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Bayard B.

Great! Looks at the 1918 events from government in London, Army HQ in France, fighting at the front.

Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2019

Great book! It looks at the events in the British sector of the 1918 Western Front and covers views and decisions at the levels of the government in London, the British high command in France (i.e., Haig), and at the local fighting at division and lower levels. The book is definitely one-sided in its treatment of war actions-- it pretty much ignores the French.

The presentation is somewhat sterile in that it presents the 1918 attacks as well thought-out responses to the German offensive in March of 1918 and the subsequent British advances of August though November. The book just doesn't do a very good job of describing the sheer horror of warfare in 1918. Today, more a than a hundred years later, it's hard to fathom that Britain got involved in a continental war and conducted it in a manner that cost the country more than 700 thousand dead.

There is some discussion of the level of air power by 1918 and the associated air-ground attacks and aerial fighting but not much.

Happyone

Good look at British Op in 1918

Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2013

1918: A Very British Victory is a very good look at the operations of the BEF from the German Spring Offensives thru to the end of the war.

Dr. Hart uses first person accounts very well, blending them with the point is making. In fact his use of 1st person accounts remind me a little of Lyn MacDonald.

Hart covers the war from all angles - from the highest levels down to the individual infantryman/gunner. He uses accounts from British, French, US and German sources.

He offers a different Douglas Haig than is conventionally accepted. Rather than the uncaring butcher, he portrays Haig as a professional, who was always trying to find a way to break through the trenches. And does care about his men but, he has a job to do. At one point Haig tells Foch that his troops cannot continue the attack, because there is not sufficient artillery and they would incur excessive casualties. His battles with Lloyd George about manpower and what it almost cost eh BEF in the Spring of 1918 are well done.

He vividly portrays the importance of artillery in World War One, with many accounts from both gunners and their officers and well as the impact of Arty on the PBI that was its target.

He gives great praise to the Canadian and Australian formations that became the tip of the British spear during the Battle of Amiens and the breaking of the Hindenburg line during the summer and fall.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it

Army Guy

"A Very British Author"

Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2008

Well done, very detailed love 1st person type books. Not a huge problem
but you definetly know the author is British. Would recommend this book to all WWI buffs

Top reviews from other countries

C J Holderness

Great history of the last year of the Great WAr.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 18, 2020

Verified Purchase

This is a great history of the last year of the Great War, when British troops - 'that contemptible little army' - took centre stage, as Russia was racked by revolution and French troops' morale was dented by the experiences of the fighting at Verdun. Quotes from the extensive archives give a vibrancy to the narrative, from accounts of participators from the Imperial War Museum archives. Essential for anyone studying the period.

GED

If you grew up with the view of the incompetency ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 19, 2015

Verified Purchase

If you grew up with the view of the incompetency of the British Army in the first world war, this will, change your mind, Very high casualties but undoubtedly a modern army with co-ordination between all arms, infantry, artillery, tanks and aircraft foreshadowing WW2 tactics.A description of events interwoven with many individual quotes which makes it very readable.

Tony Montana

Great read!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 30, 2013

Verified Purchase

A great book that debunks the 'Lions Led by Donkeys' myth of the Great War. Fact - we won, at a terrible cost in blood and treasure; we innovated a new way of war: the all arms battle. Which is still the cornerstone of British Military Doctrine and organisation.

Timely to read so that we can sort the fact from fiction over the next four years of hand wringing as we commerate the wars centenary.

Flynn

Very pleased

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 27, 2019

Verified Purchase

A very good read

G R WINGFIELD-DIGBY

Its a rip roaring read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 21, 2019

Verified Purchase

Its a fascinating read as it covers this epic struggle at all levels from the generals decision making to the hardships of the ordinary soldier and brim full of personal accounts, again from all levels.

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