Borrowed Soldiers new American book

[John Gilinsky]

http://www.borrowedsoldiers.com/lectures-signings.html

New American book on AEF soldiers who fought under direct British military command 1918

The above is the author's own website on his new 2008 book dealing with 2 American Divisions that fought under British military command in 1918. What are your views on this book?

Thanks,

John

Toronto,

CANADA

[sjustice]

Overall this is a fine book from Mitch Yockelson; an archivist at NARA (US National Archives). It is interesting for a number of reasons, chiefly because of it's treatment of the operations before and over the Selle River in October 1918, and of the birth of the American Expeditionary Force. The former operations display such a shallow historiography that they are perpetually referred to as 'little-known'.

The work is another example of a doctoral thesis making the transition, and it shows. There are a number of errors of sense and grammar which are annoying. For example p.4 para.3; "For five months it served as a police force under the watchful eye of the General Staff, whose officers barely respected for the state troops and considered them more of a liability than an asset." Also, on pages 197 and 198, the 119th Infantry make the same advance and capture the same ground twice, on consecutive days; on p.206 the preparation for the assaults of 17 October give birth to the attacks of the 9 October. Hinderances to good narrative, but not a complete show-stopper.

There is an understandable focus on US Army records which, on the whole, do not contradict other available evidence. The events of 10th October 1918 appear to be an exception. In analysis Yockelson is thorough in trying to define the meaning of his evidence. There is little to be wary of except, possibly, the view that the II Corps men were not deficient in the execution of 'mopping up' the advance through the Hindenburg Line. Overall I judge him to be a fair arbiter and not frightened of criticising US doctrine or methods, whilst paying due respect to the skill, effort and value of the Doughboys attached to Fourth Army.

In sum? An important contribution to knowledge and an interesting read.

...and it's at a bargain price at the moment so snap up a copy.

Kind Regards,

SMJ

PS Mitch is talking at the UK National Army Museum on 25th October. I recommend attendance.

[John Gilinsky]

Thank you for taking the time for a thoughtful and pointedly specific critique of this new book.

John