Roger H Posted 14 April , 2016 Share Posted 14 April , 2016 I think I will get myself a copy based on the kind reply to my q and the dedication alone. Super gesture. TT Likewise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IRC Kevin Posted 14 April , 2016 Share Posted 14 April , 2016 I think I will get myself a copy based on the kind reply to my q and the dedication alone. Super gesture. TT I'm part way through and it's a very enjoyable read so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ridgus Posted 16 April , 2016 Share Posted 16 April , 2016 Hi David, hi Paul Delighted to say that I have checked this morning and 'The Somme: the Epic Battle in Soldiers' Own Words and Photographs' is now in stock on Amazon and, of course, at lots of other places too! All best R Safely arrived and now stopping me from working. You are in a rich vein at the moment Richard keep it up! David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trev2386 Posted 16 April , 2016 Share Posted 16 April , 2016 I think I will get myself a copy based on the kind reply to my q and the dedication alone. Super gesture. TT Ordered this morning for the same reasons!! Trev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon_Fielding Posted 17 April , 2016 Share Posted 17 April , 2016 Ordered this morning for the same reasons!! Trev Me too! Notice from your bio you are a Newcastle alumni Richard - I did English 86-89...happy days! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 17 April , 2016 Share Posted 17 April , 2016 I hadn't intended to buy a copy of this, but it now looks as if I'm going to have to. So far I've heard nothing negative. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forton Posted 17 April , 2016 Share Posted 17 April , 2016 Thank you for everyone's very kind words and I am delighted (as any author would be) that you have ordered copies of the book. I saw Alicia Wilson today and gave her her complimentary copy and showed her the dedication. I can't tell you just how delightful she is and she appeared genuinely moved to think her dad was being remembered: she also was suprised to see pictures of herself and her father on the page with a short letter written by him to Alicia and her brother on the day of his 38th birthday, a month before he was killed. Regards and thanks Richard Btw, it is not often you meet anyone who talks of meeting Josef Goebbels in 1938 at a needlework convention. 'Nasty little man....he autographed my programme without me even asking....wife was stunningly beautiful.....I have to programme here, would you like to see it? Anyway, that's slightly off message, but Alicia, one of the last links to the Great War generation, and a battlefield tourist of the 1920s, is one of the most remarkable people I have met. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fattyowls Posted 17 April , 2016 Share Posted 17 April , 2016 Anyway, that's slightly off message, but Alicia, one of the last links to the Great War generation, and a battlefield tourist of the 1920s, is one of the most remarkable people I have met. Given some of the people you have met that is some statement Richard, Alicia sounds absolutely amazing and clearly a very good judge of character at least where high ranking members of the Nazi party are concerned. Presumably the answer to Alicia's question was in the affirmative? Pete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IRC Kevin Posted 18 April , 2016 Share Posted 18 April , 2016 Sadly, I've finished reading it now- I say 'sadly', as I wouldn't have been disappointed had it been three times the length (and it's not a short book either). The authentic voice of the soldier really comes across- more so than in many other books I've read, and it was nice to see everyday routine things mentioned too, rather than just dwelling on the horror. A thoroughly recommended read. Any chance of a follow-up volume about 3rd Ypres, Richard? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forton Posted 18 April , 2016 Share Posted 18 April , 2016 Hi Kevin I am great full for your very kind words. I am a believer that descriptions of endless horror and destruction is counter productive and, in the end, anaesthetising and that the reader needs alternative and lighter stories too. As for Yores 1917, what should I say? Watch this space, perhaps! Pete, I only wish I could bottle Alicia up and sell her, I would make a fortune. She lives on her own, drove until three years ago and also drove three to. Trucks into Germany at the end of the war. She is that kind of person, just full of vim and vigour. And Simon, yes 85-88, we must have staggered past each other on Level 2 many times. I also spent a lot of time out at Whitley Bay and Tynemouth, as well as Gosforth, Jesmond and Heaton looking for veterans. My housemates thought I was a tad barmy. Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchtrotter Posted 18 April , 2016 Share Posted 18 April , 2016 Bought my hard back copy today. Look forward to reading it but have two books in front of it first. TT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiletto_33853 Posted 18 April , 2016 Share Posted 18 April , 2016 Ordered, hoping there is some material we previously discussed. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchtrotter Posted 19 April , 2016 Share Posted 19 April , 2016 I am at my moms in Bridlington tonight. This eve sat in her "sheltered" garden in the sun with a beer flicking through this book just looking at the unique pictures. Glad I bought it! Looks a good read. TT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fattyowls Posted 19 April , 2016 Share Posted 19 April , 2016 I am at my moms in Bridlington tonight. This eve sat in her "sheltered" garden in the sun with a beer flicking through this book just looking at the unique pictures. Glad I bought it! Looks a good read. TT Nice description TT. Glad you are enjoying it, it seems to be getting a universal thumbs up even without the spring sunshine and a beer. Pete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIRKY Posted 19 April , 2016 Share Posted 19 April , 2016 Mine arrived today, quick look and looks great, nice to have something different. Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchtrotter Posted 21 April , 2016 Share Posted 21 April , 2016 I raised this to read now status and after two chapters very good. In style of Lynne McD and Martin M but very good. Long time since I read a voices narrative v Corp / brigade strategic type book. Takes you back to the humble soldier and the pics are the icing. A welcome Somme book. TT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trev2386 Posted 25 April , 2016 Share Posted 25 April , 2016 Six days later, I have finished reading this brilliant book. Much to the stern looks from SWMBO. "Yes I know things need doing, next week will do"!! I can't recommend The Somme by Richard enough. I laughed aloud at parts and on more than one occasion, had to put it down to clear the dust from my eyes. Ahem. Again, brilliant. Trev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jscott Posted 26 April , 2016 Share Posted 26 April , 2016 Just ordered my hardback copy, looking forward to reading (although I imagine it will take a while to get to Sydney). Cheers, Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BDS Posted 26 April , 2016 Share Posted 26 April , 2016 A riveting read from the start. Well recommended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilbo139 Posted 26 April , 2016 Share Posted 26 April , 2016 I,m 64 on Saturday......it's top of the present list !!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchtrotter Posted 27 April , 2016 Share Posted 27 April , 2016 A q for the author. The dust jacket shows a group of men in a flooded trench. They appear to be a Territorial battalion of the Middlesex? Is the front man an officer or OR? He wears an ORs tunic but his cap appears to be an officers? All the others are clearly officers. Do you know for sure if officer from Middlesex? I would not blame him trying to keep his officer tunic clean in the circs and scrounging an OR tunic? Thanks TT Ahhh poss E Lancs? Sure I can see a T? Another edit. No T. Just Q re tunic now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forton Posted 28 April , 2016 Share Posted 28 April , 2016 Hi TT The cover shows men of the 8th East Lancashire Regiment including, on the left is Major Beauchamp Magrath who was later killed. As for the kit of the man in front, I'll have to leave that to experts. I had always assumed the man in front was an O.R Thanks to everyone for being so kind about my new book, I am very grateful indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchtrotter Posted 28 April , 2016 Share Posted 28 April , 2016 Richard, Thanks for the reply. I am now a third of the way through the book and enjoying it immensely. I always reflect on the change in mood and tone of the soldiers writings when comparing the innocence and optimism (balanced with a fatalistic understanding of the reality of the war they were in then) before 1/7/16 when compared to the views expressed as the Somme campaign went on. So far all I can say is a welcome read and a worthy tribute to the men of 1916. A worthy compliment to the works of Middlebrook and MacDonald in style. TT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jscott Posted 9 May , 2016 Share Posted 9 May , 2016 Richard I also recently received my copy and I'm extremely impressed - a wonderful addition to my library. Highly recommended. Cheers, Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchtrotter Posted 9 May , 2016 Share Posted 9 May , 2016 Nearly finished. 10/10. A worthy tribute. Good German section too. Well done. TT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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