Currently Reading

[Leslie BT]

Mike Hoare, there's a name from the past, where is he now?

[Colonel Kilgore]

He would appear to still be alive at the ripe old age of 99.

Probably no longer orchestrating or preventing coups though.

I have several of his books, and thoroughly enjoyed them: particularly his dislike for "fancy dress" camo uniforms!

[Colonel Kilgore]

I recently finished "Charlie Rangers" about a specific group of Airborne Rangers in Vietnam.

I was a little disappointed overall. The 2 authors' experiences overlapped in a few instances, but generally there were two separate threads throughout the book, and I found myself losing track of who was who.

While the troops concerned were clearly highly trained, motivated, brave and capable, their missions were often very similar: helicopter in; hide up for a bit; ambush a small number of the enemy; call in massive firepower and extract via helicopter.

[Colonel Kilgore]

I have just finished "Arnhem", by Major-General Urquhart.

This seemed to give an open and honest - at times self-critical - account of the actions of the 1st British Airborne Division prior to and during the battle.

Key themes to be considered in the planned Market Garden extravaganza game next year could include:

- the huge communication problems between the various British forces
- the logistical problems, exacerbated by these poor communications, which led to many resupply drops being made - through heavy flak - to areas no longer in British control
- the extreme tenacity and courage of the British and Polish forces
- the lack of tactical air support to the ground troops
- the rapid German reaction (and with much heavier forces than anticipated) following their initial surprise
- the widespread use of captured German arms and ammunition by the British
- the difficulty in dealing with German armour head-on (although 6-pounders did knockout Tigers), but the success of gammon bombs and PIATs by tank-stalking groups
- the physical barrier (to both reinforcements and subsequent retreating forces) constituted by the river
- the apparent lack of urgency felt by the less senior ranks of much of XXX Corps to drive on hard towards Arnhem

[Leman (Andy)]

Richard Van Emden - Teenage Tommy. An excellent and immensely readable account of the British cavalry in the opening days of WWI, and the subsequent career of the book's subject, Ben Clouter, who, at 16 years of age, took part in the cavalry charge at Audregnies, 24th August 1914.

[Mike Tanner]

This the story of a young lads journey from sprog to officer to small team operations with SADF special forces during the Bush War.

I don't think I could have handled working with ex-SWAPO pseudo units at 51 Commando if they were as ill-disciplined and untrustworthy as Mr. Sadler claims. However, Sadler had no choice other than to work with them for a year if he was to realize his ultimate dream of small-team operations with 5 Recce.

Thumbs up.

[Sean Clark]

A new Uhtred book is due in September. Any guess as to what might happen in it? 😀

Also Max Hastings Vietnam book is due around then too. That will be a nice one for my Audible credit.

[Colonel Kilgore]

A new Uhtred book is due in September. Any guess as to what might happen in it? 😀

I suspect that a few lots of people may get killed horribly. And that it will be a rip-roaring adventure that's hard to put down....

[Sean Clark]

Agreed Simon. I can't wait 

[Mike Tanner]

Counter-Strike From The Sky is a brilliant book covering the Rhodesian Fireforce concept (The author has included footnotes but I have to admit I have not yet pursued any of them to the original works). Dr. Wood's writing style is very easy to follow. His descriptions of actions are well paced and detailed, but not so overwhelming that they become boring. The book has loads of photographs, diagrams, and maps of areas of operations. I have just finished reading about Operation Dingo. Wow, what brave guys those Rhodesians were. I have not yet finished the book but I am already giving it a thumbs up.

Additionally this book comes complete with a 90 minute documentary video on Fireforce operations featuring some of the guys who actually took part in them.





A Trailer of the Counter-Strike video on YouTube is below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qExzmagt5o

[Leman (Andy)]

Retreat and Rearguard 1914, by Jerry Murland. This is another very readable account of the early days of the BEF in Belgium and France. It includes a large number of extracts from first hand accounts and some good maps showing some of the smaller rearguard actions in the Great Retreat, which will prove very useful in constructing scenarios. I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in this very early period of the Great War.

[Mike Tanner]

I knew the crews of Bomber Command took heavy losses during the war but never truly understood how severe those losses were until reading this book. The crews had to complete 50 operations. After 30 they were given a rest period. Charlwood's crew were the first to complete 30 missions in their Squadron without being killed or forced to bail. So much pressure on young shoulders. 

It is heartening to read that many of those fellows did not agree with the main force bombing of innocent women and children. Unfortunately orders are orders. It is disgusting that those brave young men were denied a memorial by the British government until only a few years ago. Even then most of the money had to come from private benefactors judging from what was said in one of the speeches below.





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVnanoHzE3U

[Leman (Andy)]

1914 - Fight the Good Fight by Alan Mallinson. This is a pretty weighty (over 500 pages) yet very readable history of Britain's involvement in the build up to war and the initial engagements in 1914. A good half of the book deals with the deteriorating political situation in Europe in 1914 and Britain's over-optimistic view of what was likely to happen, resulting in the first full cabinet meeting to discuss the possibility of war not taking place until July 28th, a month after Franz Ferdinand's assassination and only one  week before Britain's declaration of war. The scene then shifts to the BEF and its activities in the late summer and autumn of 1914, with particular attention to the fractious relationships between Sir John French, Smith-Dorrien, Wilson and Lanrezac. It does include a lot of detail about the activities of the soldiers themselves in the various battles between Mons and First Ypres.

[Mike Tanner]

I recently finished reading Fireforce by Chris Cocks. This is a warts and all (drug taking and shooting of wounded enemy prisoners) account of Cocks' time in 1st Battalion the Rhodesian Light Infantry. This is a very interesting book and a must read for anyone interested in the Rhodesian Bush War.

[Mike Tanner]

Ratels on the Lomba by Leopld Schulz was one of those books I had great difficulty in putting down (only tired old eyes defeated my enthusiasm). It tells the story of Charlie Squadron of 61 Mech during Operation Modular in 1987. This is the story of how a vastly outnumbered SADF force destroyed the Angolan 47 Brigade.

Thumbs up!