Featured battle : Blenheim

Part of The War of the Spanish Succession

Date : 13 August 1704

Although Tallard, commanding the French-Bavarian army, was surprised he still had time to draw up his army into a battle formation. He had a slight superiority in overall numbers, [56,000 to 52,000] and an advantage in artillery [90 guns to 66 guns] Partly because of initial errors in the disposition of the French Bavarians and partly trhrough the brilliant exploitation of this by Marlborough; the Allies were able to split the Franco-Bavarians into three isolated centres. The battle was intense from beginning, 12.30 to the end 21.00 and resulted in the overwhelming defeat of the French-Bavarian army and saved Vienna.

The Long Range Desert Group in the Aegean

Brendan O'Carroll
I read this book because I had enjoyed the author’s Images of War book on the Long Range Desert Group in North Africa. [reviewed elsewhere on this site]. How could they change from motorized desert men to foot slogging island hopper?
How they did it comes early in this gripping story of small groups of highly trained and motivated men fighting their war. Every chapters reads like a Boy’s Own story of daring do, of tough fighting and lucky escapes. But unlike adventure stories the heroes don’t always get away. Those that didn’t are listed in the Roll of Honour in the appendices. Brendan O’Carroll has done an enormous amount of research using both published and personal records. He gained the trust of ex-members of the LRDG and of the families of deceased soldiers. The result is a mass of information put over in a no nonsense easily accessible way. What is hardly mentioned, because the focus is so sharp, is the whole Aegean islands debacle which gives their noble exploits a context.
There are a few maps, some rather special photographs and a bibliography. I did find it useful to have read the desert book first as this seemed to fix the nature of the LRDG.
We highly recommend this book as a good read and as an insight into a little known war zone.

Pen & Sword Military, 2020