Download or read book Chitral Charlie written by N. S. Nash and published by Casemate Publishers. This book was released on 2010-06-19 with total page 551 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Charles Townshend achieved international fame, as a captain, when he commanded the besieged garrison at Chitral (now Pakistan) in 1895. As a result, he became known as Chitral Charlie.Decorated by Queen Victoria and lionized by the British public, his passage up through the Army was assured and, in 1916, he was given command on 6th Indian Division and sent to Mesopotamia. Here he won a series of stunning victories as his ill-supported division swept all before it in a devastating advance up the River Tigris. He triumphed brilliantly at Kurna, Amara and Kut but then, against all the tenets of military common sense, he advanced up the River Tigris to take Baghdad. By now overreached, he was confronted by a determined Turkish foe. His Division was depleted and exhausted. Townshend withdrew to Kut, where he was besieged and forced into a humiliating surrender. The mistreatment of the British POWs by the Turks only added to Townshends shame.This fascinating and objective biography examines Townshends controversial conduct during and after the siege and assesses whether his dramatic fall from grace and popularity was fair.
Download or read book Chitral 1895 written by Mark Simner and published by Fonthill Media. This book was released on 2017-08-18 with total page 326 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The British Army in Mesopotamia 1914 1918 written by Paul Knight and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2013-07-30 with total page 211 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When war broke out between the British and Turkish empires in 1914, the 6th (Poona) Division sailed from India to Basra to bolster Britain's allies, deny the port to enemy shipping, and secure Britain's Persian oil supplies. Further expansion followed: the capture of Al-Amara was the British Army's greatest victory of 1915. When an advance on Baghdad was repulsed, the Siege of Kut became the British Army's longest siege and greatest surrender. Attempts to relieve Kut led to unsuccessful battles that were bloody and muddy even by Western Front standards. Under new leadership, revitalized and reinforced, the British avenged their defeat when Baghdad was captured in March 1917. Thereafter, the British Empire committed, in campaigns of limited value to the overall war effort, huge levels of manpower and materiel desperately needed elsewhere. What was created was modern Iraq and the first Arab government in Baghdad in over 400 years. This detailed history places the campaign in context of Allied operations in the Middle East and sheds light on several unsung heroes of the war, including General Charles Townshend whose spectacular 1915 victories led to humiliating defeat and captivity in 1916; General Frederick Stanley Maude whose March 1917 entry into Baghdad preceded General Allenby's entry into Jerusalem by eight months; and Miss Gertrude Bell, a "female Lawrence of Arabia" who played a central role in the creation of the new Iraqi state.
Download or read book Kut 1916 Courage and Failure in Iraq written by Patrick Crowley and published by The History Press. This book was released on 2009-11-17 with total page 358 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The siege of Kut is a story of blunders, sacrifice, imprisonment and escape. The allied campaign in Mesopotamia began in 1914 as a relatively simple operation to secure the oilfields in the Shatt-al-Arab delta and Basra area. Initially it was a great success, but as the army pressed towards Baghdad its poor logistic support, training, equipment and command left it isolated and besieged by the Turks. By 1916 the army had not been relieved, and on 29 April 1916, the British Army suffered one of the worst defeats in its military history. Major-General Sir Charles Townshend surrendered his allied force to the Turks in the Mesopotamian (now Iraq) town of Kut-al-Amara. Over 13,000 troops, British and Indian, went into captivity; many would not survive their incarceration. In Kut 1916, Colonel Crowley recounts this dramatic tale and its terrible aftermath.
Download or read book Heroes Of The Hour written by Bryan Perrett and published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson. This book was released on 2012-10-11 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Thirteen true tales of men who were briefly military heroes of their time, but have since been largely forgotten This book looks back to the time when an individual could change the course of history in a single battle or engagement, and yet still be forgotten. Here are the stories of the men who were regarded as heroes at the time but have now been forgotten or eclipsed. Some were honourable men and some not, but the actions of all were larger than life and make for exciting reading. They were mostly professional soldiers; one, Lieutenant Walter Hamilton, was a VC who fought the Kabul mob to the death, and took 600 of the enemy with him. Another, Major General Lew Wallace, primarily a lawyer and politician, commanded a division at the Battle of Shiloh, but is remembered now only as the author of Ben Hur.
Download or read book Jigsaw on the Khyber written by Malcolm Archibald and published by Next Chapter. This book was released on 2024-09-12 with total page 418 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Northwest Frontier of India, 1895. Andrew Baird, son of the famous General “Fighting Jack” Windrush is back in action again. With the Great Game in full swing, Andrew has to accompany a British agent to the Frontier to counter suspected Russian moves against British India. The situation is complicated when the Chitralis besiege the small British garrison. Marching with Colonel Kelly’s small relief force, Andrew finds evidence of Russian activity, but General Windrush suspects things are not all they seem. From Chitral, Andrew ventures to the Khyber Pass and to the Tirah, heartland of the Zakha Khel, the most warlike Afridi tribe. The action rages from the frozen passes and ragged mountains of the Khyber to the tea shops of Simla, as Andrew and Jack try to piece together the pieces of a complicated jigsaw. Set in late 19th century India, JIGSAW ON THE KHYBER is the fourth book in Malcolm Archibald's series of historical war novels.
Download or read book Betrayal of an Army written by N. S. Nash and published by Pen and Sword. This book was released on 2016-10-14 with total page 245 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The British invasion of Mesopotamia was initially successful in securing the oil fields around Basra by November 1914.Despite evidence of stiffening Turkish resistance and inadequate supply lines which relied solely on the River Tigris, the Expeditionary Force was disastrously ordered to advance on Baghdad under the command of the ambitious, capable but flawed Major General Charles Townshend. After a pyrrhic victory at Ctesiphon in November 1915 the British were forced to withdraw to Kut. After a five month siege Townshend had little option but to surrender due to heavy losses and inadequate supplies.Such was the humiliation and loss of life that the British Parliament ordered a Mesopotamia Commission to be set up. This attributed responsibility and blame to the toxic combination of incompetent leadership and wholesale military misjudgement.This fine book re-examines the circumstances and personalities that brought about such a disastrous and costly outcome to a classic example of mission creep.
Download or read book The Gurkha Way written by John Sadler and published by Pen and Sword Military. This book was released on 2023-11-30 with total page 378 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the 18th century in the town of Gorkha, just north of Kathmandu, ruler Prithvi Narayan fought campaigns against his neighbors and the British. During the fighting his warriors, renowned for their aggression and courage, gained the respect of the British, who appreciated that the steadfast warriors would make excellent soldiers. Upon the declaration of peace in 1816, a partnership was born. This alliance would play a vital role in UK defense over the next two centuries, from surviving the Indian Mutiny of 1857 and fighting in the jungles of Burma to the Khyber Pass, which would keep the Gurkhas in action for ninety years. The First World War sent the Regiment to the trenches, where battalion after battalion was decimated. Some 20 Gurkha battalions were deployed in the Second World War, which was soon increased to 45 following Dunkirk. Around 250,000 Gurkha soldiers would serve and were deployed most significantly in North Africa but also served with distinction in the Italian Campaign and Monte Cassino, as well as the decisive battles of Imphal and Kohima in the Far East. while the Gurkhas saw a drop in overall numbers post-war, they have continued to make integral contributions to many operations, including the Falklands and in Afghanistan, which this book examines extensively, with a special focus on Operation Herrick. In The Gurkha Way, John Sadler tells the story of the Gurkhas from their inception to modern day through interviews, unpublished diaries and correspondence. With over 200 years' experience, these steadfastly loyal soldiers are a link to an imperial past but also a key component of the modern British army. There is no other comparable unit in any of the world’s armies, (with the obvious exception of the Indian Army), or one more respected and loved by the British.
Download or read book Sailor in the Desert written by David Gunn and published by Pen and Sword. This book was released on 2013-11-14 with total page 235 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sailor in the Desert is the personal account of a Royal Navy sailor's experiences during the Mesopotamian campaign of 1915. As an able seaman on an armed sloop supporting the British expedition up the River Tigris, Philip Gunn's recollections give a rare perspective of this ill-fated campaign.At the outbreak of war, Phillip Gunn was serving on HMS Clio, a naval sloop fitted with sails and guns stationed in China and immediately tasked with hunting the soon-to-be-famous German cruiser Emden, but failed to prevent her escape. Gunn and Clio were next in action defending the Suez Canal against an attempted Turkish invasion before joining the expedition to invade Turkish-held Mesopotamia (Iraq). When the River Tigris became too shallow for Clio, Gunn took over a Calcutta River Police launch. He towed improvised gunboats to bombard the enemy in close support of the advancing land forces, whose assaults on enemy positions he witnessed. Though he repeatedly came under fire, it was malaria which finally struck him down during the pivotal Battle of Ctesiphon. He was fortunate to survive the journey back downriver. Sailor in the Desert is an authentic account drawn from Phillip Gunn's unpublished memoirs as well as conversations with the author, his son David. It is illustrated with archive photographs and colour paintings by Philip Gunn himself.As featured in the Cotswold Journal and Aberdeen Press & Journal.
Download or read book Desert Warfare written by Bryan Perrett and published by Pen and Sword. This book was released on 2015-11-30 with total page 285 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Approximately one-fifth of the earth's surface consists of desert, and throughout history these arid regions have witnessed some of the world's most decisive battles. Here, Bryan Perrett gives an absorbing account of desert conflicts from the first century BC to more contemporary conflicts such as those in Iran and Iraq. As he demonstrates, acclimatization and familiarization with the day-to-day problems of desert life are vital not only to teach troops how to protect themselves and their equipment, but also to bring them to terms with the harsh environment. The desert does not compromise, and battles fought there result in total victory or total defeat, often at horrific cost. Initially released in 1988 by Patrick Stephens Limited, this re-issue marks a determination on the author's and the publisher's part to keep an esteemed publication in print.
Download or read book British Armoured Car Operations in World War I written by Bryan Perrett and published by Pen and Sword Military. This book was released on 2023-08-17 with total page 212 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Readers have come to expect a level of detail and critical rigour from the established military historian and author Bryan Perrett. They will not be disappointed at all here by this new publication. Focussing predominantly on the British armoured car units of World War One, it also untangles many fascinating strands forming the history of modern warfare. Full of detail, it acquaints the reader with the complete history of the armoured car, from invention onwards, setting the history of its Great War service career firmly in context. Well written in an accessible style, this publication serves as an impressive tribute to the armoured car, one of the most effective weapons utilised by the allies during the course of the Great War.
Download or read book Liverpool Territorials in the Great War written by Paul Knight and published by Pen and Sword. This book was released on 2016-09-30 with total page 376 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Territorial Force is the forgotten army of the First World War. Between the pre-war Regular Army, which attempted to stem the German advance in 1914, and the New Armies who took to the field with such disastrous consequences on the Somme in 1916, stood the Territorial Army. Liverpool's Territorials could be found on the Western Front before the famous Christmas truce of 1914, fighting in Gallipoli, and supporting the Canadians. Throughout 1916 and 1917, they succeeded and failed in some of the most brutal battles of the war. During the German 1918 Spring Offensive, Liverpool Territorials in the 55th (West Lancashire) Division halted the German advance, effectively ending Germany's final bid to win the war.Amazingly, the Territorials were never intended, trained, or equipped for overseas service; their role was to defend the UK mainland against invasion. Yet men across Liverpool's diverse communities volunteered for the Territorials in the thousands, forming the core of two divisions during the war.Formed in 1908, but building on the Volunteer tradition of the 1850s, the Territorials remain in Liverpool to this day. Renamed the Army Reserve, they are still training and volunteering for operations.Offering a fresh, integrated perspective on the Territorial Army during the First World War, this is the remarkable story of the Liverpool Territorials.
Download or read book The British Army Regular Mounted Infantry 1880 1913 written by Andrew Winrow and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2016-11-03 with total page 294 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The regular Mounted Infantry was one of the most important innovations of the late Victorian and Edwardian British Army. Rather than fight on horseback in the traditional manner of cavalry, they used horses primarily to move swiftly about the battlefield, where they would then dismount and fight on foot, thus anticipating the development of mechanised infantry tactics during the twentieth century. Yet despite this apparent foresight, the mounted infantry concept was abandoned by the British Army in 1913, just at the point when it may have made the transition from a colonial to a continental force as part of the British Expeditionary Force. Exploring the historical background to the Mounted Infantry, this book untangles the debates that raged in the army, Parliament and the press between its advocates and the supporters of the established cavalry. With its origins in the extemporised mounted detachments raised during times of crisis from infantry battalions on overseas imperial garrison duties, Dr Winrow reveals how the Mounted Infantry model, unique among European armies, evolved into a formalised and apparently highly successful organisation of non-cavalry mounted troops. He then analyses why the Mounted Infantry concept fell out of favour just eleven years after its apogee during the South African Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902. As such the book will be of interest not only to historians of the nineteenth-century British army, but also those tracing the development of modern military doctrine and tactics, to which the Mounted Infantry provided successful - if short lived - inspiration.
Download or read book Strafer Desert General written by N.S. Nash and published by Pen and Sword. This book was released on 2013-09-18 with total page 281 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Unexpectedly selected by Churchill to command 8th Army in 1942 in place of the sacked Auchinleck, 'Strafer' Gott was targeted by German intelligence as he flew to Cairo to take up his new post. Six ME109s intercepted his aircraft and, after shooting it down, deliberately machine-gunned the crash scene. Gott became the only Allied general to be successfully targeted by the Germans and, as a result, Montgomery was given command and the rest is history.??But as this long overdue and well researched biography reveals, 'Strafer' deserves to be remembered for his exceptional?talents, meteoric career and record of gallantry. As a young officer in The Great War he won the Military Cross (many thought a VC would have been more appropriate) and he repeatedly attempted to escape. In 1939 he was commanding his Battalion as a Lieutenant Colonel and two years later he became a Lieutenant General. He was recognised as a superb Desert General whose aggression, originality and leadership qualities were supported by charm, warmth and compassion.??While it is fascinating, if unproductive, to surmise what would have happened had Gott and not Monty fought Rommel, it can be confidently said that relations with our allies would have benefitted.??Drawing on primary source material, this first biography of an outstanding soldier and commander is not only a rewarding and revealing read but an important addition to the bibliography of the Second World War.???As featured in the Dover Express, Ashford Herald and Folkestone Herald.
Download or read book The Sirdar and the Khalifa written by Mark Simner and published by Fonthill Media. This book was released on 2017-06-29 with total page 443 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The first major in-depth examination of Kitchener’s campaign in the Sudan for decadesWritten in a lively manner as if the author witnessed events for himselfExtensive use of primary and period sources, which present the reader with greater detail on the subject than ever beforeA large number of period images and maps, many of which have not appeared in print for over 100 years Perhaps one of the most dramatic events of the late Victorian period was the death of General Charles ‘Chinese’ Gordon at the hands of the Mahdi’s fanatical warriors as they finally broke their way into the Sudanese city of Khartoum. The story is well-known, recounted in numerous books and celebrated in the film Khartoum (1966) starring Charlton Heston. However, what is perhaps less well-known is the subsequent – and far more successful – campaign fought by the British against the Mahdi’s successor, the Khalifa, by General Kitchener, the Sirdar of the Egyptian Army, over a decade later. The Sirdar and the Khalifa: Kitchener’s Re-conquest of Sudan, 1896-98 examines Kitchener’s belated campaign to reconquer the Sudan and avenge the death of General Gordon, a war that began in 1896 and ended less than two years later with the epic Battle of Omdurman. The true story of the Omdurman campaign is a classic tale of British soldiers battling a fanatical Dervish enemy in the harsh terrain of the desert. It is also the campaign that made Kitchener a household name, one that would last to this very day. 68 colour illustrations and 7 maps
Download or read book Lawrence in Arabia written by Scott Anderson and published by Anchor. This book was released on 2013-08-06 with total page 844 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: One of the Best Books of the Year: The Christian Science Monitor NPR The Seattle Times St. Louis Post-Dispatch Chicago Tribune A New York Times Notable Book Finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award in Biography The Arab Revolt against the Turks in World War I was, in the words of T. E. Lawrence, “a sideshow of a sideshow.” As a result, the conflict was shaped to a remarkable degree by a small handful of adventurers and low-level officers far removed from the corridors of power. At the center of it all was Lawrence himself. In early 1914 he was an archaeologist excavating ruins in Syria; by 1917 he was riding into legend at the head of an Arab army as he fought a rearguard action against his own government and its imperial ambitions. Based on four years of intensive primary document research, Lawrence in Arabia definitively overturns received wisdom on how the modern Middle East was formed.
Download or read book Hunger written by N S Nash and published by Pen and Sword Military. This book was released on 2023-11-01 with total page 425 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Throughout the ages, more combatants and civilians have died in war of the effects of starvation and resulting disease than have been killed by bullet or bomb. The author of this fascinating work argues that, over the last 160 years, conflicts have been decided not just on the battlefield but by the denial of an adversarys access to food. The starvation that followed led to military indiscipline, social unrest, and a failure of governance. Numerous examples prove his point, not least Germany in 1919. The Union blockade of the Confederacy in 1861 was a major factor in the outcome of the Civil War as was the American strategy against Japan in 1943-1945. The fates of besieged forces both at Vicksburg in 1863 and the British at Kut in 1916 were sealed when control of their respective supply routes was lost. Churchills fears over Hitlers U-boat campaign were well justified. Logistics is a modern word, but it describes a fundamental element of generalship, amply demonstrated at Metz in 1870 when logistic illiteracy resulted in a vast and hitherto undefeated French army having no option but to surrender. This thought-provoking book vividly demonstrates that extreme hunger is the precursor to starvation and, consequently, almost inevitable defeat. It proves that deprivation of food is a potent weapon that no commander can ignore.
