What are you reading at the moment?

Whoever was responsible for the cover has put a Spitfire Mk lX with D-Day stripes flying over Dunkirk!

Good cover, although I'm a little puzzled why there are Spitfire Mk lX's with D-Day stripes flying over Dunkirk during Operation Dynamo.

 

You could never prove that by me, as I know nothing about aircraft markings in regard to this. I believe your comments. Hard to say if the photo was not all one, or two combined. Strange occurrence.

 

Certainly a composite photograph. I expect it's the usual story of people in the art department with no knowledge of the subject on which they are working. I recently came across a DVD called 'Escape Dunkirk', set in 1940 with a Lancaster on the cover artwork. That sort of thing really offends my inner nerd!

 

Working on "The Last Fighting General", right now, a biography of MG Robert T. Frederick, the commanding officer of the First Special Service Force (FSSF) AKA The Black Devil's Brigade. It was the one composed of Canadian and US troops if anyone forgot. The nickname "Black Devil's" was bestowed on them by the Germans they faced for the first time at Monte La Difensa, then later at Anzio. The FSSF was never referred to as "The Devil's Brigade" during the war. That moniker came from the book (1966) and movie (1968) of the same name. So far so good. Could be a little better written in my opinion. Just a few points that I questioned when reading, thinking "we did she put it like that", and "why not mention the caliber of the gun (heavy artillery) in question instead of approximating how much the shell must have weighed." Eh, not a deal breaker. Pretty good read so far.

 

Any mention of the "Devils Brigade" must have this clip of the Canadians arriving to the sound of Scotland the Brave:

 

I usually watch the preceding scene with all the US misfits engaged in the huge brawl, then they break away for the arrival of the Canadians. Cool scene indeed.

 

A charity shop purchase on the last day before lockdown! I have no connection with Derbyshire but it was a quid and one of the pilots profiled ‘Clowes’ was in the Battle of France which is my main area of interest. Really impressed with this as it’s well researched with interviews conducted personally with the pilots or with their families (not all of those profiled survived sadly). An interesting range of experiences including a successful Hurricat pilot. Recommended!

 

A N&MP impulse purchase, of a glider pilots escape via Pegasus after Arnhem. Written up in 1982, this is a relatively short account (135 pages) which is highly readable but definitely leaves you wanting more! The Arnhem landing, bridge fighting and escape, including planning are brushed over with virtually no detail. Obviously this would be the meat of most memoirs, so it's odd to get much longer descriptions about references to childhood fears and then an almost step by step account of what happened whilst on the run. Maybe the 38 year passage of time had genuinely left few impressions of some events but crystal clarity on others.
Great writing style, but over far too quickly. If it was stretched to 300 pages it would have been a classic in my opinion.

 

Black Devil Brigade, Springer, iBooks, 2001



Another forum member sent this one for me to read. I am enjoying it greatly. It is a chronological arrangement of recollections gleaned from First Special Service Force reunions. The author seems to be doing a good job of weaving the short snippets from various involved individuals to tell a whole story about an incident and the brigade as a whole

I recommend it if for no other reason that to correct all the misconceptions presented in that movie.

 

Alas, "The Devil's Brigade" is a lousy movie, but that one scene is wonderful.

 

A very interesting book which covers reliable issues with both aircraft along with aircrew accounts dealing with mechanical problems, and battle damage whilst going to and returning to their bases from bombing raids.
It is also well represented with many aircrew photos, it's A-4 size with over 250 pages.

Graham.

 

Plain Cook and the Great Showman by G Blaxland
Part of my further studies regarding the battles around Medjez el Bab and Longstop.
The Plain Cook being Gen. Anderson and the Showman being Montgomery.
Hope to widen the narrative on this overlooked campaign.

 

That's been on my (very) long list for a while. His book, Alexander's Generals, was very good.

Do let us know what you make of it (and how much Tuker & 4th Ind Div feature).

 

Oooh! I wish you hadnt said that Charlie Fortnum now I've got to find a copy and ask for permission to buy Alexanders Generals.
I am not normally a fan of the heavyweights preferring the lower ranks for a more down to earth account.
Although the poor old O/R's are often left to grub around to find out what they were doing there and why, unless they were related to a VSO.
Its the rich what gets the publisher and the poor what get sued for copyrights if they are successful or so methinks.
Am I just paranoid?

Fortune follows the brave or who dares wins. Alexanders Generals is on order.
Should be ok until the warmer weather comes now.

 

Currently reading this:



Starts with the process by which the 36th US Infantry Division were reorganised into a triangular division and trained in the US. It's an interesting read so far and Walker doesn't shy away from discussing some of the problems that all armies probably suffered in training. Quite a few of his men died in car crashes either going or coming back from weekend leaves; quite a few of his National Guard officers were overage and politically connected; it's now November 1942 and the division is still inadequately equipped and constantly being stripped of personnel for other units; and there appear to be a succession of personnel who are less than keen to join the fight overseas. Nevertheless, he conveys well that the majority of the officers and men are doing there best and beginning to get a grip on their jobs.

The only comparable book that I've read from a British divisional general's perspective is the Army Record Society volume about Major General Oliver Nugent and the 36th (Ulster) Division in the First World War. Does anyone know of a similar volume from a British WW2 divisional commander? Based on contemporary letters and day by day journal entries of both training and then combat?

Regards

Tom

 

Bought it years ago. Read it and very much enjoyed it. I think you will too. Very fair to Anderson.

Cheers,
Dan.

 

I've heard about this one too.

Incidentally, a UK grad student who is studying the Tunisian campaign recommended this list of books to me:
Blaxland 'Plain Cook and the Great Showman'
Macksey 'Crucible of Power'
Coggins 'The Campaign for North Africa'
Howe 'Seizing the Initiative in the West' - department of the army
Playfair's Official Volume
Alexander & Anderson's dispatches - published for free on Times website?
Mitcham 'Exit Rommel' and 'Blitzkrieg no longer' for a German/Axis view, as Kitchen 'Rommel's Desert War',

 

I've read The Plain Cook, and it is very much worthwhile though I can't recall what Blaxland said about 4th Indian Div. I respect Tuker as a commander but some of his judgments were wrong.

 

Anzio the friction of war.

 

"Anzio the Friction of War" is already on my list but recently read "Desperate Valour and Triumph at Anzio" by Flint Whitlock.
During my Teacher Training I was advised by my mentor to "read three good books" on a subject before teaching it.
I might make a professor at this rate!