TOPIC:

Just read the Introduction on Amazon, oh dear! I hope that the authors don't write anymore and just let the despatches speak for themselves.

coldstream wrote: A new addition to the library added.
Despatches from the front

Regards
Paul

Hello Meurig,

The first chapters are a history of the village at the time.
The book then concentrates on the men of the village that went to fight in the war, dedicating a chapter to each man.
I have started to read and find it a good source of local history.

Regards
Paul

SWB wrote: Hello Paul

Is this book any good?

Regards
Meurig

coldstream wrote: A new book added to the collection this week, purchased from The Minster Bookshop York for a bargain price

www.ghsmithbookshop.com/index.php?main_p...info&products_id=180

Regards
Paul

Meurig,

The book does concentrate on original untouched despatches as far as I can see.
BTW I only paid a couple of pounds for it in a charity shop
Regards
Paul

SWB wrote: Just read the Introduction on Amazon, oh dear! I hope that the authors don't write anymore and just let the despatches speak for themselves.

coldstream wrote: A new addition to the library added.
Despatches from the front

Regards
Paul

'Old Enough To Fight' by Dan Black and John Boileau. Primarily about Canada's underage soldiers of the Great War this excellent book also covers the boy soldier tradition and we get six pages, including two illustrations, on Canadian boys in the ABW - Douglas Williams and Edward McCormick.

Amazing, the book relates the attempt by a nine year-old boy to enlist in 1916, in order to be with his father who was overseas. He was sent home to get his mother's permission and, amazingly, she gave it, signing a letter. Thankfully, he was rejected.

There's much sadness in some of the accounts of the boys' experiences in battle, as you'd expect. Well-written, with some astonishing photos - how on earth did some of these children get to the front? - even though it's in no way ABW-specific it's well worth looking for.

Forum members
I encountered the book "Plumer's Men" by Robert S. Burrell (ISBN 13:978-1-920169-55-8) upon AMAZON some time ago. I should note that I have no financial connection with - or interest in - AMAZON apart from buying the occasional item on-line. I have always had an interest in the Relief of Mafeking and I set it aside for holiday reading.
The author of the book makes some interesting remarks in his Preface; that the events leading up to the Relief have been forgotten because the relief forces did not suffer the devastating setbacks that happened elsewhere. He also commented that media coverage on the Rhodesia front was under represented (there being only a single Reuter's man embedded - and he was anyway injured); no Churchills or Conan Doyles!
Burrell also comments that he has attempted to clarify Hickman's narrative ("Rhodesia Served the Queen" Vols 1 and 2) and honestly admits that "many gaps" remain.
This book is soft-bound and some of the illustrations are occasionally a bit muddy. The author explains that the original intention was to print in full colour and reasons of cost led to black-and-white.
I regard the book as being a useful addition to my shelves.
Regards IL.

Best book on the ABW is a trilogy by Deneys Reitz called Adrift on the Open Veld. A lot of insight into the hardships and day to day life.