• History

      British Campaign Medals of the First World War by Peter Duckers 

      by
      Boldnotold
       Number of Views: 984 
      1. Categories:
      2. Non-Fiction,
      3. History,
      4. Military
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      This is another of the Shire books which I have reviewed. I have to say I've been impressed with this range of 'pint-sized information sources'. This one, as per its title, is a full description of all the Campaign Medals issued by the British as a result of the Great War.

      Like the others, it's full of clear facts, pictures to illustrate them, and interesting supporting information, like where to look for further information about military service records.
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      EIBF – History & Military History 

      by
      Auld-Yin
       Number of Views: 1057 
      1. Categories:
      2. Non-Fiction,
      3. History,
      4. Memoire/Battlefield Memoire,
      5. Military
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      This was the section that interested me more than anything and although this year did not have as many milhist events as previously, the quality was certainly well up with the best. What I will do here is mention the events I went to and if the book has been reviewed on ARRSE or our other sites then I will link to it.

      The first event was Professor Jeremy Black talking about his latest book War Since 1900. Not reviewed (yet) but a great talk by Prof Black. Last year we reviewed his book on Waterloo, this year the subject was much larger and wider in which the Prof took us through the major conflicts and how they have changed in the past 110 years, with innovations such as tanks, aircraft and submarines. As ever he gave a brilliant talk and invited the audience to write to him if they had any queries they would like to raise. He stressed write, as he said he would not respond to emails! I will be attempting to get this book for review, so keep an eye out for the review.
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      Children of Light – Gavin Weightman 

      by
      Sympathetic_Reaction
       Number of Views: 950 
      1. Categories:
      2. Non-Fiction,
      3. History,
      4. Non-Military
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      This book attracted my attention as I had been sure that there was a TV program on about the same subject – the history of electricity – I had never managed to watch it (and even now can’t find out what it was called) but this book seemed to fill a hole. Yes it is a bit geeky and maybe a little spotterish to want to know more about electricity but when you consider what we owe to the use of electrical power then I think it is worth understanding it’s evolution.

      The book follows the key players and pivotal moments from the late 1800’s through to pretty much the present day, it blows away the ‘history’ most people know about electricity – Edison wasn’t the first and definitely wasn’t the only inventor of light bulbs.
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      Bill Slim - by Robert Lyman 

      by
      OldSnowy
       Number of Views: 1187 
      1. Categories:
      2. Non-Fiction,
      3. History,
      4. Military
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      This is one of Osprey Publishing’s series on Great Commanders. It is a typical Osprey book, well illustrated and containing three specially commissioned coloured plates showing characters and situations that could have involved those mentioned in the text.

      It is a good introduction for anyone with an interest in Gen Slim, WWII in South-East Asia, or indeed anyone interested in how a single man can, by dint of leadership, personality and sheer hard work, turn the tide of an entire campaign. It contains a brief summary of his life, early career, and his achievements up until late-1941, but concentrates on the two vital campaigns that he led, and won – Burma and Meiktila. It then concludes with a bit on his opponents, and a summary of his life after XIV Army, including his tenure as Governor General of Australia.
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      The Women’s Institute by Susan Cohen 

      by
      Boldnotold
       Number of Views: 996 
      1. Categories:
      2. Non-Fiction,
      3. History,
      4. Memoire/Battlefield Memoire,
      5. Non-Military
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      This is another of the slim volumes produced by Shire. Like the one about the Olympics it’s well laid out, full of photos and information that most people probably don’t know, and a pleasure to read.

      You may wonder why I reviewed it for an army-based book club, but there is a surprising connection in the work done by the WI to feed and clothe soldiers returning from The Great War, allowing them to join Institutes, and to sell their work via WI Markets after knitting ‘comforts’ for them throughout the hostilities. In the Second World War, WIs helped billet evacuees, kept allotments, made camouflage nets and minesweepers’ gloves, as well as the famous fruit preservation which seems to be the only thing for which they are now remembered.
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      Thanks for the Memories 

      by
      granny
       Number of Views: 932 
      1. Categories:
      2. Non-Fiction,
      3. History,
      4. Memoire/Battlefield Memoire,
      5. Military
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      ‘What a strange world it is that we have grown up in. For as soon as we have begun to live, we have to think about dying’. So begins the Prologue to Leighton Bowens book.

      This is the tale of HIS war, from 1939 to 1945.

      Here, on these pages, you’ll not find the tales of monumental struggle and epic battles. Instead you’ll find the story of an ordinary man caught up in the historic events that changed the lives of so many people. His book uses letters, written to friends and family during these years; also his diaries that he managed to write and secrete about his person and of course, his memories.

      From working in a Bank in Frome to wearing khaki he tells the story of his early enlistment, on 2nd September 1939 to the day he arrives back at his job at the end of 1945.
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      Edinburgh International Book Festival 2011 

      by
      Auld-Yin
       Number of Views: 1305 
      1. Categories:
      2. Non-Fiction,
      3. History,
      4. Humour,
      5. Military
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      I went to several Events at the EIBF again this year and thoroughly enjoyed myself for a fortnight! Thanks to the CO’s for allowing me to go along and represent ARRSE. What I intend doing over the next few days is to give an idea of what I went along to see and where there was something of interest I will write a wee bit to perhaps entice you to look closer at the book concerned and perhaps get a copy!

      This first piece will be a general one about the festival as a whole and what was on offer.

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      Who Dares Wins by Gregory Fremond-Barnes 

      by
      Boldnotold
       Number of Views: 883 
      1. Categories:
      2. Non-Fiction,
      3. History,
      4. Memoire/Battlefield Memoire,
      5. Military
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      Subtitled 'The SAS and the Iranian Embassy Siege 1980'.

      This is a slim softbacked book, which looks to be part of a range under the heading 'Raid'. It's printed in rather small type, with margin notes and captions which don't necessary match the text or pictures adjacent, so a lot of concentration is required. Some of the explanations of the terrorists' motivations were quite long-winded, and it will take a clear head to absorb it all, but I wonder whether many readers will worry about the 'whys and wherefores', and just cut straight to the action. It has some good photos and an excellent pictorial diagram showing the sequence of events as the raid unfolded.
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