Dikke Bertha Posted 23 May , 2004 Share Posted 23 May , 2004 Hello I am looking for books on the Battle of the Aisne, the "Race to the Sea" and the Firts Battle of Ypres in 1914. I have recently purchased the second volume of Edmonds 1914 Official History dealing with October-November 1914 but this will focus mainly on the BEF whereas the broader picture would interest me more. I have Farrer Hockley's book on the First Ypres. Can anybody suggest other specialised books?? Regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andigger Posted 24 July , 2004 Share Posted 24 July , 2004 DB... Although there aren't other replies here have you found other books that cover the Race to the Sea? Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dikke Bertha Posted 31 July , 2004 Author Share Posted 31 July , 2004 Hello Andigger I am afraid not. Even the chap in the Shell Hole in Ypres could not help. The nearest I can get is volume 2 of the Official History by Edmonds. I don't understand why so many facets of the Great War are still ignored by authors after all these years and all these books! Regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andigger Posted 1 August , 2004 Share Posted 1 August , 2004 Interesting thought...besides the Race to the Sea, what are some other aspects of the war that are not 'adequately' covered in literature? My thoughts... The battle of the frontiers, various battles of Caparetto from a soldiers perspective, civilians life in Ieper 1914,1915.... still thinking on others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dikke Bertha Posted 9 August , 2004 Author Share Posted 9 August , 2004 Dear andigger, Sorry for the delay in replying but I was away in Dublin for a week. No WWI battlefields there but a great selection of bookshops! I am sure we could all compile a list of books we would like to see covering aspects of the Great War. Most books on the Battle of the Marne concentrate on the German right wing and the Allied left and only mention the great battles on the French right including the battles of the frontiers. It is the same with the invasion of Belgium. But the Battle of the Aisne and the "Race to the Sea" were events in which the BEF played essential roles and yet they are NEARLY ignored by British historians for some reason. ??????????????????????? Regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archangel9 Posted 26 February , 2012 Share Posted 26 February , 2012 An old thread but worth a bump up I think. There is a book about to be released and available to pre-order on Amazon (via the forum link of course) - Aisne 1914: The Dawn of Trench Warfare http://www.amazon.co.uk/Aisne-1914-Dawn-Trench-Warfare/dp/0752463047/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330254832&sr=1-1 Also this book - 1914: the Marne and the Aisne http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=aisne No reviews on Amazon so does anyone have any information on either book? John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yelob Posted 26 February , 2012 Share Posted 26 February , 2012 Robert Carew's book on first Ypres is very good indeed but out of print I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archangel9 Posted 26 February , 2012 Share Posted 26 February , 2012 Liam, Is that - Wipers: First Battle of Ypres by Tim Carew? John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJohnson Posted 26 February , 2012 Share Posted 26 February , 2012 Here is a list of books which take in the first three months of the war . Jerry Murland in the throes of writing a book on the Aisne battle 1914 . Should be worth waiting for . Mons Star - David Ascoli Ypres 1914 . An officail account of the German army by order of the German General Staff Farewell Leicester Square - Kate Caffrey 1914 - Lyn Macdonald Contemptible by Casualty From Mons to Ypres with French - Frederic Coleman The Old Contemptibles - Robin Neiland A Surgeon in Khaki - A A Martin Frenchman in Khaki - Paul Maze The Crofton Diaries -Massacre of the Innocents - Gavin Roynon Liason 1914 - Edward Spears Fifteen Rounds a Minute - J M Caster Theres a Devil in the Drum - J F Lucy The German Army at Ypres 1914 - Jack Sheldon -( Highly recommended ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWorrall Posted 26 February , 2012 Share Posted 26 February , 2012 A variety of Batleground Europe volumes covering the 1914 battles. Landrecies to Cambrai by Duncan Rogers contains some useful material The Marne 1914 by Holger Herwig The Marne: the battle that saved Paris and changed the course of the World War by Georges Blond Mon 1914 - 1918 by Don Farr Riding the retreat by Richard Holmes Retreat and Rearguard by Jerry Murland Ypres 1914; the first battle by Ian Beckett 1914: the Marne and the Aisne by Carless-Davis and Hilditch The advance from Mons by Walter Bloem for a German view August 1914 surrender at St.-Quentin by John Hutton Mon, the retreat to victory by John Terraine Simon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Maria Posted 26 February , 2012 Share Posted 26 February , 2012 A Regimental surgeon in war and prison, R.V Dolbey,Murray,1917 The first three months,E.J Needham,Gale & Polden,1936. Letters written from the English front,E.H.W Hulse,pp 1916 With a reservist in France,F.A Bolwell,Routledge,1916 From Mons to the first battle of Ypres,J.G.W Hyndson,pp 1932 The breaking of the storm,C.A.L Brownlow,Methuen,1918 A galloper at Ypres,P.R Butler,Fisher&Unwin,1920 Unwilling passenger,A Osborn,Faber&Faber 1932 With my regiment from Aisne to La Bassee,H "Platoon Commander",Heinemann 1915 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul D Kendall Posted 26 February , 2012 Share Posted 26 February , 2012 Dear John, 'Aisne 1914: The Dawn of Trench Warfare' is released on 30th May 2012. It is written in a similar style, format and presentation as my previous books on 'Zeebrugge' and 'Bullecourt'. The 'Aisne' book provides a narrative of the events from the outbreak of World War One, the journey of the BEF from the UK through to Mons, the Marne and the Aisne. There are extensive chapters including the BEF crossing the River Aisne, the battle for La Cour de Soupir Farm and the struggle for the Sugar Factory at Cerny. The book highlights how the war of movement was brought to an end at the Aisne and the descent into the stalemate of trench warfare. I have sourced material from the National Archives, IWM, various regimental museums, newspapers and some unique material from the descendants of the soldiers who took part in the battle. There are also many images of the river crossings across the Aisne with then and now photos. The book contains the images and biographical tributes to many of the soldiers who perished in this battle. At the end of the book there are details relating to CWGC cemeteries relating to the Battle of the Aisne as well as extensive lists of the men buried within these cemeteries. There is also a list of soldiers killed on 14th September 1914 who are listed as missing on the memorial at La Ferte-sous-Jouarre. Hope this gives you an idea of 'Aisne 1914: the Dawn of Trench Warfare'. Kind regards Paul Kendall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archangel9 Posted 27 February , 2012 Share Posted 27 February , 2012 Thanks to all for the book recommendations. Some very interesting titles there. Has anyone read - 1914: the Marne and the Aisne http://www.amazon.co...-keywords=aisne ? John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archangel9 Posted 27 February , 2012 Share Posted 27 February , 2012 Thanks Paul. Aisne 1914: The Dawn of Trench Warfare - is now saved in my wish list. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yelob Posted 28 February , 2012 Share Posted 28 February , 2012 Hi John, Yes, sorry it is Tim Carew not Robert. Good book. Liam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archangel9 Posted 28 February , 2012 Share Posted 28 February , 2012 Thanks Liam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 6 May , 2013 Share Posted 6 May , 2013 Hi, I am a total novice to this web site but i am visiting Ypres this year with a letter from a relation who was a soldier from the Coldstream Guards Ist Bn who died 25 / 10 / 1914 .How do I find out what battle he took part in and lost his life? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 6 May , 2013 Share Posted 6 May , 2013 A few here that might be useful, and free Click Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Filsell Posted 6 May , 2013 Share Posted 6 May , 2013 Carew can not be considered reliable in my opinion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 10 May , 2013 Share Posted 10 May , 2013 Robert W - who is the relative ? Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigelcave Posted 10 May , 2013 Share Posted 10 May , 2013 Hi, I am a total novice to this web site but i am visiting Ypres this year with a letter from a relation who was a soldier from the Coldstream Guards Ist Bn who died 25 / 10 / 1914 .How do I find out what battle he took part in and lost his life? Almost certainly near the Polygon Wood area - it formed part of 1st Division. Regimental history useful, as also the Official History 1914 Vol II, both reprinted in relatively recent years. Is there a name? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 10 May , 2013 Share Posted 10 May , 2013 The name of the soldier is Private John Remnant Service number 4000 from Farncombe in Surrey. He wrote to his wife in pencil a moving letter , and his wife has written on the back of the letter in ink this poem THE TRUTH, GOD AND SOLDIERS FOLK ADORE, IN TIME OF WAR AND NOT BEFORE, WHEN PEACE RETURNS AND ALL IS RIGHTED, GOD IS FORGOTTEN AND SOLDIERS SLIGHTED. I can remember John's wife from my early child hood and she lived a very basic life, what after the death of her husband would she expect to receive to live on? for her to write this poem. Many thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry_Reeves Posted 10 May , 2013 Share Posted 10 May , 2013 The poem is over 300 years old and is a version of this: http://www.bartleby.com/73/1731.html TR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin spof Posted 11 May , 2013 Admin Share Posted 11 May , 2013 The war diary for 1 Coldstream cn be downloaded from the National Archives here for £3.36. It will also cover the period before his death so you get an idea of what he went through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 11 May , 2013 Share Posted 11 May , 2013 Thankyou Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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