key battles
fought in the southern sector of the Arras front, including the 1917 battles fought at
Battery Valley, Monchy-le-Preux, Wancourt and Bullecourt.
Jon Cooksey and Jerry Murland have devised a series of routes that can be walked, biked or
driven, explaining the fighting that occurred at each place in vivid detail. They record
what happened, where it happened and why, and point out the sights that remain for the
visitor to see. Their guidebook is essential reading for visitors who wish to enhance their
understanding of the war on the Western Front.
A Visitor's Guide: The Battles of Arras North
Jon Cooksey and Jerry Murland
The companion to their A Visitor's Guide: The Battles of Arras South, this book covers the
battlefields to the north of Arras are among the most famous and most visited sites on the
Western Front, rivalled only by those in the Ypres Salient and the 1916 battlefields of the
Somme. This clear and concisely written guide is an ideal introduction to them and a
valuable addition to the library of the battlefield visitor and armchair reader alike.
The guide helps visitors trace the course of each battle across the modern landscape and
gain a fascinating insight into the nature of the fighting in the area throughout the war.
The book covers the key battles fought in the northern sector of the Arras front, including
the 1917 Battle of Vimy Ridge and battles at Villers au Bois, Oppy Wood and Gavrelle.
Jon Cooksey and Jerry Murland have devised a series of routes that can be walked, biked or
driven, explaining the fighting that occurred at each place in vivid detail. They record
what happened, where it happened and why, and point out the sights that remain for the
visitor to see. Their guidebook is essential reading for visitors who wish to enhance their
understanding of the war on the Western Front.
Walking the Western Front - The Somme in Pictures - 2nd July 1916 - November 1916
Ed Skelding
The Walking the Western Front series started in 2012 with the release of two films on the
Ypres Salient. Directed by acclaimed film maker Ed Skelding with guest historian Nigel Cave,
the series of films offered a detailed tour of the battlefields, exploring the skirmishes
originally fought there as well as calling on Nigel's high level of expertise. The duo
also visited a number of war cemeteries and famous locations on the battlefields.
This book, brought to you by the same team, is aimed as a companion to the DVD series and
explores the history of the battlefields through the eyes of the camera team. Complete with
150 prints, both in colour and black and white taken over a twenty year period reflecting
the authors many filming trips to the Somme, the book shows the battlefield as it was almost
100 years ago and is accompanied by a shot of the exact same spot as it stands today. The
author then explains the significance of the photographs and why they were included in both
the book and the film. Battleground historian Nigel Cave will also contribute to proceedings
and add his expert knowledge to the narrative.
While researching the battlefields, the author has taken many photographs with the intention
of selecting locations for filming. Each has been carefully chosen to maintain the narrative
and, as much as possible, to put the viewer/reader on the spot where the action took place.