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Books > Social sciences > Warfare & defence > Military life & institutions

Something is Better Than Nothing (Paperback): Alicia Delory Something is Better Than Nothing (Paperback)
Alicia Delory; Edited by Benjamin B White
R632 R554 Discovery Miles 5 540 Save R78 (12%) Ships in 10 - 15 working days
Cartography - Navigating a Year in Iraq (Paperback): Katherine Schifani Cartography - Navigating a Year in Iraq (Paperback)
Katherine Schifani
R517 R415 Discovery Miles 4 150 Save R102 (20%) Ships in 10 - 15 working days

Cartography describes Katherine Schifani's time deployed in Iraq as a counterterrorism advisor with U.S. Special Forces in 2011. It is the story of one woman mapping the terra incognita of Iraq with questionable interpreters, nonexistent guidance, and an unclear purpose. It's the story of a gay woman serving under the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, who realizes that the policy repeal she has long awaited is so overshadowed by a hostile environment that remaining closeted is more critical than ever. At the heart of Cartography is Schifani's quest to understand the Iraqi landscape and the Special Forces culture of American men she worked alongside as a gay woman and a member of the air force. Her memoir examines both the perils of being undertrained and underequipped to perform the job assigned to her in her role as an advisor and some of the unique situations - good and bad - her gender created in such an irregular combat environment. Schifani's deployment was an exercise in exploration, observation, and navigating a wholly foreign land.

Men of Armor: the History of B Company, 756th Tank Battalion in World War II - Part 1: Beginnings, North Africa, and Italy... Men of Armor: the History of B Company, 756th Tank Battalion in World War II - Part 1: Beginnings, North Africa, and Italy (Hardcover)
Jeff Danby
R668 Discovery Miles 6 680 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

After the shocking fall of France in June 1940, the U.S. Army embarked on a crash program to establish a new armored force. One of the units formed was the 756th Tank Battalion (Light), activated at Fort Lewis in June 1941. Because of severe equipment shortages, the new battalion trained without tanks for several months, but by early 1942 were equipped with new M3 light tanks. While companies A and C took part in Operation Torch, B was withheld for lack of cargo space in the transport ships and re-joined the battalion two months later in north Africa. The units undertook reconnaissance missions following the landings in Salerno. In December 1943 the battalion was ordered to upgrade to a medium tank (Sherman) unit. Given less than a month to reorganize and train in M4s, the battalion was sent into the Mignano Gap on January 11, 1944 and supported the 34th Infantry Division in the capture of Cervaro and Monte Trocchio. Later in January B Company supported the troops of the 100th Battalion on bloody but ill-fated attempts to cross the Rapido river - finally at the third attempt the battalion established a secure bridgehead across the Rapido. During the next two days the nearby town of Caira was also captured, opening a clear avenue for an attack on Cassino. Based on decades of research, and hours of interviews with veterans of the 756th Tank Battalion, Jeff Danby's vivid narrative puts the reader in the turret of B Company's Shermans as they ride into battle. Endorsements: "This is an excellent, in-depth, day-to-day account of the operations of one tank company of a US independent tank battalion, B Company, 756th Tank Battalion, in World War II... With its focus on tank crew members and their commanders this is a unique addition to the literature on WWII." --A. Harding Ganz, Associate Professor Emeritus of the Ohio State University at Newark, author of Ghost Division "It is very rare to find a book that takes the reader down to the close and personal level of a company of men in battle. We have seen that for paratroopers in Band of Brothers and now we have it for a tank unit, in this case Company B of the 756th Tank Battalion. And what a remarkable book it is ... the book is very hard to put down and by the end of it I found myself looking forward to reading the next volume." --Jeffrey Plowman, author of Rampant Dragons: New Zealander's Experience in Armour in World War II, Tank Attack at Monte Cassino: The Cavendish Road Operation 1944 and The Battles for Cassino Then and Now "[Danby] brings all his considerable skills to this unique Battalion level history. No lead is left unfollowed and this adds not only to the legitimacy of his work but also tells the personal story of these valiant men ... It may be the best US armored unit history ever put together so long after the conflict ... For the small unit historian of the Armored Units of the Second World War, I cannot recommend this book more highly." --Victor Failmezger, author of American Knights, the Untold Story of the Legendary 601th Tank Destroyer Battalion "Jeff Danby weaves an empathetic tale of people in his history of Company B, 756th Tank Battalion. From the very start, he frames portentous global events in terms of how the young men who would fight the war would have seen them. Danby's prose is punchy, visually evocative, and entertaining." --Harry Yeide, author of The Tank Killers, The Infantry's Armor, and Steeds of Steel "Danby introduces and develops an extensive cast of personalities, average American soldiers, as they experience combat and the quiet periods in-between, and gives the reader precious insight in to why this unit was so combat proficient. Jeff has written another great story which I recommend to everyone interested in WWII and especially tank units in that war." --LTC Timothy R. Stoy, U.S. Army, retired, served 31 years in the U.S. Army as an Infantry and Foreign Affairs Officer. Historian for the Society of the 3rd Infantry Division (2007-2017) and currently Historian of the 15th Infantry Regimental Association since 1997.

The Unknowns - The Untold Story of America's Unknown Soldier and Wwi's Most Decorated Heroes Who Brought Him Home... The Unknowns - The Untold Story of America's Unknown Soldier and Wwi's Most Decorated Heroes Who Brought Him Home (Paperback)
Patrick K. O'Donnell
R471 R398 Discovery Miles 3 980 Save R73 (15%) Ships in 10 - 15 working days

From the award-winning author of Washington's Immortals, The Unknowns takes readers into the heart of combat in the Great War to tell the powerful story behind the creation of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. When the Unknown Soldier was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery in 1921, eight of America's most decorated, battle-hardened WWI veterans served as Body Bearers for the casket. For the first time, celebrated military historian and bestselling author Patrick K. O'Donnell recounts their heroics on the battlefield a century ago, animating the Tomb and giving voice to all who have served. The Body Bearers included a cowboy who relived the Charge of the Light Brigade, a Native American who heroically captured sixty-three German prisoners single-handedly, and a salty New Englander who dueled a U-boat for hours in a fierce gunfight. Their stories reveal the larger narrative of America's involvement in the conflict, trans-porting readers into the midst of events and battles during 1917-1918 that ultimately decided the Great War. Superbly researched, vividly told, The Unknowns is a timeless tale of heeding the calls of duty and brotherhood and humanizes the most consequential event of the twentieth century, which still casts a shadow one hundred years later.

Tip of the Spear - The Incredible Story of an Injured Green Beret's Return to Battle (Hardcover): Ryan Hendrickson Tip of the Spear - The Incredible Story of an Injured Green Beret's Return to Battle (Hardcover)
Ryan Hendrickson 1
R761 R639 Discovery Miles 6 390 Save R122 (16%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

The inspiring story of a US Special Forces soldier who was medically retired after stepping on an IED, and his incredible return to active duty.Sergeant First Class (SFC) Ryan Hendrickson is a brave, determined, and courageous soldier--a Green Beret clearing the way for his twelve-man team while conducting combat operations against the Taliban. As the 'tip of the spear,' his role is to insure the route taken by U.S. and Afghan troops are free of IEDs--improvised explosive devices. Many soldiers do not survive their last step; those who do often lose at least one limb. While rescuing an Afghan soldier outside a mud-hut compound in 2010--knowing that he was in 'uncleared' territory--Ryan stepped on an IED with his right foot. The device exploded, leaving his foot dangling at the end of his leg. American soldiers losing a limb is an all-too-common occurrence. But what makes Ryan's story different is that after undergoing two dozen surgeries and a tortuous rehabilitation, he was medically retired but fought to return to active duty. Multiple skin grafts to his lower leg and right foot successfully reattached his lower leg, and he was aided in his recovery by wearing a new prosthetic device known as an IDEO (Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis). Once he passed a series of crucial physical tests, Ryan was able to rejoin the Green Berets within a year and physically perform his duties, redeploying to Afghanistan in March 2012. In 2016, he volunteered to return to Afghanistan with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group. During a firefight with the Taliban, he risked his life under heavy enemy fire to rescue three Afghan soldiers cut off from friendly forces and return the bodies of two dead Afghan soldiers under the ethos that 'no one gets left behind.' For his heroic efforts on the battlefield, SFC Ryan Hendrickson was awarded a Silver Star, the nation's third-highest award for valor.An engaging and harrowing account, Tip of the Spear tells the amazing story of one Green Beret's indomitable spirit.

Soldiers as Workers - Class, employment, conflict and the nineteenth-century military (Paperback): Nick Mansfield Soldiers as Workers - Class, employment, conflict and the nineteenth-century military (Paperback)
Nick Mansfield
R982 R895 Discovery Miles 8 950 Save R87 (9%) Ships in 12 - 17 working days

The book outlines how class is single most important factor in understanding the British army in the period of industrialisation. It challenges the 'ruffians officered by gentlemen' theory of most military histories and demonstrates how service in the ranks was not confined to 'the scum of the earth' but included a cross section of 'respectable' working class men. Common soldiers represent a huge unstudied occupational group. They worked as artisans, servants and dealers, displaying pre-enlistment working class attitudes and evidencing low level class conflict in numerous ways. Soldiers continued as members of the working class after discharge, with military service forming one phase of their careers and overall life experience. After training, most common soldiers had time on their hands and were allowed to work at a wide variety of jobs, analysed here for the first time. Many serving soldiers continued to work as regimental tradesmen, or skilled artificers. Others worked as officers' servants or were allowed to run small businesses, providing goods and services to their comrades. Some, especially the Non Commissioned Officers who actually ran the army, forged extraordinary careers which surpassed any opportunities in civilian life. All the soldiers studied retained much of their working class way of life. This was evidenced in a contract culture similar to that of the civilian trade unions. Within disciplined boundaries, army life resulted in all sorts of low level class conflict. The book explores these by covering drinking, desertion, feigned illness, self harm, strikes and go-slows. It further describes mutinies, back chat, looting, fraternisation, foreign service, suicide and even the shooting of unpopular officers.

Mad Mike Hoare: The Legend - A Biography (Paperback): Chris Hoare Mad Mike Hoare: The Legend - A Biography (Paperback)
Chris Hoare
R395 R309 Discovery Miles 3 090 Save R86 (22%) Ships in 5 - 10 working days

In 1964/1965, Colonel Mike Hoare led 300 ‘Wild Geese’ across the Congo to crush a communist rebellion, rescue 2000 nuns and priests from barbarity, beat Che Guevara … and become a legend.

Of Irish blood, Mike was schooled in England and, during World War 2, was the ‘best bloody soldier in the British Army’. He demobbed as major, qualified in London as a chartered accountant and emigrated to South Africa. Going rogue, he started living dangerously to get more out of life, including trans-Africa motorbike trips, bluewater sailing, exploring remote areas, and leading safaris in the Kalahari Desert. Here Mike got to know the CIA agent who was to change his life … and Nelson Mandela’s. Later Mike was technical advisor to the film The Wild Geese, which starred Richard Burton playing the Mike Hoare character.

In 1981 Mike led 50 ‘Frothblowers’ in a bid to depose the socialist government of the Seychelles. Things went wrong and soon Mike was to spend three years in jail for hijacking a Boeing 707.

Here for the first time, in this story behind the story, Chris Hoare separates the man from the myth in a way only a son can, and concludes his ‘mad dad’ was an officer and a gentleman with a bit of pirate thrown in.

Saving Lives - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the Campaign for Body Armour, 1914-18 (Paperback): Philip Abbott Saving Lives - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the Campaign for Body Armour, 1914-18 (Paperback)
Philip Abbott
R453 R345 Discovery Miles 3 450 Save R108 (24%) Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Inspired by a collection of letters received by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle during the First World War, Philip Abbott sets out to explore the inspirational campaign to provide body armour to British soldiers serving in the trenches. Setting the letters in the context of the terrible losses suffered during the Battle of the Somme, Abbott reveals the actions of the War Office and Ministry of Munitions in providing better protection for the troops. He examines Conan Doyle's personal motives for involvement, and investigates the part played by another Edinburgh graduate, Caleb Saleeby, in promoting the development of helmets, body armour and shields. Saving Lives is an absorbing account of how the creator of Sherlock Holmes used his fame to campaign against the horrific casualties on the Western Front.

These Distinguished Corps - British Grenadier and Light Infantry Battalions in the American Revolution (Paperback): Don N.... These Distinguished Corps - British Grenadier and Light Infantry Battalions in the American Revolution (Paperback)
Don N. Hagist
R872 R734 Discovery Miles 7 340 Save R138 (16%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

During the American Revolution, British light infantry and grenadier battalions figured prominently in almost every battle and campaign. They are routinely mentioned in campaign studies, usually with no context to explain what these battalions were. In an army that employed regiments as the primary deployable assets, the most active battlefield elements were temporary battalions created after the war began and disbanded when it ended. The Distinguished Corps: British Grenadier and Light Infantry Battalions in the American Revolution is the first operational study of these battalions during the entire war, looking at their creation, evolution and employment from the first day of hostilities through their disbandment at the end of the conflict. It examines how and why these battalions were created, how they were maintained at optimal strength over eight years of war, how they were deployed tactically and managed administratively. Most important, it looks at the individual officers and soldiers who served in them. Using first-hand accounts and other primary sources, The Distinguished Corps describes life in the grenadiers and light infantry on a personal level, from Canada to the Caribbean and from barracks to battlefield.

German Army Uniforms of World War II - A photographic guide to clothing, insignia and kit (Hardcover): Stephen Bull German Army Uniforms of World War II - A photographic guide to clothing, insignia and kit (Hardcover)
Stephen Bull
R895 Discovery Miles 8 950 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

In the years after World War I, the defeated and much-reduced German Army developed new clothing and personal equipment that drew upon the lessons learned in the trenches. In place of the wide variety of uniforms and insignia that had been worn by the Imperial German Army, a standardized approach was followed, culminating in the uniform items introduced in the 1930s as the Nazi Party came to shape every aspect of German national life. The outbreak of war in 1939 prompted further adaptations and simplifications of uniforms and insignia, while the increasing use of camouflaged items and the accelerated pace of weapons development led to the appearance of new clothing and personal equipment. Medals and awards increased in number as the war went on, with grades being added for existing awards and new decorations introduced to reflect battlefield feats. Specialists such as mountain troops, tank crews and combat engineers were issued distinctive uniform items and kit, while the ever-expanding variety of fronts on which the German Army fought - from the North African desert to the Russian steppe - prompted the rapid development of clothing and equipment for different climates and conditions. In addition, severe shortages of raw materials and the demands of clothing and equipping an army that numbered in the millions forced the simplification of many items and the increasing use of substitute materials in their manufacture. In this fully illustrated book noted authority Dr Stephen Bull examines the German Army's wide range of uniforms, personal equipment, weapons, medals and awards, and offers a comprehensive guide to the transformation that the German Army soldier underwent in the period from September 1939 to May 1945.

The Faces of Margraten - They Will Remain Forever Young (Hardcover): Jori Videc, Sebastiaan Vonk, Arie-Jan Van Hees The Faces of Margraten - They Will Remain Forever Young (Hardcover)
Jori Videc, Sebastiaan Vonk, Arie-Jan Van Hees
R1,488 Discovery Miles 14 880 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

In the rolling hills of the Limburg Province, near the village of Margraten, they slowly loom up, row after row: thousands of white marble crosses and Stars of David. They mark the final resting place of American soldiers who died fighting to liberate the Netherlands during World War II. While the headstones provide the names and ages of those lost, they cannot tell us who these soldiers were, what their lives were like, or who they left behind. Nor can the peace and quiet at the only American military cemetery in the Netherlands reflect the harrowing experience and violent final moments of the men and women who forever rest here. Through hundreds of personal photographs and more than 250 stories, The Faces of Margraten gives these soldiers faces and voices again, telling not only the history of World War II and the ending of the German occupation of the Netherlands, but also revealing how and why the Dutch people have never forgotten their liberators. Concluding with a list of all the soldiers' names, this commemorative book stands as a testament to the service and sacrifice of the more than 10,000 Americans buried or memorialized as missing in Margraten.

The Militarization of the Persian Gulf - An Economic Analysis (Hardcover): Hossein Askari, Amin Mohseni, Shahrzad Daneshvar The Militarization of the Persian Gulf - An Economic Analysis (Hardcover)
Hossein Askari, Amin Mohseni, Shahrzad Daneshvar
R2,849 Discovery Miles 28 490 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

The Persian Gulf is arguably the most militarized region in the world. The authors of this insightful book examine military expenditures, arms imports and military deployment to analyze how and why this came to be. Muslim teachings have much to say about peace, war and economics, and this book explores the ways in which Islamic thought affects military and economic developments.The authors find that heavy militarization is the result of a combination of factors, including oil wealth disparities among the countries in the region, high oil revenues, corruption and foreign interference. The authors detail and discuss these factors, and follow this analysis with an assessment of the effects of high military expenditures - wars, conflicts, regional instability - and their heavy economic toll in retarding development and growth. The book concludes by suggesting ways that military expenditures may be reduced to benefit regional peace, stability and economic prosperity. Scholars and students in economics, political science and international affairs as well as anyone interested in the Middle East will find this book timely and illuminating.

Parachute Infantry - An American Paratrooper's Memoir of D-Day and the Fall of the Third Reich (Paperback): David Webster Parachute Infantry - An American Paratrooper's Memoir of D-Day and the Fall of the Third Reich (Paperback)
David Webster
R257 R202 Discovery Miles 2 020 Save R55 (21%) Ships in 10 - 15 working days

David Kenyon Webster's memoir is a clear-eyed, emotionally charged chronicle of youth, camaraderie, and the chaos of war. Relying on his own letters home and recollections he penned just after his discharge, Webster gives a first hand account of life in "E Company, 101st Airborne Division," crafting a memoir that resonates with the immediacy of a gripping novel.
From the beaches of Normandy to the blood-dimmed battlefields of Holland, here are acts of courage and cowardice, moments of irritating boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror, and pitched urban warfare. Offering a remarkable snapshot of what it was like to enter Germany in the last days of World War II, Webster presents a vivid, varied cast of young paratroopers from all walks of life, and unforgettable glimpses of enemy soldiers and hapless civilians caught up in the melee. Parachute Infantry is at once harsh and moving, boisterous and tragic, and stands today as an unsurpassed chronicle of war--how men fight it, survive it, and remember it.

"From the Trade Paperback edition."

Bugles and a Tiger - My life in the Gurkhas (Paperback, New ed): John Masters Bugles and a Tiger - My life in the Gurkhas (Paperback, New ed)
John Masters 1
R308 R260 Discovery Miles 2 600 Save R48 (16%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

John Masters was a soldier before he became a novelist. Born in India, he was sent to England to complete his education before attending Sandhurst. It was there the rumour began about his ancestry, that (in the language of the time) he 'had a touch of the tarbrush'. This encounter with racist bigotry would be turned to good effect in his novel, "Bhowani Junction" (later filmed with Stewart Granger and Ava Gardner). At Sandhurst it just made him more determined to succeed. John Masters joined a Gurhka regiment on receiving his commission. Here, He depicts garrison life and campaigning on the North-West Frontier.

On Courage - Stories of Victoria Cross and George Cross Holders (Paperback): The Sebastopol Project On Courage - Stories of Victoria Cross and George Cross Holders (Paperback)
The Sebastopol Project
R400 R327 Discovery Miles 3 270 Save R73 (18%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

On Courage is a collection of twenty-eight moving and inspirational stories of valour displayed by recipients of the Victoria Cross and George Cross. *£2.70 of the publisher's RRP of all copies of this book sold in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland will be donated to Combat Stress.* WITH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM: Alexander Armstrong, Baroness Hale, Bear Grylls, Bill Beaumont, Bobby Charlton, Katherine Grainger, Kelly Holmes, Derek Jacobi, Eddie Redmayne, Frank Bruno, Geoffrey Palmer, Jeremy Irons, Joanna Kavenna, Joanna Lumley, John Simpson, Joseph Calleja, Julian Fellowes, Kate Adie, Ken Dodd, Margaret MacMillan, Mark Pougatch, Mary Berry, Michael Whitehall and Jack Whitehall, Miranda Hart, Richard Chartres, Tom Ward, Will Greenwood, and Willie Carson. From RAF flight engineer Norman Jackson, who climbed out onto the wing of a Lancaster bomber in flight to put out a fire, using a twisted parachute as a rope, on the night his first child was born; children's writer turned Assistant Section Officer Noor Inayat-Khan, who was the first female operator to infiltrate occupied France and refused to abandon what had become the most dangerous post in the country; to Irish seaman and Antarctic explorer Tom Crean, who struck out alone for a supply depot during Captain Scott's expedition to the South Pole to save the life of his ailing companion, these courageous men and women are an inspiration to us all. Written by leading historians and authors Tom Bromley, Saul David, Paul Garlington, James Holland and Dr Spencer Jones, these incredible accounts tell of the recipients' determination and selfless actions in times of war. Each story is introduced by a public figure, including Mary Berry, Bear Grylls, Sir Bobby Charlton, Joanna Lumley, Eddie Redmayne and the late Sir Ken Dodd.

The Ypres Times Volume Three (1933-1939) - The Complete Post-War Journals of the Ypres League (Hardcover): Mark Connelly The Ypres Times Volume Three (1933-1939) - The Complete Post-War Journals of the Ypres League (Hardcover)
Mark Connelly
R1,525 Discovery Miles 15 250 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

The Ypres Times was the journal of the remembrance movement, the Ypres League. Founded in 1921, the League was the creation of Henry Beckles Willson and Beatrix Brice. Both Brice and Beckles Willson understood the crucial significance of Ypres to the British Empire, and believed it their sacred duty to maintain the memory of those who had fought and fell in its defence. As the League's journal, the Ypres Times published a huge range of material. It carried reminiscences of veterans, discussions about the rebuilding of Ypres, the developing work of the Imperial War Graves Commission in the salient, and the erection and unveiling of unit memorials. The Ypres Times reproduced for the first time, in facsimile format and bound in three volumes provides a fascinating insight into the way the British Empire's central commemorative site was understood and imagined in the twenties and thirties.

Who Dares Wins - The sequel to BORN FEARLESS, the Sunday Times bestseller (Hardcover): Phil Campion Who Dares Wins - The sequel to BORN FEARLESS, the Sunday Times bestseller (Hardcover)
Phil Campion 1
R614 R502 Discovery Miles 5 020 Save R112 (18%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

JOIN SAS LEGEND PHIL CAMPION AS HE SHARES HIS DEEPLY PERSONAL LIFE STORY, WARTS AND ALL In WHO DARES WINS Big Phil Campion reveals his chequered past, from terrible abuse suffered in a string of kids' homes to psychological abuse suffered at a top public school. Phil guides you through his soldiering career, from the so called "green army" to the brutal trial of SAS selection and all that followed. This includes years spent providing private military services across war-torn and risk-laden Africa; in between he was body-guarded the likes of Led Zep, Oasis, Kasabian, Dizzy Rascal and Pro Green. Phil takes you on his gripping, behind-the-scenes adventure acting as a roving reporter for Sky TV in Syria and Northern Iraq, more often than not under fire. Brave, riveting and truly revelatory, WHO DARES WINS is packed full of jaw-dropping stories to quicken the blood, while also telling of the psychological toll a life in conflict took on the author. 'One of the best first-hand accounts of life in combat ever written' Andy McNab on Born Fearless

The Black Watch - Fighting in the Frontline 1899-2006 (Paperback): Victoria Schofield The Black Watch - Fighting in the Frontline 1899-2006 (Paperback)
Victoria Schofield; Foreword by HRH the Prince of Wales
R480 R397 Discovery Miles 3 970 Save R83 (17%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

Formed into a regiment in 1739 and named for the dark tartan of its soldiers' kilts, The Black Watch has fought in almost every major conflict of nation and empire between 1745 and the present, and has a reputation second to none. Following on from The Highland Furies, in which she traced the regiment's history to 1899, Victoria Schofield tells the story of The Black Watch in the 20th and 21st centuries. She tracks its fortunes through the 2nd South African War, two World Wars, the 'troubles' in Northern Ireland and the war in Iraq - up to The Black Watch's merger with five other regiments to form the Royal Regiment of Scotland in 2006. Drawing on diaries, letters and interviews, Victoria Schofield weaves the many strands of the story into an epic narrative of a heroic body of officers and men. In her sure hands, the story of The Black Watch is no arid recitation of campaigns and battle honours, but a rewarding account of the fortunes of war of a regiment that has played a distinguished role in British, and world, history.

The Complete Knight's Cross, 1: The Years of Victory 1939-1941 (Hardcover): Kevin Brazier The Complete Knight's Cross, 1: The Years of Victory 1939-1941 (Hardcover)
Kevin Brazier
R868 Discovery Miles 8 680 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, to give it its full name, owes its origins to the 'Pour le Merite' (Blue Max), an imperial award dating back to 1740. The Complete Knight's Cross volumes tell the story of all 7,364 men who were granted the award (including all the disputed awards). The three volumes have over 200 photos of holders of the medal and over 100 photos of their graves. Volume One deals with 1939-41 (numbers 1-1267) and is subtitled 'The Years of Victory'. Volume Two deals with 1942-43 (numbers 1268-3685) and is subtitled 'The Years of Stalemate'. Volume Three deals with 1944-45 (numbers 3686-7364) and is subtitled 'The Years of Defeat'. The recipients are listed in the order of the date of award. Each entry starts with the recipient's rank and name, followed by details of the action or actions for which they were granted the award. Other interesting facts and stories are also included for many of the awards. Burial locations, where known, are also given. Any higher awards (Oak Leaves, Swords, Diamonds and the ultimate Golden award) are also covered.

War Memory and Commemoration (Paperback): Brad West War Memory and Commemoration (Paperback)
Brad West
R1,264 Discovery Miles 12 640 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

In a period characterised by an unprecedented cultural engagement with the past, individuals, groups and nations are debating and experimenting with commemoration in order to find culturally relevant ways of remembering warfare, genocide and terrorism. This book examines such remembrances and the political consequences of these rites. In particular, the volume focuses on the ways in which recent social and technological forces, including digital archiving, transnational flows of historical knowledge, shifts in academic practice, changes in commemorative forms and consumerist engagements with history affect the shaping of new collective memories and our understanding of the social world. Presenting studies of commemorative practices from Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and the Middle East, War Memory and Commemoration illustrates the power of new commemorative forms to shape the world, and highlights the ways in which social actors use them in promoting a range of understandings of the past. The volume will appeal to scholars of sociology, history, cultural studies and journalism with an interest in commemoration, heritage and/or collective memory.

USAAF in Suffolk (Hardcover): Peter W. Bodle USAAF in Suffolk (Hardcover)
Peter W. Bodle
R656 R547 Discovery Miles 5 470 Save R109 (17%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

The East of England, particularly Suffolk, became a new home for thousands of American airmen during the Second World War. After starting to arrive in 1942, there were over 10,000 in the country by 1943. The largest concentration was in Suffolk, which had more USA airfields than any other English county. Their arrival was called the 'Friendly Invasion' as they suddenly found themselves in the middle of the East Anglian countryside. The Americans brought with them chewing gum, coke and peanut butter, and introduced the big band sounds and jitterbugging dancing. In return the British taught the GI's the gentle art of darts and dominos, when the newcomers ventured into the sacred English public houses. This book examines the meeting of two cultures, while stories are related of the aircraft victories and losses, plus accidents which sometimes shook the countryside. Missions by the bombers and fighters of the USAAF are included to show what desperate times these were for airmen and country folk of Suffolk.

Renaissance Armies in Italy 1450-1550 (Paperback): Gabriele Esposito Renaissance Armies in Italy 1450-1550 (Paperback)
Gabriele Esposito; Illustrated by Giuseppe Rava
R387 R313 Discovery Miles 3 130 Save R74 (19%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

The Italian Renaissance marked a period of political and military turmoil. Many regional wars were fought between the states ruled by Milan, Venice, Genoa, Florence, the Papacy, Siena and Naples. For more than 50 years starting in 1494, major foreign powers also exploited these divisions to invade Italy; both France and Spain made temporary alliances with city states to further their ambitions, and early in the 16th century the Emperor Charles V sent armies from his German realms to support the Spanish. These wars coincided with the growth of disciplined infantry - carrying not only polearms and crossbows but also hand guns - which proved capable of challenging the previously dominant armoured knights. The widespread use of mercenaries ushered in the early development of the 'pike and shot' era that succeeded the 'High Middle Ages'. During this period costumes, armour and weapons varied greatly due to their national origins and to the evolution of tactics and technology. This masterfully illustrated study offers a fascinating insight into the many armies which fought in Italy during this turbulent period, explaining not only their arms and equipment, but also their structure and successes and failures on the battlefield.

Male Fantasies - Volume 1: Women Floods Bodies History (Paperback): Klaus Theweleit Male Fantasies - Volume 1: Women Floods Bodies History (Paperback)
Klaus Theweleit
R711 Discovery Miles 7 110 Ships in 12 - 17 working days
A Distant Drum - The story of the 5th Bn Coldstream Guards 1944 - 45 (Paperback): J. Pereira A Distant Drum - The story of the 5th Bn Coldstream Guards 1944 - 45 (Paperback)
J. Pereira
R529 Discovery Miles 5 290 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Jocelyn Pereira's vivid and colourful narrative of the 5th Battalion' Coldstream Guards advance from Normandy to Cuxhaven in 1944-45 is a priceless piece of regimental history and a tribute to those who served in that final, testing phase of the war. It is a story of war, an intensely human endeavour, with its bursts of extreme activity interspersed with long periods of relative inactivity; with its highs and lows, good times and bad. It is a story of Guardsmen, of professionalism and discipline in the most demanding of circumstances, of initiative and resourcefulness, of determination and stubbornness, of fortitude and stoicism in adversity, of comradeship and consideration for others, of humour and unbreakable morale, of extraordinary gallantry and sacrifice. With a light touch, a dose of irreverence, modesty and understatement, and an evidently healthy disregard for dress regulations, Jocelyn Pereira captures that enduring Coldstream spirit. A Distant Drum also contains useful appendices for the historian, these include: a Roll of Honour, citations for awards and medals and lists of orders of battle throughout the campaign.

Teutonic Titans - Hindenburg, Ludendorff, and the Kaiser's Military Elite (Hardcover): Blaine Taylor Teutonic Titans - Hindenburg, Ludendorff, and the Kaiser's Military Elite (Hardcover)
Blaine Taylor
R1,230 R974 Discovery Miles 9 740 Save R256 (21%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

'Teutonic Titans: Hindenburg, Ludendorff, and the Kaiser's Military Elite' covers the era 1847-1955-heavily illustrated with over 500 images of German Emperor Wilhelm II's First World War marshals and generals, emphasizing their lives, careers, battles, and campaigns. The book covers both Western and Eastern Fronts, as well as the Balkans, Baltics, Middle, and Far East. It is also heavily detailed with maps, cartoons, graphics, and photographs, plus descriptions of strategies, tactics, weapons, statistics on all losses, and results. Period cartoons add to the vast array of photographic sources worldwide: United States National Archives and Library of Congress, Washington and College Park, Maryland; Imperial War Museum London: Bundesarchiv, Bonn, and also His Majesty's own albums at Doorn House, Holland, many of them previously unpublished. German Crown Prince Wilhelm and Bavarian Crown Prince Rupprecht, all German Chiefs of General Staff and War Ministers are detailed as well, plus all top Allied leaders and commanders: Woodrow Wilson, John J. Pershing; David Lloyd George, King George V, Sir Douglas Haig, and Sir John French among them; Tsar Nicholas II, Grand Duke Michael, and more; Frenchmen Henri Petain, Joffre, Foch, and Weygand; as well as those of Serbia, Italy, Greece, Rumania, and Bulgaria.

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