Re: What are people buying?
Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2023 9:04 am
Just bought that, and the first of the six-volume history of the Tank Corps in WW1 (also 50% off). The Duffy is the 2nd Edition, which I believe is vastly improved on the first in terms of the depth and breadth of the information contained therein - so even if you have a 1st Edition (valuable in its own right), I would say that the newer version is worth a punt!
Other purchases include 8 Ospreys about aspects of WW1, from various series. A Men-At-Arms on the Canadian Corps, two Elites on Trench Warfare, and several of the Great War titles from the Combat series. Hitherto, I have been rather sceptical about this series, as many of the titles, particularly those from the days before the soldier's individuality or training was sufficiently different from his opponent's to have much impact on the battlefield, seemed somewhat - often very - contrived. However, the first two received - British Soldier v German Soldier (the Somme 1916 - but NOT Day 1), and British Cavalryman v German Cavalryman (Belgium 1914) - have well and truly broken that mold. The latter tome particularly is a mine of information, not just on the hard-to-find (relative to the infantry and artillery) information on cavalry tactics, organisation and weaponry, but also the different recruitment and training systems (professionals v conscripts) and a lot of detail on "horsemastership" - eg everyone but the Italians apparently leant back in the saddle when jumping an obstacle or riding downhill, whereas today, everyone uses the Italian system and leans forward; similarly, only the British of the three main combatants on the Western Front, appear to have routinely dismounted when halted, or frequently got off and walked during long periods of marching in order to reduce strain on the horse.
And finally, some interesting - and unusual - titles from Naval & Military Books (also having a sale - only 20% in their case, but as Tesco says, every little helps!). This includes two books on WW1 French training and organisation, and tactics for trench warfare; ditto for the British, plus two sets of "notes for officers" on deployment and tactics for the Lewis Gun and the VIckers. Sadly, similar books on the Germans seem not to be as widely available (in part, I believe, due to the massive loss of records in the bombing of Potsdam in 1944).
Now all I need to do is build a bloody big extension/library to house all this stuff. The double-floor one (or the Irish through-lounge as my father used to call it) in Professor Higgins' house - sorry, Professah 'Iggins 'Aaaase - would do nicely....
Other purchases include 8 Ospreys about aspects of WW1, from various series. A Men-At-Arms on the Canadian Corps, two Elites on Trench Warfare, and several of the Great War titles from the Combat series. Hitherto, I have been rather sceptical about this series, as many of the titles, particularly those from the days before the soldier's individuality or training was sufficiently different from his opponent's to have much impact on the battlefield, seemed somewhat - often very - contrived. However, the first two received - British Soldier v German Soldier (the Somme 1916 - but NOT Day 1), and British Cavalryman v German Cavalryman (Belgium 1914) - have well and truly broken that mold. The latter tome particularly is a mine of information, not just on the hard-to-find (relative to the infantry and artillery) information on cavalry tactics, organisation and weaponry, but also the different recruitment and training systems (professionals v conscripts) and a lot of detail on "horsemastership" - eg everyone but the Italians apparently leant back in the saddle when jumping an obstacle or riding downhill, whereas today, everyone uses the Italian system and leans forward; similarly, only the British of the three main combatants on the Western Front, appear to have routinely dismounted when halted, or frequently got off and walked during long periods of marching in order to reduce strain on the horse.
And finally, some interesting - and unusual - titles from Naval & Military Books (also having a sale - only 20% in their case, but as Tesco says, every little helps!). This includes two books on WW1 French training and organisation, and tactics for trench warfare; ditto for the British, plus two sets of "notes for officers" on deployment and tactics for the Lewis Gun and the VIckers. Sadly, similar books on the Germans seem not to be as widely available (in part, I believe, due to the massive loss of records in the bombing of Potsdam in 1944).
Now all I need to do is build a bloody big extension/library to house all this stuff. The double-floor one (or the Irish through-lounge as my father used to call it) in Professor Higgins' house - sorry, Professah 'Iggins 'Aaaase - would do nicely....