Book: British Infantry Battalion Commanders in the First World War

[Guest]

British Infantry Battalion Commanders in the First World War by Peter Hodgkinson.

Peter Hodkinson is an academic who wrote an interesting piece called The Infantry Battalion Commanding Officers of the BEF which featured in the 'Command at the Sharp End' section of "Stemming the Tide: Officer and Leadership in the British Expeditionary Force 1914" edited by Spencer Jones.

British Infantry Battalion Commanders in the First World War can be previewed on Amazon. It appears to be the product of Hodgkinson's research at the University of Birmingham under the guidance of Dr John Bourne and Prof Peter Simkins. It is (I think) the culmination of his PhD thesis. He tackles some of the mis-perceptions and -dare I say - some myths about the British Army Officer class that still pervade in some circles. Hodgkinson takes authors such as Tim Travers and John Lewis-Stempel's claims and challenges them head on. He also challenges the work of Timothy Bowman and Mark Connelly and some of their assumptions.

Of great interest is the fact that he digs very deep for evidence to support his views and explores the revolutionary period between the South African Wars and the Great War in some detail. It is simply bursting with footnotes - something I find is usually a good indication of a well researched book. The caveat is that it is by necessity heavily dependent on an empirical database on over 5,000 officers which might not be to everyone's taste. It works for me; the ability to challenge 'anecdote-driven criticism of the British Officer corps" with carefully reconstructed evidence from a plethora of sources is something I think will be a promising read. We shall see.

I thought I would flag it here as people who enjoy academic tomes might want to explore it via Amazon.

MG.

Thanks to GWF member Paul Granger for first drawing my attention to it.

[Guest]

This presentation was made by the same author on the same subject.

Click

[bingoworlddk]

Very interesting presentation.

Thanks for the link.

Steen

[Steven Broomfield]

I thought I would flag it here as people who enjoy academic tomes might want to explore it via Amazon.

MG.

And is it at academic tome prices?

[paulgranger]

it certainly is: https://www.amazon.co.uk/British-Infantry-Battalion-Commanders-Routledge/dp/1472438256/ref=pd_sim_14_14?ie=UTF8&dpID=518Cx1W3zLL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&refRID=HJADHK3622HYTA3R13SA

[Steven Broomfield]

Gordon Bennett!

How on earth do hellion manage to do what they do at the price they do it at? £70.00, even for a well-researched and well-written book is bonkers

[Guest]

And is it at academic tome prices?

Astronomic

I think it might reflect the author's view on pricing rather than Helion's. As you know Helion do good value elsewhere so pricing seems to be rather randomly distributed.

[keithfazzani]

But it is valid for free delivery! Oh, and there are second hand copies available.

[keithmroberts]

I don't think Peter had any say in about the pricing. It's Ashgate and their books are always priced at outrageous levels designed only for academic libraries.

Keith

[David Filsell]

Bloody ridiculous pricing - priced to fail to sell in any quantity in fact. An important book too. It's also bad news for the author, one I know virtually went on his knees to beg the publisher (ash gate from memory) to put his work out a price that would attract sales.

I'm sick and tired at hammering away at the academic press in my reviews for their ineptitude in pricing and marketing their books. Publishing promotion and marketing seems to have become to have become a 'nice, home for pr girlies who know nothing about their product and market. The offer great charm, laugh a lot - which is most pleasant. A sad and provocative view I know, but true.

Mr Helion gets it right - in subject, author, print quality and price. God bless them. Pen and Sword also do the job well.

As for the rest, they virtually all ponce around academicaly content with tiny sales to Unis etc and don't seem to bother with marketing - few even seem to know the basics - or even bother to find reviewers or publications that will actually review their books seriously for specialist publication and the Great War Forum and then offer books at vanity-publishing prices. I'm happy to review any book - but I'm very rarely prepared to do so for a book I've paid my dues to by buying it. Too sad for words really.

David

[Guest]

I don't think Peter had any say in about the pricing. It's Ashgate and their books are always priced at outrageous levels designed only for academic libraries.

Keith

My mistake. I thought it was Helion... given it is on my desk a rather silly mistake. Ashgate clearly need to take a leaf out of Helion's book.

[Guest]

Having read the book twice I would not recommend buying it for £70. The first reading was interesting but having then gone and done some related research I think it misses the rather subtle differences in the types of commission (Reg, SR, Temp, TF), terms of commission and types and terms of promotion - Temp, Acting Substantive, Brevet - none of these terms are in the very slim index. Similarly the attitudes of each sub-group towards each other caused major friction during the war and this does not come through.

It is heavy on stats (something I like) but stats are a double edged blade and need to be handled with care. Despite this it is a good book but is priced incorrectly. I would be fascinated to know how many were sold. I have one and the reviewer on Spamazon is a verified purchaser, so the book sold at least two copies. MG

[David Filsell]

Thanks Martin - two's better than none - I wonder how many they'll sell to institions etc? Ashgate know my views on their pricing. Be interesting th see if they'll spring for a review copy. I'm not holding by breath.

[David Filsell]

Just had this book through for review. No doubt an impressive research effort has gone into the book but quite apart from the arrogant pricing I am finding it something of a curate's egg both in in the often anecdotal nature - set in time, contextualisation and hence in its importance. I simply cannot make my mind about its real value to those of us interested in the British Army in Great War. Wishing to be fair in my review, I am simply uncertain quite what to make of the book. I suspect few will have purchased the book because of its price, I would greatly appreciate any views from those who have read it - not least to help draw together my own conclusions. Happy receive opinions by message if privacy of opinion is required.

[The Ibis]

The thesis upon which the book is based has been removed from embargo.

British infantry battalion commanders in the First World War, Hodgkinson, Peter Eric (2014), Ph.D. thesis, University of Birmingham

http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/4754/1/Hodgkinson14PhD.pdf

Abstract

The evolution of infantry battalion commanders in the First World War progressed from a pre-war system based mainly on promotion by seniority to one largely based on merit. It remained a weighted process, however, favouring the professional officer, particularly during the first two years, and biased against the Territorial. The quality of the pre-war officer appears higher than has been estimated.

Average command lasted 8.5 months. Eleven per cent of COs were killed, ten per cent promoted, and 18 per cent invalided. The army practised quality control, removing 38 per cent from command, although reduction in removals as the war progressed indicates a refinement of quality. The army committed itself to professional development, teaching technical aspects of the CO role, as well as command and leadership.

Citizens of 1914 with no previous military experience rose to command, this progress taking on average three years. Despite the social opening-up of the officer corps, these men tended to be from the professional class. By The Hundred Days, infantry battalion commanders were a mix of professional soldiers, pre-war auxiliaries and citizens - younger, fitter and richly experienced; many being quick thinkers, self-assured, and endowed with great personal courage and well-developed tactical ability.

[David Filsell]

Certainly free is better than the price of the book. I wonder if the availability of the thesis has been made because the author is as hacked off with the price as the rest of us? Certainly one Ashgate author is fuming about the price being charged for his book. Not sure I shouldn't make it clear in my review of the availability of the work.

In fact whilst typing this I've decided not to offer a traditional review of the book but direct readers to the free online thesis as a better option.

David .

[Muerrisch]

Yes, good decision, go for it!

[David Filsell]

Grumpy.

Willco.Thanks

David

[Staffsyeoman]

Swings and roundabouts. I was trying - via both the British Library's PhD service and King's College London's on line PhD archive, to find a PhD script (not on a WW1 subject). It eventually appeared - but only the introduction and first chapter. It soon appeared as an expensive OUP book. Equally, I was demurring on a book based on a WW2 subject PhD. A friend found the thesis on the university's site, sent me the link and added that "if the book is as bad as the thesis, save your money".

[Chris_Baker]

Are you suggesting that some PhDs are awarded for less than brilliant work? What is the world coming to?

[keithmroberts]

Peter has two further books in preparation, but they will be published by Helion.

Keith

[Staffsyeoman]

Are you suggesting that some PhDs are awarded for less than brilliant work? What is the world coming to?

The thesis in question was about a British Army subject written by a former Naval officer supervised by two naval historians. I was appalled to see unit abbreviations invented by the writer.

Or academics are catty, discuss..

[seaforth78]

One could go on eBay and buy some used ones that were hardly read for $40 US or less. I bought mine the other day from a US bookseller for $30. 

[lostinspace]

Ibis and seaforth,

Ibis, thanks for posting the link, I think I'll go that route instead of buying it, but to seaforth's point, I wonder if the book is cheaper here as I looked for it through interlibrary loan and it is available at three different libraries (in Colorado).

Dave

 

edit: I forgot to mention his (Hodgkinson's) website - http://www.ww1infantrycos.co.uk/

[David Filsell]

 

Herewith my review for Stand To! With thanks to Forum members who have provided useful information on this thread  for me.

A FAILURE OF LOGIC

Peter R Hodgkinson, British Infantry Commanders in the Great War, Ashgate Studies in First World War History, £70.00, 250pp, no ills, bibliog., indices – names and places and regiments, units, formations and armies, ISBN978-1-4724-3825-6  

This is a valuable contribution to our knowledge of the British battalion command in the Great War from Ashgate Publishing. And, yet again - at the risk my supply of worthwhile books for review from  the company - in line with the publisher’s usual lack of marketing nous and  apparent failure to understand the market for books about the Great war, its recommended retail price is a dreaming spires £70.00.

(At the time of writing best Amazon price for a pre-owned copy £58.00 and, although I have no idea why, apparently copies are apparently available from US book dealers are from US book suppliers at $30.00.) It seems to me clear; Birmingham University needs to speak, immediately, to Helion which undertakes a similar publishing operation for the excellent, sensibly, priced Wolverhampton University Military Series under the Series Editorship of Steven Badsey.

That stated, there is no doubt that this is important book. The research is impressive, the text clear, the conclusions are sound and illuminating - even if at times apparently a tad too dependent at times on anecdotal evidence for my taste. But this is a mere quibble

However, I do not intend to offer a vastly overpriced work the book the oxygen of publicity in a detailed review.  The key point before buying is that a free copy option is available on line - the author’s original thesis upon which the book is based is available on:

http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/4754/1/Hodgkinson14PhD.pdf

Whilst I have not compared the two texts, the thesis itself may either provide the information the reader needs, or enable the reader to judge for himself whether to shell-out on Ashgate’s price or buy from the USA.

Whether the publication of the thesis is the author’s  revenge on the publisher or not I have no idea – but I hope so. Certainly one recent Ashgate author in the series has pleaded, and failed, to get the publisher to reduce its price before publication. Thus far Ashgate has listened, but failed to respond to my enquries about its pricing policies? All very sad.