This is the story of the New Zealand R Patrol, Long Range Desert Group, who within their ranks had some very distinguished icons such as Jake Easonsmith, Don Steele, Dick Croucher Tony Browne, Bluey Grimsey, and Buster Gibb. Their stories are told, including that of many others, mostly in the words of the participants themselves by way of wartime operational reports, diaries, personal letters, and post war interviews. This provides a human touch to the narrative, examining the thoughts and observations of those who served. The work also explains the formation of the unit, including its early missions and of the vehicles, supplies, weapons, and equipment used. In addition, serving as a âEUR¿Taxi ServiceâEUR(TM) for behind the line missions carrying agents, commandos, military observers, rescuing downed airmen and escaped PoWs. Chapters are also devoted to working with the SAS and Free French, supporting the Eighth Army, and undertaking the Road Watch. This includes dramatic accounts of air attacks and ground actions against enemy convoys and engagements with Axis forces. This is all supported by 288 images including maps and art.
COIN - counterinsurgency - is a major element in international relations - both historical and 'IR theory' - and in military history. It was a vital component in the Cold War and decolonisation. COIN is now widely contrasted with 'Big War' theory in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war and proxy-war with NATO, but is still a global phenomenon. Dhofar as a mis-ruled province of 'medieval' Oman, saw insurgency initiated by the Dhofar Liberation Front (DLF) and its successors organizations including the Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman and the Arabian Gulf (PFLOAG). These were supported variously by China, the USSR and other Middle Eastern countries such as Egypt and Iraq, but the insurgency was defeated by a combination Omani, British, Iranian and Jordanian forces. The COIN win in Dhofar prevented the spread of Communism on the Arabian Peninsula, thereby protecting British Middle Eastern influence and the vital Gulf oil supply to both the UK and wider Western economic bloc. The war and associated counterinsurgency (COIN) campaign can be considered a unique or 'sui generis' military 'success', with revolutionary forces overcome in a difficult and often brutal campaign involving British forces including its elite SAS Regiment, along with Jordanian and Iranian military aid. The study covers much more than the Dhofar campaign and contrasts the Omani example with other British COIN operations in major decolonising territories and 'Emergencies' (1945-1999). These include the campaigns undertaken in Palestine, Malaya, Kenya, Cyprus, Brunei/Borneo, Aden and Northern Ireland; which highlight the many similar aspects of these examples shared with the Dhofar War, but also that its unique status in the British COIN historiography should be acknowledged.
_Battle of Monte Natale_ brings together contemporary accounts showing war, not only at the strategic level involving Corps, Division, Brigade and Battalion, but also the individual level, by extensive use of War Diaries, personal accounts, missing person reports and the inspiring stories of heroism and the sacrifices made which were recognised by the awards for valour. It is the story of those individuals who fought and died in the Battle of Monte Natale. Minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, by words, pictures, and maps it shows what happened in the three weeks from 17th January to 7th February 1944 in an area of just nine square kilometres. It is a unique glimpse of an important battle from both sides of the conflict and includes personal German and British views of the battle. Few books about World War II show a battle in such detail.
During the war hundreds of German panzer commanders and gunners accomplished the feat of personally destroying at least 20 enemy tanks. In this book they are for the first time all gathered together, with their individual stories examined in detail using officially documented combat actions, kills and awards. and illustrated with over 300 photos.
Although the Guards Armoured Division and its sister formation the 6th Guards (Tank) Brigade shared a common origin, they went on to forge quite different operational records. One of the units would be tarnished by its failures while the other was applauded for its successes. A month after VE Day, the two GuardsâEUR(TM) armoured formations would be reunited one last time before being officially disbanded. During the intervening years, the Guards faced criticism, public ridicule, the threat of disbandment, and many other challenges. Nevertheless, these armoured Guardsmen would prevail on the battlefield. In response to the threat of a German invasion of the British Isles, the Guards Armoured Division formed in the spring of 1941\. But why convert battalions of Foot Guards, considered by many to be first-class infantry, into an armoured formation? Certainly, many people were sceptical that 'spit-and-polish' Guardsmen could ever adapt to a new armoured role. As the threat of invasion receded, the Guards Armoured Division and 6th Guards (Tank) Brigade embarked on years of training while the war raged elsewhere. This book examines the decision to form the Guards Armoured Division and then keep it at home for an extended period. Once deployed to Normandy, the fighting quickly revealed shortcomings in the Division's training, equipment, and operational procedures. In contrast, when the Churchill tanks of the 6th Guards (Tank) Brigade went into action south of Caumont it was to prove an affirmation of everything they had learnt in training. Over the next ten months, the GuardsâEUR(TM) armoured formations would celebrate victories and lament failures while fighting their way across northwest Europe. This book examines how the decision to raise a Guards Armoured Division came about, and why the idea met with such strong opposition. It also takes an in-depth look at the training, equipment, and culture of the Brigade of Guards, and how that influenced the two formationsâEUR(TM) preparedness for war. Once deployed overseas, the book explores how the Guards were able to adapt to changing conditions on the battlefield and adopt new operational and tactical procedures. Finally, the book reveals why the GuardsâEUR(TM) armoured formations were hurriedly disbanded in June 1945\. Additionally, using new archive material, the book discloses why it took over a decade to publish the âEUR¿officialâEUR(TM) history of the Guards Armoured Division.
As the war progressed Hitler did not need obedient bureaucrats like Keitel, failures like Paulus and was paranoid about having military leaders who were loyal. The three field marshals in this book were amongst the best. Field Marshal Kesselring gained a reputation in Italy as an expert in defence, and his Allied code name was The Emperor. Kesselring was diplomatic, charming, known as Smiling Albert, but convicted as a war criminal which may not have happened had it not been for the bitter partisan war. Field Marshal Rommel is surrounded by myths which need disentangling. He possessed exceptional qualities of command and leadership, with personal courage and determination, but had problems caused by two major reasons. The first was his relentless ambition, which prevented him from self-criticism and self-evaluation. The second was his meteoric rise in command, and like many other commanders driven by ambition. Field Marshal Model when on the battlefield led his men so well it is surprising that little is known of him. He fought defensive battles in a way hardly matched by any other German general. He had the immense capability of keeping his nerve, but his skills as a commander, were not matched by the sort of personality which may have given him a similar status as with Rommel, and not helped by challenging Hitler. Model had a reputation of being so tough even Hitler claimed he would not want to serve under him, he was known as the Frontschwein (front-line pig).
Under cloudless blue skies, the Oakwood Cemetery Annex in Montgomery, Alabama hosts the largest Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in the United States. Most of the graves contain young RAF trainee pilots killed during their flying training at nearby Maxwell and Gunter airfields during the Second World War. However, there is another grave, located at the edge of the plot, not from the early 1940s but, from 1954\. The grave marks the final resting place of a 44-year-old senior RAF officer, Air Commodore Geoffrey Stephenson CBE. It begs the questions who was he and why is he buried there?This book sets out to answer both these questions. As a result, this is the remarkable story of not only StephensonâEUR(TM)s life but the people, planes and places that would leave an indelible mark on a seasoned fighter pilot. After growing up in Lincolnshire and Ireland, 18-year-old Stephenson joined the RAF in 1928 alongside Douglas Bader who would become a life-long friend. After leaving Cranwell, the pair both joined 23 Squadron. In the 1930s, Stephenson rose through the ranks to command 19 Squadron, a Duxford-based Spitfire unit, that would see his baptism of fire over Dunkirk in late May 1940\. Following the downing of a Junkers Ju 87 Stuka, Stephenson was himself shot down and crash landed on the beach at Sangatte. After a brief period on the run in France and Belgium, Stephenson was taken into captivity, spending the next five years as a prisoner of war, ending up at the iconic Colditz Castle where, ironically, he was reunited with his old friend Bader. Upon his release in April 1945, Stephenson quickly resumed his RAF career commanding, instructing, and flying the latest jet fighters, both at home and overseas. He was aide-de-camp to two monarchs, including escorting a young Queen Elizabeth II during her 1953 Coronation Review. However, his already eventful career would take a tragic turn. In 1954, Stephenson flew to the United States to review their latest acquisitions, which included a flight in the supersonic F-100 Super Sabre. It would be his last flight. Nevertheless, StephensonâEUR(TM)s legacy lives on at his former base at Duxford in the guise of the Imperial War MuseumâEUR(TM)s immaculately restored Spitfire Mk.I N3200\. This was the very aircraft in which he force-landed on 26 May 1940\. Recovered from the French beach, N3200 was painstakingly rebuilt and returned to flying condition. Today, N3200 is often referred to as a âEUR¿National TreasureâEUR(TM). This is the biography of a remarkable pilot, husband and father, revealing the planes he flew, the places he visited, and the incredible people he met along the way.
The first days of the Battle of the Bulge saw tactical defeats for several formations of the US army. The Saint-Vith sector was particularly hard hit by the surprise attack that prevailed on the morning of 16 December 1944\. Two American units, the 106th Infantry Division and the 14th Cavalry Group, were crushed in front of this small town, which was of vital importance to the German offensive in the Ardennes. To the north-west of Saint-Vith is a small hamlet consisting of a few houses: Poteau. The area is well known to military history enthusiasts thanks to a series of photographs taken by a German Propaganda Kompagnie, which were later captured by the US Army and have since become famous the world over. Although this series of photographs was a staging point for a propaganda battle, their frequent appearance in history books on the Ardennes offensive prompted the author to investigate what really happened in this small village on the border between the Ardennes and the German-speaking cantons of Belgium, and how its history is closely linked to the drama of the Battle of Saint-Vith.
With its back against the wall in the summer of 1940 methods to hit back at the Germans occupying Europe were urgently sought. The Special Operations Executive was created to operate as a secret army, able to send operatives into Europe and to fight behind enemy lines. Their role encompassed espionage, sabotage and reconnaissance. They were also key in helping to establish resistance networks in occupied countries âEUR" most notably in France in preparation for D-Day. The location of their headquarters led to them being known as âEURthe Baker Street IrregularsâEUR? and they attracted recruits from the professional classe including lawyers, bankers, secretaries and even housewives. Another rich source was the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry.
This is a study of the officers who were promoted to the rank of general and who were also awarded the KnightâEUR(TM)s Cross during the early period of HitlerâEUR(TM)s assault upon the Soviet Union. This takes us from the great onslaught of Operation _Barbarossa_, through to HitlerâEUR(TM)s decision to abandon his attempt to capture Moscow and adopt a temporary defensive stance due to the early onset of winter. Such was the scale of operations during these momentous first six months of the war on the Eastern Front there were endless opportunities for officers to display courage and leadership. This resulted in a total of 178 generals âEUR" twenty-six _Generalmajors_; fifty-six _Generalleutnants_, eighty-four full _Generals_, eleven _Generalobersts_ and one _Generalfeldmarschall_ âEUR" being awarded the KnightâEUR(TM)s Cross in this period alone. One such recipient was _General der Artillerie_ Erich Marcks who personally directed the fire of his guns against enemy bunkers at very close range. On the day he was notified of his award of the KnightâEUR(TM)s Cross he was seriously wounded and had to have his left leg amputated. Despite this he returned to service in March 1942 and was later awarded the KnightâEUR(TM)s Cross with Oakleaves. _General der Infanterie_ Ernst Schroth, the Commanding General of the XII Army Corps, was awarded the KnightâEUR(TM)s Cross for his part in the attack on the Brest-Litvosk Fortress in June 1941\. Considered a staunch supporter of Hitler, he was appointed to the Court of Honour which investigated those members of the Wehrmacht who had participated in the 20 July 1944 _Valkyrie_ plot to kill the Fÿhrer. Hermann-Heinrich Behrend was just a Major when he was awarded the KnightâEUR(TM)s Cross on 15 July 1941\. This was for his actions while commanding I. Battalion of the 489th Infantry Regiment in its successful breakthrough of the enemyâEUR(TM)s heavily defended lines southeast and east of Tauroggen in Lithuania on 22 June 1941\. Behrend continued to display great courage and resourcefulness, which saw him rise to the rank of _Generalmajor_ and the later awards of both the KnightâEUR(TM)s Cross with Oakleaves, and the KnightâEUR(TM)s Cross with Oakleaves and SwordsWith each of these 178 entries there is a detailed description of how and where the KnightâEUR(TM)s Cross was won and in the case of the higher awards, such as the Oakleaves, Swords and Diamonds, who presented the award, where and when. This study provides details of their rank and command at the time of the award as well as also detailing their career during the war and after, with investigations into their fate and post-war life. The book is completed with a considerable number of photographs of many of these officers.
The Commandos stand out as an iconic and fascinating formation who will always be of interest to the reading public. Created in June 1940, just after the fall of France, the commandos were established as a small, elite raiding and reconnaissance force with the express intention of hitting back at the Germans when few alternatives were available. During the war the formation grew in size and complexity, taking part in the most dangerous and compelling actions, and making themselves indispensable.
Whether it is their innovative technical development or the Nazi propaganda harping them as revolutionary wonder weapons, readers interested in World War II find the research on 'German secret weapons' very interesting. The V1, a flying bomb we would now call a cruise missile, opened in June 1944 and soon dozens of them were hitting England day and night. Churchill was so worried that he issued a memorandum proposing to drop poison gas on German cities. To strengthen the faith of the German people in the final victory, despite an increasingly desperate military situation, Nazi propaganda gave the name to this new weapon, V1 for Vergeltungswaffe 1, weapon of revenge number 1. The first V2s, a large liquid-fuelled rocket, were fired against Paris and London on September 8. The V1s and V2s, but also jet engines, were produced by slave workers in the underground factory of Mittelwerk. Inmates from nearby Dora concentration camps provided the labour force, the usual gruesome methods were employed, and over 20,000 of the forced laborers of the Mittelwerk perished. The SS finally seized power not onlye of the production of V-Weapons but also of their operational command. The last months of World War II, when Germany was on the defensive on all fronts and desperately looking for 'wonder weapons', saw a number of ineffective, albeit innovative, technical developments. Among them were the HDP and the Rheinbote, the third and fourth V-Weapons, which were launched into battle in small numbers. V-weapons were indeed inventive weapon concepts, but it must be remembered that Nazi Germany failed to realize that the real super-weapon was going to come from nuclear technology. The only real superweapon of World War II, the atomic bomb, was developed by the Western Allies. The Allied powers had recognized the technical potential of the V2s and to learn German technique of launching long-range rockets, an Operation 'Backfire' was conducted in the summer of 1945 with captured German personnel supervised by British technical experts. Three V2s were launched in October. The United States wasted no time in acquiring 120 top rocket scientist Germans and the first test of a V2 on American soil took place on March 3, 1946\. The Russians also captured German rocket technicians who quickly resumed their work in Russia.
Amir, an Afghan officer, faces trials and survival in the battlefield, rising through the ranks amid challenges.Following the defeat of the Taliban in 2001 Amir joined the Afghan Army becoming an officer. For the next five or so years he is involved in fighting the resurgent Taliban alongside American, British and other coalition soldiers. During an operation to capture a district in Faryab province, his friend Jawad and several other of his soldiers are killed in an ambush and he berates the Afghan Brigade Commander in front of other senior officers, including some from the coalition. Arrested on suspicion of sympathy with the Taliban he faces Court Martial until a US Marine who had been an adviser attached to the Afghan battalion defends him, producing evidence that the Afghan Brigade Commander deliberately suppressed intelligence because the Taliban were holding some of his family hostage. Amir is acquitted but is advised that many senior Afghan officers distrust him for what they see as a betrayal leading Amir to transfer to Special Forces where he is put in command of his own team.On one operation in Helmand, Amir and his team are cut off and besieged in an old fort for nine days, forced to survive by eating snakes and lizards after their food runs out. Fortunately, just before their ammunition ran out a British force backed up by helicopter gunships and American bombers breaks the siege.Amir went on to become a battalion commander for his last four years serving as the US started to withdraw troops and hand over responsibility to the Afghan Army.
From the glamour of Kennedy's presidency to the enigma of Lee Oswald and the murky world of Jack Ruby, learn their motivations, and see the shadows that continue to linger over one of the most significant moments in modern history. Unraveling the threads of the Cold War and the Cuban conflict, this historical backdrop fuels the paranoid tension leading up to that fateful day in Dallas, and offers fresh perspectives on a pivotal period in American history. Explore the Kennedy legacy. In an era marked by skepticism towards powerful institutions, Kennedy's legacy compels us to question, analyze, and seek transparency. JFK's assassination emerges as a stark reminder of the consequences of unchecked power
Prisoners of war (POWs) are an important part in the history of the Second World War. Nikolaos Theotokis, in this vividly written book, examines the subject, taking a closer look at the hundreds of thousands of Axis military personnel, including women (mostly German), who were held in POW camps, POW cages, prisons or forced labour camps, after being captured by or surrendering to Allied forces, between 1940 and 1945, in the North African, European and Pacific theatres of operations. Hundreds of cases of officers of the Wehrmacht and the SS, as well as of the Royal Italian and the Imperial Japanese Armies have been grouped by the author in two main categories: those who were taken prisoner by Allied forces and those who surrendered to them. This is not a book about military might, but about people, many of whom were proven innocent victims of circumstance. Officers who committed suicide to avoid capture and others who were charged and punished as war criminals are separately presented, along with a great number of foreign volunteers who were captured by or surrendered to Allied forces during the war, after joining units of the German or the Japanese Armies. Members of the military and secretarial staff of Adolf Hitler who were imprisoned after the German capitulation are also highlighted in the book, along with cases of high-ranking officers in co-belligerent Romania, who were harshly punished by their countryâEUR(TM)s post-war communist authorities for being anti-communists and for having fought against the Red Army. Another category also examined by the author are the German prisoners who were handed over to Joseph Stalin by the western Allies in May 1945 as a gesture of friendship, although the Soviet Union had not signed the Geneva Convention. This book is a concise, authoritative account of the Axis POWs, being also an unrivalled source of information on the subject.
Major Alexander Sanderson DSO, MC & Bar, MiD was one of the ablest and most experienced mining engineers to serve on the Western Front in the First World War. Following on from his early, adventurous life in the outback, in this biography, written by his grandson, we reveal the full story of the highly technical war he waged below, and above, No ManâEUR(TM)s Land near Lens in France as part of the 3rd Australian Tunnelling Company. As a young New Zealand-born student of the West Australian Engineer-in-Chief, he attended the School of Mines and became an underground goldmine manager alongside H.C. Hoover, the future US President. After a construction business venture with his friend John Monash (later General Sir), he undertook camel treks across the harsh Ashburton desert, sinking artesian wells and gold prospecting, before joining the Army, having abandoned his claim to a million-acre cattle station to do so. Enrolling as a Captain (HQ staff), as a Mining Corps expert Sanderson was tasked with listing all the equipment, such as winches, fans, generators etc., necessary for speeding up a war underground. SandersonâEUR(TM)s first Military Cross was awarded for his role during the Battle of Fromelles in July 1916, during which he was wounded by shellfire while repairing an explosive charge in No ManâEUR(TM)s Land. Sent to Hill 70 at Loos, his Company was at once pitched into a silent, deadly underground âEUR¿cat and mouseâEUR(TM) war of nerves with German pioneers. SandersonâEUR(TM)s rapid survey of the galleries and his alert listenersâEUR(TM) acuity soon pinpointed the tunnels of the out-manoeuvred enemy miners. Hit by three huge camouflets, the enemy ceased mining. SandersonâEUR(TM)s second MC and wound stripe were awarded after a successful night-time raid to destroy enemy shafts. When his CO was killed by a sniper, he took over command. We also read how the Australians constructed a vast network of defensive subways for the infantry from La BassÃ(c)e to Hill 70\. SandersonâEUR(TM)s defensive Hythe Tunnel, constructed in 1918, complete with pivoting bascule doors and sliding internal walls, was considered one of the finest tunnels on the Western Front. During the Blitz in the Second World War, Sanderson was put in charge of repairs to the bomb-damaged London Underground. Such was his tunnelling skills, he was also a consultant structural engineer for both the Cabinet War Rooms and ChurchillâEUR(TM)s underground bunker, following which Winston presented him with a box of his cigars as a token of the Prime MinisterâEUR(TM)s appreciation. Such was SandersonâEUR(TM)s technical ability, in 1942 he submitted secret revolutionary âEUR¿Tilt-wingâEUR(TM) and âEUR¿Vertical Take OffâEUR(TM) aeronautical designs to the Air Ministry, all of which are revealed in this biography of one manâEUR(TM)s service in two world wars.
Rose West: Her very name is synonymous with evil. Described as a chattel by her father, a cow by her husband, and a monster by the Press, yet the only person to interview her saw her as an ordinary grandmother: she could be the old woman living next door. This is the story of how a pretty young girl became one of Britain's worst female serial killers, with expert analysis on why she embarked on a legacy of slaughter when she was a mere teen, torturing and butchering her own daughter. It sheds new light on her mental state and how, even before she was born, she was receiving an onslaught of irrevocable damage to her development in a unique set of circumstances that created the mind of a serial killer. It is also, more importantly, the stories of the other women involved; her abused mother, the women lured to their deaths, the nanny who escaped, and the family of the most notorious woman still alive in Britain today. Understanding Rose West also uncovers evidence of police involvement in the murders, and looks at more possible victims and their whereabouts, and whether Rose was more involved in the murders than previously thought. It also examines how children are still dying at the hands of abusers today - have lessons been learned?Featuring the latest views of some of the people involved in the Wests' case, Understanding Rose West is the most comprehensive analysis of the psyche of this notorious killer.
Known as âEUR¿Fat AlbertâEUR(TM), LockheedâEUR(TM)s ubiquitous C-130 Hercules was a product of combat experiences gained during the Korean War, a conflict that highlighted the need for a rugged transport aircraft designed with a do-anything, go-anywhere ethos in mind. First flown in August 1954, the C-130, powered by four turboprop engines mounted underneath a high wing which allowed for effortless loading via a rear ramp, soon proved its worth as a highly versatile aircraft. The easily configured cargo area helped the C-130 stand out from the crowd, and soon variants began to appear, with the first being a ski-equipped resupply aircraft. It was this type of tasking the C-130 excelled at, and soon air movement staff was developing new ways to deploy cargo. This included low-level drops, proving invaluable in aiding isolated disaster-struck areas. Other variants included air-to-air tankers, electronic reconnaissance platforms and weather reconnaissance aircraft. Now produced by Lockheed Martin, the C-130 has become synonymous with tactical airlifting and is the longest continuously produced military aircraft since the first one rolled off the production line in 1954\. In fact, since its introduction into service the C-130 has produced over seventy variants, including gunships, search-and-rescue and scientific research aircraft, and is currently in service with some seventy nations. As well as the military C-130, Lockheed has also produced a commercial variant of their famous aircraft, the L-100\. Not for nothing do Lockheed Martin claim that there is at least one C-130 airborne somewhere in the world at any given moment in time. With over 2,500 produced, and some almost thirty years old, that's more than plausible. This Flight Craft title offers the aviation enthusiast, historian and modeller an exciting selection of C-130-related resources through photographs, illustrations and excellent showcase examples to help build their own versions of this hugely successful, highly flexible aircraft.
It was every British servicemanâEUR(TM)s duty, be he soldier, sailor or airman, to attempt to evade capture if stranded behind enemy lines or escape if captured. As there were potentially thousands of men who would find themselves cut off or captured during the Second World War, a branch of military intelligence, M.I.9, was set up in 1939 to instruct servicemen in evasion and escape techniques. Such was the success of M.I.9, and the determination and ingenuity of individuals and groups, about 35,000 Allied military personnel escaped PoW camps or evaded capture and made their way to Allied or neutral countries. How this highly secret unit was set up and organised, and how its great success was achieved, was documented by M.I.9 officers towards the end of the war âEUR" and is published here for the first time. The history includes details of the lectures given to troops on how to avoid capture if on the run in enemy occupied territory (more than 2,000 lectures were given, to over half-a-million men), and of secret equipment issued to them to help them escape, such as the well-know silk maps and small but comprehensive escape kits. When servicemen escaped and returned to the UK, they were interrogated by specially selected M.I.9 officers and their stories were used to show troops how they too could evade capture. These provide some of the most fascinating, and often funny, stories to come out of the Second World War. How, for example, one man had to cross a bridge over a canal in Holland where a German sentry was stood on the other side. As he considered his options a Dutch woman approached pushing her baby in a pram. The man explained that he was British and the lady handed him the pram and put her arm through his, and together they crossed the bridge and passed the sentry. On another occasion at a railway station, an evader attracted the attention of a German officer. A group of French women arrived, and the man rushed over to the group, embraced one of the women and asked them to speak to him in French. This they did, pretending he was their friend, and the officer turned away. Such stories helped show servicemen how to forge documents, how to travel through enemy-occupied countries without being detected, what disguises could be used that would not attract the attention of the enemy, and also provided lists of local people willing to help escapers âEUR" and this included Pope Pius XII, who actually had a private meeting with one of the escapers in the Vatican! The troops were also instructed how to write coded messages in letters to the UK from PoW camps. All this is revealed in this utterly fascinating book.
Henry Harford was a young officer in the British Army and the adjutant of his own regiment when tensions were rising between the British colonial government in Natal and the independent Zulu kingdom in 1878\. In the face of these tensions, Harford volunteered for temporary special service and first served as a Lieutenant in the Natal Native Contingent before going on to resume his commission and adjutancy of his regiment in Natal during the 1879 Anglo-Zulu War. _The Zulu War Journal_ tells the true story of his experience during this time, providing readers with fascinating eye-witness accounts of the conflict. HarfordâEUR(TM)s journal chronicles key events in the Zulu Wars in captivating, eye-opening detail and pays tribute to all those who fought bravely alongside him. Among the episodes covered are: the disaster at Isandlwana; the heroic battle at RorkeâEUR(TM)s Drift; the recovery of the Queen's Colour of the 1st Battalion, 24th Regiment, at Fugitive's Drift; and the hunt for the Zulu king Cetshwayo. This comprehensive new edition of the journal offers readers even more insight into and details about the conflict thanks to a host of contemporary photographs and expert commentary from leading Anglo-Zulu specialist John Laband. A truly fascinating and dramatic testimony, this updated edition of _Henry Harford's Anglo-Zulu War Journal_ is essential reading for anyone interested in military history. **About the author** Colonel Henry Harford C.B. was an experienced military officer who played a significant role in the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879\. He first served as a lieutenant in the Natal Native Contingent before going on to resume his commission and adjutancy of his own regiment during the war. He became Colonel of the 99th (Wiltshire) Regiment and was invested a Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (CB) in 1907.
_British Gangs_ covers the first fifty years of the twentieth century, a time of upheaval and war during which the public came to fear groups of young men. Much of this fear was whipped up by an expanding newspaper industry trying to increase sales with alarming and salacious stories. The book finds that the gangs were not as big a menace as the public were led to believe, but their activities are no less thrilling or important in the present day. This is a gripping account of one aspect of working class life. It covers the better-known gangsters of the time such as the McDonalds, Sabinis and Cortesis, Alf Solomon and Billy Kimber, but also, as a result of days spent in newspaper archives, uncovers many stories as they were reported at the time. Car and bus chases, gun battles, shoplifting, violent activity at sporting events, simple street con artists and more are all included in this trove of gang stories, most of which have been forgotten. The book covers many lesser-known incidents and stories from Britain's gangs, including a look at female criminals such as Alice Diamond, Mary Carr, Florrie Holmes, Kathleen Cooper and Josephine O'Dare, and the successful nightclub owner Kate Meyrick. Gangs from around the country are included, in cities including Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, Hull, Sheffield, Newcastle, Leeds, Belfast and Dublin, as well as the more often-covered Birmingham and London. Prison time also features, as an important part of a criminal's life that is not often included in books on gangsters. This is an important contribution to the recorded history of British gangs.
This is the story of the women from the Indian Subcontinent who fought against British imperial power from the 1600s until the independence of India and Pakistan in 1947\. It begins by looking at the Partition of India, and the unique impact this had on women who âEUR" in addition to the displacement and violence which affected millions of South Asians, suffered uniquely through a campaign of rape, abduction, and forced suicides which left a lasting impact on the souls of women from every community. It then seeks to shine a light on the often-forgotten story of these women âEUR" who were not just passive victims of British, and later, communal violence, but who fought alongside (or sometimes at the head of) their male counterparts to secure the fall of the British Raj and the independence of their own nation. The stories of up to forty women, are examined, from various religious and racial communities across South Asia who advocated for Indian Independence and should be remembered and celebrated as influential freedom fighters in the same way that their male contemporaries have been. The book concludes by briefly examining the role of women in Indian nationalist movements today, and how this can be traced to the precedent set by their ancestors during the colonial era.
In a collective voice calling for peace tracing back to pre-World War II, Don't Call Us Girls follows the protests of women and their allies from the White House to the Arc de Triomphe, heralding their impact on today's world.Don't Call Us Girls examines the importance of women's participation in the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, and the international anti-war movement. This collective voice for peace, and an end to nuclear proliferation, reached back to before the Second World War and then firmly embedded itself during the war years when women assumed such important roles in the workplace that Franklin D. Roosevelt called them the 'Arsenal of Democracy'.When the men returned from war, women were encouraged by forces as powerful as government agencies and eminent psychiatrists to return to their 'place' at home. And return home they did, only to realize that they could use the skills they practiced as housewives to begin organizing themselves into groups that would start a wave of protest action that swept through the late 1950s, gathering up the Civil Rights Movement as it hurtled ever forward through the next two decades.In the 1960s and 1970s, no institution or convention was sacred--many aspects of women's lives were fair game for criticism, protest, and change. In this no-holds-barred era, women debated everything from international nuclear policies, pay equity and child care for women, to reproductive rights and sexual politics. They protested in the streets, outside the White House, in Trafalgar Square, at the Arc de Triomphe, on university campuses, and just about anywhere else they would be heard. They were tired of the role society had cast for them and they would not rest until they saw the substantial change that seemed promising with the emergence of Second Wave Feminism in the 1970s. While we still live in a patriarchal society, we have these women to thank for many of the freedoms we now enjoy. If they have taught us anything, it is never to stop pushing back against the patriarchy and to rest only when we are truly equal. The final chapter of Don't Call Us Girls reminds us that there is still a lot of work to do.
For its first two centuries the Roman Empire enjoyed a relatively peaceful existence. There were short periods of trouble and instability, but they had no lasting effect. At the end of the second century AD, the situation began to change and by the third century the Empire was beset by serious internal and external threats. _Rome in the Third Century_ examines this time of troubles. Michael Sage begins by analysing the available sources, which are difficult to use and provide mostly fragmentary glimpses of the period and looks at the surprising disappearance of historical writing in the western half of the empire. He then discusses in detail the increasing pressures on RomeâEUR(TM)s northern and eastern frontiers, along with the growing internal threats that the empire faced as the state weakened and experienced increasing internal disintegration. He then narrates the period between the death of the emperor Septimius Severus in 211 and the accession of the emperor Diocletian at the end of the century, when a reformed empire emerged, in many respects very different from its predecessor. The crucial changes in government and the military of this period are explained and assessed and there is a new analysis of contemporary views, both Christian and pagan, of the crisis.
In the heart of 19th-century London, a remarkable woman emerged from adversity to reshape the landscape of nursing education. Born in 1843, Rebecca Strong faced the challenges of widowhood and motherhood by the tender age of 20\. Her indomitable spirit and commitment to service led her to the hallowed halls of nursing, where she became a protege of none other than Florence Nightingale. Collaborating with the esteemed Scottish surgeon Sir William Macewen, Rebecca Strong became a catalyst for change in the field of healthcare. Together, they crafted a groundbreaking training scheme for nurses, incorporating visionary concepts that have withstood the test of time. Their legacy endures in the very fabric of nursing education, influencing generations of caregivers. Retiring in 1907 after a lifetime dedicated to healing, Rebecca Strong embarked on a global journey that transcended borders and cultures. Her adventures took her to the far reaches of the world, from meetings with the likes of Mussolini to forming lasting bonds with European royalty, including an enduring friendship with an Italian princess. Rebecca Strong's extraordinary journey came to a close in 1944, at the remarkable age of 100\. Her secret to longevity was as simple as it was profound: 'hard work and simple living.' This biography unveils the untold story of a woman whose resilience, innovation, and global influence forever altered the trajectory of nursing and healthcare. Rebecca Strong, a beacon of compassion and change, stands as a testament to the transformative power of one individual's dedication to healing and humanity.
In the days of Egyptian antiquity, many of the gods were abstract concepts rather than the actual anthropomorphic god-pictures familiar to us today. Many of the later fully-morphed deities were originally theological concepts represented by a distinctive hieroglyph, very similar to the correspondences used in modern ritual magic. As the need for a controlling religion grew, so did the spiritual need for more tangible forms on which to focus the common peopleâEUR(TM)s devotions. The common manâEUR(TM)s mind dwelt on the concrete, not the abstract, and so the gods took on those strange but easily recognisable animal-human shapes to satisfy the religious-teaching-by-pictures demands of less scholarly folk. The images recorded in tomb paintings, bas-relief and statuary were intended to represent living forms of the gods themselves, or Pharaoh as a god. There was a simple reason behind this. Egyptian life, magic and religion were inextricably intertwined, one could not, and did not exist, without the other. God, or a male/female/multiple concept of that god, was manifest in everything animate and inanimate. The authentic Egyptian religion developed over thousands of years, with each deity assuming many forms under the influence of various religious movements and/or foreign invasions. Each form also developed its own positive and negative aspects, which responded in various ways to different people, and so it is now impossible to be dogmatic about how the gods of those different theologies relate and blend. It is also important to realise that the original religion was never an earth-bound concept since the priesthood explored mysticism on a cosmic scale: their spirituality extending to the stars and beyond. The Egyptian civilisation took over 3000 years to evolve fully and a further 2000 years to decay, which is why the Egyptian Mystery Tradition cannot be encapsulated into convenient modern packaging.
Names like Ben-My-Chree, Tynwald and Lady of Mann are synonymous with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, the worldâEUR(TM)s oldest shipping line that is still in existence. In its long history, there can have been no greater test of the companyâEUR(TM)s ships or its men than the Second World War. As well as maintaining a crucial link to the Isle of Man (in spite of U-boats and mines), the vessels and their compliments saw vital service as troop carriers at Dunkirk, on D-Day and elsewhere. For the first time, this book explores what it was really like to crew these ships, often under fire, and frequently in danger. Using previously unreleased archive material, and sometimes forgotten personal accounts, this book weaves a gripping narrative of what was arguably the Isle of ManâEUR(TM)s greatest contribution to victory in the Second World War âEUR" its fleet.
Persecuted, outlawed, imprisoned, shunned. You might think this refers only to the LGBTQ+ community, but their experience is remarkably closely aligned to the experience of the Disabled community. This book examines the histories of these two movements are they ran alongside each other often intersecting. Both the Disabled and the LGBTQ+ movements have rich and intriguing pasts that date back beyond recorded history. As Holder explores the journey of these movements the journey highlights their shared history through the stories of the people who brought both into modern consciousness. They represent vital landmarks in the little-explored intersections between the two groupsâEUR(TM) past and present. Turn-of-the-century Mexican bisexual painter, Frida Kahlo, was Disabled by both polio and injury; Michelangelo turned his artistic talents toward homoerotic poetry to manage his arthritis. The iconic Marsha P Johnson lived with and cared for those with AIDs, and Dr Fryer, the psychiatrist with depression, has been credited with planting the seed that led to the removal of homosexuality from the American diagnostic manual of mental disorders. While many of these events seem small, they shape our Queer and Disability cultures and shared history, to show just how far we've come and how far we still have to go.
James Barrie has been marked in recent years as manipulative, perverted and without the ability to love. Having authored the story of _Peter Pan_, which has been enjoyed by children and adults for over 100 years, many literary critics have been intrigued about where this story epitomising childhood joy and innocence came from. Most will associate _Peter Pan_ with DisneyâEUR(TM)s colourful version, but the original story that Barrie penned is actually much darker, with a gloomier background in its making. With humble beginnings from a small town in Scotland, BarrieâEUR(TM)s childhood was filled with grief and loss, but also stories and play. He took his passion of storytelling to study English Literature at university before finding himself in the capital for all writers: central London. It was here that he came to meet the Llewelyn Davies family. His involvement with this upper-class family with relatives including Daphne du Maurier are what many say to be the sole inspiration for _Peter Pan_, and that his integration into the family was primarily with sinister intentions. Much of his writing reflected his life, including his marriage and the unhappiness that spanned from it, all of which can be found in traces throughout _Peter Pan_. The Peter that Barrie wrote was not just a boy that didnâEUR(TM)t want to grow up, but a being that was neither human nor not human, with complexities that can only be understood if BarrieâEUR(TM)s life is also looked into. This book aims to prove that much of the speculation and accusations surrounding Barrie and his nature have come from a time of misunderstanding, where many psychological terms were not coined and sexuality was a taboo subject. With the latest claims that Barrie was manipulative and perverted, these critics overlooked the likelihood that Barrie was asexual, as well as suffering from Peter Pan Syndrome. With a life littered with loss, itâEUR(TM)s clear that Barrie did not go through his life unscathed, but is it fair to mark him as the bad man heâEUR(TM)s recently been painted to be, especially after providing one of the most popular stories of all time?
This book provides a detailed analysis of the attack of the Comte dâEUR(TM)ErlonâEUR(TM)s French I Corps, and the subsequent allied counterattack, at the Battle of Waterloo. This assault by 20,000 men and eighty guns in the early afternoon of 18 June 1815 came as close as any to winning the battle for Napoleon. It was eventually repulsed âEUR" just âEUR" by two stretched Allied infantry divisions and two brigades of cavalry and was, in the words of the Duke of Wellington himself, âEURone of the most serious attacks made by the enemy.âEUR? Until now, there has been surprisingly little in-depth analysis of this crucial moment in the battle âEUR" something that this book seeks to remedy. Graeme Callister combines a detailed narrative with a thorough analysis of how the event unfolded. All aspects of the attack are covered; from the grand tactics to the human experience of being in the firing lines, considering the soldiersâEUR(TM) experience, morale, leadership, condition and cohesion. Using rarely before analysed material from the French regimental registers, it examines the service records of individuals involved in the action, alongside the first-hand accounts and reminiscences of those who left them. The book begins with an assessment of the background of each of the forces: their composition, command structures, and the condition of their men. It then discusses how they found themselves to be in their positions on the battlefield, exploring the grand tactics, terrain, and wider strategic situation. The main part of the analysis focuses on the attack itself, looking at the formations and direction of the attacking forces (the four divisions of Quiot, Donzelot, Marcognet, and Durutte, plus the grand battery and supporting cuirassier brigade) and the tactical approach of the men set to meet them. Based on a wide range of primary sources, including those in French, English, Dutch and German, this book offers fresh perspectives on a crucial part of the Waterloo story, and helps us to understand why men advanced or stood, fought or ran, and lived or died amidst the maelstrom of battle.
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