Edward Gleichen commanded the 15th Infantry Brigade during the tumultous opening battles of the Great War. The division was mobilised by 10 August 1914, and fought in the opening battles at Mons, Le Cateau and the Marne. The 15th Infantry Brigade was a regular formation tht comprised four battalions from Bedfordshire, Norfolk, Dorset and Cheshire.Detailed accounts by battlefield commanders from 1914 are surprisingly rare. This long out of print account of the actions of the British Expeditionary Force, which was first published in 1917, was based on a diary of events written at the time by Brigadier General Edward Gleichen. It originally appeared under the title The Doings of the Fifteenth Infantry Brigade - August 1914 to March 1915.This volume is much more than a brigade diary, providing the reader with a detailed and privileged insight into the problems of command during the confused actions in Flanders and France from the perspective of the men whohelped to forge the legend of the Old Comtemptables.
A historical reference book that provides a discussion of interpretations and controversies about the British Expeditionary Force in 1914-15 and an annotated bibliography of more than 1,000 sources concerning the subject.
"This is the photographic history of the British Expeditionary Force, or BEF, at Ypres. From 1914-1918 these men formed the garrison of the beleaguered Belgian town of Ypres and the salient that surrounded it. Enduring countless attacks and offensives, the BEF held strong and their efforts are recorded here in a ... collection of images that aim to conjure the spirit of the men pictured, whilst not shying away from the grim realities that they faced."--Back cover.
Ypres was a medieval town known for its textiles; however, it became infamous during the Great War with trench warfare, poison gas and many thousands of casualties. As the German Army advanced through Belgium, it failed to take the Ypres Salient. On 13 October 1914, German troops entered Ypres. On looting the city, the Germans retreated as the British Expeditionary Force advanced. On 22 November 1914, the Germans commenced a huge artillery barrage killing many civilians. In 1917, the Third Battle of Ypres commenced making it an exceptionally dangerous place to live. In 1918, a German major offensive was launched, but the British held firm. Ypres was finally safe in late September 1918 when German troops withdrew from the Salient. Today the battlefields of Ypres contain the resting place of thousands of German and British soldiers. This book explores the first and second battles of Ypres through narrative, eye-witness accounts and images.
Words of those who fought in the first battles of the First World War In the early summer of 1914, apparently unconcerned by the gathering storm and the colossal building of military might in Germany, the British regular army, reduced in numbers and not having fought a major conflict for over a decade, was at peace in its garrisons. When German troops marched through Belgium and attacked France, the British Expeditionary Force was hastily created and for British soldiers the transition from peace to mobilisation and transportation to the battle line happened within a matter of days. It is astonishing that the 'Contemptible Little Army' was not instantly enveloped by the advancing Germans who outnumbered them-often by much more than five to one. Some are jingoistic about the British Army of the day being 'the best army in the world, ' however, the battle fought at Mons, the retreat to the Marne, the skilful command of the British staff and the dogged resistance of troops, who inflicted causalities on the enemy totally disproportionate to their strength, speaks for itself. The outcome was inevitable though and by the early months of 1915 the B. E. F. had all but been destroyed. Its tenacity had, however, earned the British sufficient time to build a new army, defence and response. This unique Leonaur centenary volume includes two works that bring to life the lives of British soldiers who fought through the events of 1914. The first contains dozens of narratives from soldiers at the sharp end of war, while the second is specifically about the first hand experiences of one officer. This is an essential book for those wishing to understand the impact of the early days of war on those who experienced it. Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket; our hardbacks are cloth bound and feature gold foil lettering on their spines and fabric head and tail bands.
On the 2nd August 1914, Germany declared war on France and its' armies immediately crossed the Belgian border en-route to French territory. Under the terms of the Treaty of London, Britain issued an ultimatum to Germany but, as no response was received Britain declared war on Germany at 11:00pm on the 4th August 1914. There existed an urgency to get the British army to the Western Front. Britain possessed six infantry divisions on which she could call but responded initially by sending four of those formations at the shortest possible notice. The British Expeditionary Force was followed a week later, by the 4th Infantry Division, having landed on French soil in the early hours of the 23rd August 1914. Those divisions, with the later addition of the 6th Infantry Division, were to become the famous 'Old Contemptibles'. Many divisions that served in the Great War have been written, each cataloguing the events in which the lives of millions of young men were interrupted by the greatest conflict the civilised world had seen. However, there remains the history of some forty or more yet to be documented. Consequently, it is without doubt that a large gap remains in the library of knowledge of one of Britain's greatest trials in military and civil history. The history of the 4th Infantry Division is an attempt to contribute to the filling of that gap. The 4th Division was one of the regular army divisions then in service and began mobilisation on the 4th August 1914, fought throughout, and undertook demobilisation in 1919, when it passed out of one of the most difficult and controversial periods of world history. In committing to pen the history of the 4th Division, so long after the cessation of hostilities, the author has relied on the collections of the Public Records Office, Imperial War Museum, Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, and the various Regimental Museums. Unit diaries, official histories, maps, and personal diaries have all been drawn upon. An effort has been made to use the words of the contemporary authors as regularly as possible so as to embody the views of the participants. When reading the diaries and translating the pencil lines drawn on maps, many written ninety years ago, there is a sense of urgency, yet they demonstrate the formal, organised thinking of the diarist and planners. The diaries of the 4th Division exist almost complete and, when read in date order, transmit the moods and feelings of the day quite clearly and never fail to take the reader into the emotions of the time. Sadly, few of the original campaigners remain and the memory of those who returned, after so many years, cannot be relied upon for the accuracy that this record demands. Such were the losses in the period between the commencement of the Battle of Mons on the 22nd August 1914 and the conclusion of the Second Battle of Ypres on the 27th May 1915, the British divisions mentioned above virtually ceased to exist as the British Regular Army. I desire that this history should also stand as testimony to the sacrifices made by the families of those men, where many were to lose sons, fathers and brothers and to those who returned with lifetime injuries and sufferings that only they knew. The maps embodied in this volume are an attempt to translate, visually, the topography and difficulties through which those men fought and should be consulted in conjunction with the description of events as they occurred. Only then can we appreciate the contribution made by those who participated. From the moment of initial engagement, with no signal, field ambulances, or engineers, to the last great battles of November 1918, the division grew in skill and achievement to become one of the great stories of human achievement.
The Angels of Mons is a popular legend about a group of angels who supposedly protected members of the British Army in the Battle of Mons at the outset of the First World War. On 22-23 August 1914, the first major engagement of the British Expeditionary Force in the First World War occurred at the Battle of Mons. Advancing German forces were thrown back by heavily outnumbered British troops, who suffered heavy casualties and, being outflanked, were forced into rapid retreat the next day. The retreat and the battle were rapidly perceived by the British public as being a key moment in the war. Despite the censorship going on in Britain at the time, this battle was the first indication the British public had that defeating Germany would not be as easy as some had thought.
Excerpt from Medical Services, General History, Vol. 2: The Medical Services on the Western Front, and During the Operations in France and Belgium in 1914 and 1915 HE general scope of the series of volumes dealing with the Medical History Of the War has been indicated in the Preface to the first volume of the General History of the Medical Services. Since the publication Of this in December 1921 the volumes on the Diseases, Surgery and the Hygiene of the War and on Pathology have appeared and the three remaining volumes of the General History have been prepared, although some time must elapse before all these are published. The compilation of the volume on Statistics is being under taken by the Ministry Of Pensions, which is in possession of the necessary data. The present volume, together with the greater part of the third volume of the General History, deals with the Medical Services of the British Expeditionary Force in France and Belgium. It has been compiled almost entirely from the war diaries of medical units, from the Office files and diaries of the Administrative Medical Services, and from the official despatches; but as some of the war diaries are missing altogether and many fail to record facts which are Of import ance in compiling a history, several gaps have had to be filled from personal diaries and information Obtained from various other sources. The war diaries are, in fact, of very unequal value. The most useful have been those which give Sketch maps, details of the position and work of the medical units and changes in organization and policy, but these important details have been omitted in a considerable number of instances. The campaign on the Western Front was characterized, so far as the Medical Services were concerned, by the unparalleled number of wounded who came under their charge. In com piling the history Oi the Medical Services Of this front, it has on this account been considered desirable, after a more general description Of the administrative services and the medical units, to present a detailed account of their strategical and tactical employment in the various battles and phases of the campaign. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
Ypres was a medieval town known for its textiles; however, it became infamous during the Great War with trench warfare, poison gas and many thousands of casualties. As the German Army advanced through Belgium, it failed to take the Ypres Salient. On 13 October 1914, German troops entered Ypres. On looting the city, the Germans retreated as the British Expeditionary Force advanced. On 22 November 1914, the Germans commenced a huge artillery barrage killing many civilians. In 1917, the Third Battle of Ypres commenced making it an exceptionally dangerous place to live. In 1918, a German major offensive was launched, but the British held firm. Ypres was finally safe in late September 1918 when German troops withdrew from the Salient. Today the battlefields of Ypres contain the resting place of thousands of German and British soldiers. This book explores the first and second battles of Ypres through narrative, eye-witness accounts and images.
Exam Board: SQA Level: Higher Subject: History First Teaching: September 2014 First Exam: Summer 2015 Get your best grade with the SQA endorsed guide to Higher History for CfE. This book contains all the advice and support you need to revise successfully for your Higher exam (for CfE). It combines an overview of the course syllabus with advice from a top expert on how to improve exam performance, so you have the best chance of success. - Refresh your knowledge with complete course notes - Prepare for the exam with top tips and hints on revision techniques - Get your best grade with advice on how to gain those vital extra marks
Germany in the Great War Illustrated Western Front First Year is the latest title in a serial publication by historian Joshua Bilton. Advancing the 'German' perspective (including the Ottoman, Bulgar and Austro-Hungarian), this pictorial account illustrates the order of the Central Powers in 1915. Arranged in six chapters, this book covers events in the west: Neuve Chapelle, First Ypres and Loos. The looting of stores, street demonstrations, riots and strikes on the Home Front, the war to the east and the war at sea and finally, one of the great what ifs of the First World War: Gallipoli a truly international campaign, costing the lives of 130,842 soldiers. For the Central Powers, 1915, was the year offense and quick victory turned to attrition and immobility.This informative text is complemented by over 500, fully captioned, mainly unpublished photographs, authors introduction and a 'German' chronology. A valuable tool for those seeking greater insight into the wider context and conduct of affairs beyond the Western Front and the British standpoint.
In late December 1914, German and British soldiers on the western front initiated a series of impromptu, unofficial ceasefires. Enlisted men across No Man's Land abandoned their trenches and crossed enemy lines to sing carols, share food and cigarettes, and even play a little soccer. Collectively known as the Christmas Truce, these fleeting moments of peace occupy a mythical place in remembrances of World War I. Yet new accounts suggest that the heartwarming tale ingrained in the popular imagination bears little resemblance to the truth. In this detailed study, Terri Blom Crocker provides the first comprehensive analysis of both scholarly and popular portrayals of the Christmas Truce from 1914 to present. From books by influential historians to the Oscar-nominated French film Joyeux Noel (2006), this new examination shows how a variety of works have both explored and enshrined this outbreak of peace amid overwhelming violence. The vast majority of these accounts depict the soldiers as acting in defiance of their superiors. Crocker, however, analyzes official accounts as well as private letters that reveal widespread support among officers for the détentes. Furthermore, she finds that truce participants describe the temporary ceasefires not as rebellions by disaffected troops but as acts of humanity and survival by professional soldiers deeply committed to their respective causes. The Christmas Truce studies these ceasefires within the wider war, demonstrating how generations of scholars have promoted interpretations that ignored the nuanced perspectives of the many soldiers who fought. Crocker's groundbreaking, meticulously researched work challenges conventional analyses and sheds new light on the history and popular mythology of the War to End All Wars.
