Page 146 - MERCIAN Eagle 2015

144
The Retreat from Mons 1914: North
by Jon Cooksey and Jerry Murland
In addition to describing the retreat, there is much on 1 Cheshire at Audregnies.
Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 178303038-1
The Battles of French Flanders by Jon
Cooksey and Jerry Murland
This book includes Neuve Chapelle, Aubers Ridge, Festubert, Loos and Fromelles. Regimental issues covered are Atkinson Memorial in Violaines (1 Cheshire), Upton VC (1 Foresters) and Vickers VC (7 Foresters).
Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 1473824036
‘The Story of Norton Barracks:
Home of the Worcestershire
Regiment’ by Stan Jobson
This is the story of both the buildings that formed the Norton Barracks and of the soldiers and other personnel who were based there as members of staff or who passed through as they underwent training. The Author, Stan Jobson, has spent
much time in the Regimental Archives, unearthing both photographs and personal recollections of time spent at the barracks, to create a fascinating read.
The book is available at Waterstones or for £9.50 (includes post and packaging) from The Mercian Regiment. Please contact Pamela Langford on 01905 721982 or at admin-mercianregimentmuseum@ btconnect.com.
Hell At Hohenzollern by Callan Chevin
This is a detailed and, at times, graphic description of the 1/5th North Staffords part in the Battle of Loos in October 1915. In the author’s opinion, people tend to focus on the Battle of the Somme or Third Ypres and pay scant attention to the numerous other actions. The biggest offensive of 1915 was at Loos, which began on 25th September and involved 75,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers. On the 13th October, in the space of one hour, over 500 Staffords were killed or wounded and this book describes the distinguished gallantry of this Battalion. He also mentions other actions involving North Stafford battalions, which means this is highly recommended for people with an interest in The North Staffordshire Regiment.
ISBN 9781-512090024
Victoria’s Scottish Lion – The
Life of Colin Campbell, Lord
Clyde by Adrian Greenwood
This has only just reached us and tells
the story one of Britain’s finest generals
of the nineteenth century. He was born
in Glasgow in 1792 and served at the Battle of Vimeiro in 1810 and died in 1863 having been promoted to the rank of Field Marshal. He served in the Peninsula War, The West Indies, Ireland, in England during the Chartist disturbances, the Opium
War, the Second Sikh War and Crimea
and was Commander-in-Chief during the Indian Mutiny. His story is a history of the British Army in miniature in that period and he served under the Duke of Wellington, General Gough, Lord Raglan and the extraordinary General Charles Napier, who influenced him.
Colin Campbell also was also one of many officers who, having served under Sir John Moore, adopted his modern methods when in command. In his case, he expected his officers to look after the wants of their men and to share in every duty of every kind which the soldier was called to perform. There are numerous links with
our antecedent regiments, including references to the 38th Foot in the battle of San Sebastian in the Peninsula War. He commanded the 98th Foot from 1837 to 1852 and employed methods adopted from Sir John Moore to turn it into an excellent Regiment. During
the Indian Mutiny, both the 38th and 64th Regiments of Foot served under his command. His most famous actions included the Battle
of Cawnpore and the Capture of Lucknow. Although the book is critical of his decision-making on occasions, it also adds that he was arguably the finest soldier of his generation.
www.thehistorypress.co.uk ISBN 978-0-7509-5685-7
Fiction
1914 First Blood – A Sherwood Foresters Battalion in the first days of the Great War by John Hughes-Wilson Many of you will be aware that John Hughes-Wilson is about to release a new book, 1914 First Blood. (See below). Though fiction, it tells the story of a Sherwood Foresters’ Battalion in the first days of The Great War.
Johnhugheswilson@yahoo.co.uk or at andrew.hayward21@yahoo.co.uk.
Jazz Music by David Sneath
Last year we were proud to advertise
two novels which had been written by former Stafford and Mercian Volunteers Officer, Chris Boult. We are delighted to
be able to report that another member of our Regiment has also published a novel. Colonel David Sneath, who originally served in the WFR, is a Trustee of The Sherwood Foresters Museum in Nottingham and has been a member of The Mercian Regimental Council for several years, has written a novel about a Lancaster Bomber crew
on an operation in 1943. The book is
easy to read and full of fascinating details about what took place before, during and after a raid. If you have an interest in Bomber Command’s operations, then this is highly recommended.
Amazon.co.uk, Ltd. ISBN 978-1507787861.
In The Pipeline
Vivid Courage - Victoria Crosses of the Antecedent and Allied Regiments of the Staffordshire Regiment by Robert Hope This is Robert Hope’s fifth book; it is with the publishers and will be distributed in 2016. We have seen the draft version which is packed with fascinating details of the VC winners. Robert is a member of ‘The Friends of The Staffordshire Regiment Museum’ and is well known to both its staff and Trustees, who are looking forward to its publication.
Lieutenant Colonel Vann VC MC and Bar
We are aware that there is a Book launch in November 2015, by the publishers Helion & Co. This officer was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery whilst commanding the 1/8th Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters in the St. Quentin Canal battle. When we have more details, we will announce this, as he was a fascinating individual, having been a professional footballer and was ordained, and is an important figure in our regimental history.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE