Can you personally recommend any books regards Ypres and its role in WW1?
Cheers
One of my favourite memoirs of the Great War - The Unreturning Army by Huntley Gordon covers one mans story at Ypres as a gunner officer in 1917, it was published in 1967 but still available on sites such as Abebooks.com for around £20,
The town was fought over six times during the war, October/November 1914 - First Battle of Ypres April/May 1915 - Second Battle of Ypres April/June 1916 - Canadian Battle of Mont Sorrell July/November 1917 - The Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) April/May 1918 - The Battle of the Lys September 1918 - The Advance to Victory
This makes it unique for us as places such as the Somme, Cambrai and Arras were crossed/fought over generally once or twice during the war. This also makes it quite hard to follow in a single volume.
There is a book by Beatrice Brice called The Battle Book of Ypres, this was first published in 1927 and re-printed in the 1980's and contains lots of anecdotal stories sent in my the regiments, I use it all the time.
Modern books include the Battleground Europe series by Pen & Sword (I have written a couple for them in the past) that cover Ypres fairly comprehensively and the Holts Guides that are widely available, I would be wary of any guides that read them however, to me we need to do better than be one page ahead of the client in the guidebook if that makes sense.
Last couple are definitely Lyn Macdonalds "They Called it Passchendaele" that covers the 1917 battle, its a compilation of veterans accounts than Lyn recorded in the 1960's when she worked as a researcher on the BBC series The Great War and "Salient Points" By Tony Spagnoli, Tony a keen Spurs fan was a big influence on me when I started visiting regularly in the 80's/90's he wrote four in the series and all of them are cracking stories from Ypres. He died 5/6 years ago and is definitely missed on the "old front line".
Michael Portillo explores the cultural, political and economic upheaval forgotten in the familiar images of Edwardian and Georgian calm before the brutal shock of the Great War
The 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War looms on the horizon. 1914 is a date forged into the British consciousness, just as it's carved into monuments the length and breadth of the UK and many places beyond.
With that awareness comes an understanding that it was the war to end all wars, shocking the culture, politics, and societies of Europe, particularly Britain, out of their comfortable progress, and reshaping everything.
In this series, Michael Portillo challenges this notion. Looking at a series of themes - the suffrage movement, the Irish question, the decline of the liberal party and the arts - he argues that to a large extent Britain was already in a state of flux by 1913, and many of the developments people think of as originating from or being catalysed by the war were actually in full flow.
In the first programme, Michael samples the atmosphere of June 1913.
Presenter/Michael Portillo, Producer/Tom Alban for the BBC
Can you personally recommend any books regards Ypres and its role in WW1?
Cheers
One of my favourite memoirs of the Great War - The Unreturning Army by Huntley Gordon covers one mans story at Ypres as a gunner officer in 1917, it was published in 1967 but still available on sites such as Abebooks.com for around £20,
The town was fought over six times during the war, October/November 1914 - First Battle of Ypres April/May 1915 - Second Battle of Ypres April/June 1916 - Canadian Battle of Mont Sorrell July/November 1917 - The Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) April/May 1918 - The Battle of the Lys September 1918 - The Advance to Victory
This makes it unique for us as places such as the Somme, Cambrai and Arras were crossed/fought over generally once or twice during the war. This also makes it quite hard to follow in a single volume.
There is a book by Beatrice Brice called The Battle Book of Ypres, this was first published in 1927 and re-printed in the 1980's and contains lots of anecdotal stories sent in my the regiments, I use it all the time.
Modern books include the Battleground Europe series by Pen & Sword (I have written a couple for them in the past) that cover Ypres fairly comprehensively and the Holts Guides that are widely available, I would be wary of any guides that read them however, to me we need to do better than be one page ahead of the client in the guidebook if that makes sense.
Last couple are definitely Lyn Macdonalds "They Called it Passchendaele" that covers the 1917 battle, its a compilation of veterans accounts than Lyn recorded in the 1960's when she worked as a researcher on the BBC series The Great War and "Salient Points" By Tony Spagnoli, Tony a keen Spurs fan was a big influence on me when I started visiting regularly in the 80's/90's he wrote four in the series and all of them are cracking stories from Ypres. He died 5/6 years ago and is definitely missed on the "old front line".
SE7toSG3
If you don't mind me asking, do you actually work for a battlefield tours company? Or can you also recommend one? I have done a lot of the WW2 sites in France and am going to Poland/Auschwitz later this year, but my knowledge of WW1 sites lags far behind. I would be interested in doing a tour. Cheers.
ps and just thinking of my dad, now sadly passed away, who landed in Normandy on D-Day plus 6 and served through France, Belgium and Germany until July 1945.
Can you personally recommend any books regards Ypres and its role in WW1?
Cheers
One of my favourite memoirs of the Great War - The Unreturning Army by Huntley Gordon covers one mans story at Ypres as a gunner officer in 1917, it was published in 1967 but still available on sites such as Abebooks.com for around £20,
The town was fought over six times during the war, October/November 1914 - First Battle of Ypres April/May 1915 - Second Battle of Ypres April/June 1916 - Canadian Battle of Mont Sorrell July/November 1917 - The Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) April/May 1918 - The Battle of the Lys September 1918 - The Advance to Victory
This makes it unique for us as places such as the Somme, Cambrai and Arras were crossed/fought over generally once or twice during the war. This also makes it quite hard to follow in a single volume.
There is a book by Beatrice Brice called The Battle Book of Ypres, this was first published in 1927 and re-printed in the 1980's and contains lots of anecdotal stories sent in my the regiments, I use it all the time.
Modern books include the Battleground Europe series by Pen & Sword (I have written a couple for them in the past) that cover Ypres fairly comprehensively and the Holts Guides that are widely available, I would be wary of any guides that read them however, to me we need to do better than be one page ahead of the client in the guidebook if that makes sense.
Last couple are definitely Lyn Macdonalds "They Called it Passchendaele" that covers the 1917 battle, its a compilation of veterans accounts than Lyn recorded in the 1960's when she worked as a researcher on the BBC series The Great War and "Salient Points" By Tony Spagnoli, Tony a keen Spurs fan was a big influence on me when I started visiting regularly in the 80's/90's he wrote four in the series and all of them are cracking stories from Ypres. He died 5/6 years ago and is definitely missed on the "old front line".
Appreciated, thank you, will try and source these.
Michael Portillo explores the cultural, political and economic upheaval forgotten in the familiar images of Edwardian and Georgian calm before the brutal shock of the Great War
The 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War looms on the horizon. 1914 is a date forged into the British consciousness, just as it's carved into monuments the length and breadth of the UK and many places beyond.
With that awareness comes an understanding that it was the war to end all wars, shocking the culture, politics, and societies of Europe, particularly Britain, out of their comfortable progress, and reshaping everything.
In this series, Michael Portillo challenges this notion. Looking at a series of themes - the suffrage movement, the Irish question, the decline of the liberal party and the arts - he argues that to a large extent Britain was already in a state of flux by 1913, and many of the developments people think of as originating from or being catalysed by the war were actually in full flow.
In the first programme, Michael samples the atmosphere of June 1913.
Presenter/Michael Portillo, Producer/Tom Alban for the BBC
thanks Ben that sounds like a fascinating program, radio is a far better medium for the Great War I have always found so will listen to it.
Davo55, not sure the rules on self promotion but I own Battle Honours Ltd - www.battle-honours.co.uk
we have been around for a while (10 years) and whilst not as big as Leger Holidays for instance are certainly regarded as the market leader for adult walking tours and Military unit tours.
I have around a dozen guides that work for me including Prof Gary Sheffield, Andy Robertshaw from Trench Detectives and advisor for the film War Horse Major Gordon Corrigan MBE and of course myself, all have the Guild Badge and are published, including myself. We also have a franchaise in Canada with the US and Australia coming on line this year.
Were not the cheapest by a long chalk but certainly the specialists choice, previous satisfied clients include Max Hastings, Prince Michael of Kent, The BBC, the Imperial War Museum and dozens of Regiments.
We cover from Waterloo to the Falklands with exotic stuff like South Africa for Zulu and Boer War, Jordan to follow Lawrences exploits and I specialise in Gallipoli and Italy in the 1939/45 war.
Admin if I have broken any rules feel free to delete.
Burma is always a battlefield I have wanted to visit, the battle of Kohima that the RWKents were involved in was fought over the Governer Generals tennis courts and the CWGC have incorporated it into the cemetery today. I knew a couple of cracking vets from this battle now sadly passed on, I still have the personal diary of one,John Cane a Royal Engineer that is very descriptive, he also gave me his medals which I treasure with my family ones.
I hope to visit next year, the country is opening up and we have been asked to arrange a battlefield tour/staff ride for 2 Infantry Div Signal Regiment based in Kohima Barracks, York for 2014 so heres hoping.
As others have pointed out, D-Day tomorrow, will no doubt capture the headlines as it should but lets not forget that Rome fell 69 years ago today so heres to the Italy Star men as well, Nancy Astor infamously called the D-Day dodgers but they slogged their way up through Italy. Lest we forget lads
My late Dad was in 8th Army but luckily for him didn't go to Italy. My Uncle Bill did and both spoke with contempt of Lady Astor's "D-Day Dodgers" jibe. They both used to recite this little ditty, to the tune of Lilli Marlene:
We're the D-Day Dodgers, out in Italy, Always on the vino, always on the spree, Eighth Army skivers and the Yanks, We go to war in ties like swanks We are the D-Day Dodgers, in sunny Italy
We landed at Salerno, a holiday with pay, Jerry brought his bands out, to cheer us on our way, Showed us all the sights and gave us tea, We all sang songs and the beer was free, We are the D-Day Dodgers, the lads that D-Day dodged
Salerno and Cassino were taken in our stride, We did not go to fight there, we just went for the ride, Anzio and Sangro are just names, We only went to look for dames, We are the D-Day Dodgers, in sunny Italy
Looking round the hillsides, through the mist and rain, See the scattered crosses, some that bear no name, Heartbreak and toil and suffering gone, The boys beneath, they slumber on, They are the D-Day Dodgers, who'll stay in Italy
Watching "Great continental railway journeys" tonight, Michael Portillo was travelling through what was the Austro-Hungarian empire, finishing up in the summer palace where the declaration of war on Serbia was signed following the assassination of Franz Ferdinand. Unbelievable how that bit of local strife, all those miles away, lead to the deaths of so many of our ancestors.
Even more unbelievable that we* seem to have learnt nothing from these horrors.
thanks Ben that sounds like a fascinating program, radio is a far better medium for the Great War I have always found so will listen to it.
Davo55, not sure the rules on self promotion but I own Battle Honours Ltd - www.battle-honours.co.uk
we have been around for a while (10 years) and whilst not as big as Leger Holidays for instance are certainly regarded as the market leader for adult walking tours and Military unit tours.
I have around a dozen guides that work for me including Prof Gary Sheffield, Andy Robertshaw from Trench Detectives and advisor for the film War Horse Major Gordon Corrigan MBE and of course myself, all have the Guild Badge and are published, including myself. We also have a franchaise in Canada with the US and Australia coming on line this year.
Were not the cheapest by a long chalk but certainly the specialists choice, previous satisfied clients include Max Hastings, Prince Michael of Kent, The BBC, the Imperial War Museum and dozens of Regiments.
We cover from Waterloo to the Falklands with exotic stuff like South Africa for Zulu and Boer War, Jordan to follow Lawrences exploits and I specialise in Gallipoli and Italy in the 1939/45 war.
Admin if I have broken any rules feel free to delete.
Thanks mate. I'll check out your web-site and may be in touch.
TEBBY, SAMUEL Rank:Private Service No:6987 Date of Death:15/11/1914 Age:29 Regiment/Service:Bedfordshire Regiment 1st Bn. Panel ReferencePanel 31 and 33. MemorialYPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL Additional Information: Husband of Grace Tebby, of 183, Livingstone Rd., Thornton Heath, Surrey.
My Great Uncle who died 99 years ago today.
Also remembering:
His cousin Corporal James Tebby died 21 December 1914
His cousin Corporal George E Tebby died 8 August 1916
His nephew Flight Sergeant Ronald John Tebby died 2 June 1945 (in Burma)
For anyone interested in the Gallipoli Campaign and based in Kent I am booked to give a talk about the campaign and some of the characters involved to the Sevenoaks History Society on 20 February 2014 19:30, they meet at St Nicholas Church, TN13 1JA
1st July 1916. Just one day in history, 95 years ago.
A day which began at 7.30am for 519,324 men of the British Fourth army (Plus 3 divisions of the Third Army) across a front of 16 miles, from Gommecourt to Montauban just to the North of The River Somme; ended with 19,240 dead, 35,495 wounded, 2,152 missing and 585 captured. Total casulties of 57,470.
Comments
Can you personally recommend any books regards Ypres and its role in WW1?
Cheers
The town was fought over six times during the war,
October/November 1914 - First Battle of Ypres
April/May 1915 - Second Battle of Ypres
April/June 1916 - Canadian Battle of Mont Sorrell
July/November 1917 - The Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele)
April/May 1918 - The Battle of the Lys
September 1918 - The Advance to Victory
This makes it unique for us as places such as the Somme, Cambrai and Arras were crossed/fought over generally once or twice during the war. This also makes it quite hard to follow in a single volume.
There is a book by Beatrice Brice called The Battle Book of Ypres, this was first published in 1927 and re-printed in the 1980's and contains lots of anecdotal stories sent in my the regiments, I use it all the time.
Modern books include the Battleground Europe series by Pen & Sword (I have written a couple for them in the past) that cover Ypres fairly comprehensively and the Holts Guides that are widely available, I would be wary of any guides that read them however, to me we need to do better than be one page ahead of the client in the guidebook if that makes sense.
Last couple are definitely Lyn Macdonalds "They Called it Passchendaele" that covers the 1917 battle, its a compilation of veterans accounts than Lyn recorded in the 1960's when she worked as a researcher on the BBC series The Great War and "Salient Points" By Tony Spagnoli, Tony a keen Spurs fan was a big influence on me when I started visiting regularly in the 80's/90's he wrote four in the series and all of them are cracking stories from Ypres. He died 5/6 years ago and is definitely missed on the "old front line".
1913: The Year Before
Michael Portillo explores the cultural, political and economic upheaval forgotten in the familiar images of Edwardian and Georgian calm before the brutal shock of the Great War
The 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War looms on the horizon. 1914 is a date forged into the British consciousness, just as it's carved into monuments the length and breadth of the UK and many places beyond.
With that awareness comes an understanding that it was the war to end all wars, shocking the culture, politics, and societies of Europe, particularly Britain, out of their comfortable progress, and reshaping everything.
In this series, Michael Portillo challenges this notion. Looking at a series of themes - the suffrage movement, the Irish question, the decline of the liberal party and the arts - he argues that to a large extent Britain was already in a state of flux by 1913, and many of the developments people think of as originating from or being catalysed by the war were actually in full flow.
In the first programme, Michael samples the atmosphere of June 1913.
Presenter/Michael Portillo, Producer/Tom Alban for the BBC
Ep 1-5/10
Monday 10 June to Friday 14 June
1.45-2.00pm
BBC RADIO 4
If you don't mind me asking, do you actually work for a battlefield tours company? Or can you also recommend one? I have done a lot of the WW2 sites in France and am going to Poland/Auschwitz later this year, but my knowledge of WW1 sites lags far behind. I would be interested in doing a tour. Cheers.
ps and just thinking of my dad, now sadly passed away, who landed in Normandy on D-Day plus 6 and served through France, Belgium and Germany until July 1945.
Davo55, not sure the rules on self promotion but I own Battle Honours Ltd - www.battle-honours.co.uk
we have been around for a while (10 years) and whilst not as big as Leger Holidays for instance are certainly regarded as the market leader for adult walking tours and Military unit tours.
I have around a dozen guides that work for me including Prof Gary Sheffield, Andy Robertshaw from Trench Detectives and advisor for the film War Horse Major Gordon Corrigan MBE and of course myself, all have the Guild Badge and are published, including myself. We also have a franchaise in Canada with the US and Australia coming on line this year.
Were not the cheapest by a long chalk but certainly the specialists choice, previous satisfied clients include Max Hastings, Prince Michael of Kent, The BBC, the Imperial War Museum and dozens of Regiments.
We cover from Waterloo to the Falklands with exotic stuff like South Africa for Zulu and Boer War, Jordan to follow Lawrences exploits and I specialise in Gallipoli and Italy in the 1939/45 war.
Admin if I have broken any rules feel free to delete.
We're the D-Day Dodgers, out in Italy,
Always on the vino, always on the spree,
Eighth Army skivers and the Yanks,
We go to war in ties like swanks
We are the D-Day Dodgers, in sunny Italy
We landed at Salerno, a holiday with pay,
Jerry brought his bands out, to cheer us on our way,
Showed us all the sights and gave us tea,
We all sang songs and the beer was free,
We are the D-Day Dodgers, the lads that D-Day dodged
Salerno and Cassino were taken in our stride,
We did not go to fight there, we just went for the ride,
Anzio and Sangro are just names,
We only went to look for dames,
We are the D-Day Dodgers, in sunny Italy
Looking round the hillsides, through the mist and rain,
See the scattered crosses, some that bear no name,
Heartbreak and toil and suffering gone,
The boys beneath, they slumber on,
They are the D-Day Dodgers, who'll stay in Italy
Lest we forget, lest we forget.
http://www.ancregreatwar.co.uk/Poetry.html
There is NO glory in war.
* The human race.
Rank:Private
Service No:6987
Date of Death:15/11/1914
Age:29
Regiment/Service:Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Panel ReferencePanel 31 and 33.
MemorialYPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
Husband of Grace Tebby, of 183, Livingstone Rd., Thornton Heath, Surrey.
My Great Uncle who died 99 years ago today.
Also remembering:
His cousin Corporal James Tebby died 21 December 1914
His cousin Corporal George E Tebby died 8 August 1916
His nephew Flight Sergeant Ronald John Tebby died 2 June 1945 (in Burma)
Yours truly on Monday