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Featured battle : Mons
Part of First World War
Date : 23 August 1914
The BEF, formed to the left of the French Fifth army advanced with them into Belgium where they met the full force of the German First Army near Mons. Sir John French's efficient and professional army (often regarded as the finest Britain ever put into the field) although heavily outnumbered, fought back stoutly, and held the German advance. Although ready to counter-attack the following day, the French withdrawal from the Sambre threatened the British flank so the BEF was forced to fall back.
Featured image :
French AMX 10 Light Tank
An AMX 10 Light Tank of the French Foreign Legion, probably the 1st REC, as part of the Coalition forces against the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Note that this useful item of light armour is wheeled, rather than tracked for speed and durability on roads as well as a descent off-road capability. It is armed with a powerful 105mm gun.
Gallery updated : 2022-04-04 08:33:43
Featured review :
Fighting with the Long Range Desert Group
Brendan O'Carroll
War may be viewed on many levels a national conflict and the strategic sweep of armies or the placing of divisions and brigades but at the base of the pyramid everything depends on individual men. This superb book is about one of those men who fought his war as a member of a very special unit the Long Range Desert Group. The motto of the LRDG was ‘Not by strength by guile’ and although they had to do quite a lot of fighting their most important role meant they should avoid any contact with the enemy wherever possible. Put briefly their mission was to go deep, hundreds of miles, behind enemy lines gather intelligence and cause disruption. An example of this is the road watch incredibly dangerous and boring but of enormous value to allied intelligence. Information which could not be gathered in any other way. What it meant to the men who lay in cover within a few hundred yards of the road and recorded vehicle movements for 24 hours at a stint we can barely imagine.
Brendan O’Carroll has done an excellent job, using large sections of Merlyn Craw’s diary, to bring to life a true picture of this special unit. The book is rich in detail of ‘every day’ life and the equipping and organizing of the ‘trips’ into the desert behind enemy lines. Supporting the text are many special photographs and maps. The ten appendices add even more fascinating detail.
This gripping story is very highly recommended.
Pen & Sword Military, 2022
Reviewed : 2022-06-13 10:29:27
