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Overview
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781783461769 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Pen and Sword |
| Publication date: | 01/19/2014 |
| Edition description: | Reprint |
| Pages: | 240 |
| Product dimensions: | 6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.70(d) |
About the Author
Table of Contents
List of Tables 11
Foreword 12
Acknowledgements 12
Dedication 14
Introduction 15
Chapter 1 Prologue and Overview of the War 21
Prelude to War 21
Central Powers, The Allies 24
The Western Front - Plans 28
The Western Front - War 30
Other Theatres Involving British Forces 38
China: Tsing-Tau, Middle East - Introduction, Gallipoli, Italy, Mesopotamia, Egypt and Palestine, Macedonia (Salonica), Africa, Russia
Other Areas Not Involving British Forces 45
Royal Navy 45
Merchant Navy 47
The Air Services (RFC, RNAS and RAF) 48
Attacks on Britain 51
Armistice Details 51
The Aftermath 52
Chapter 2 The Army 53
Structure of the British Army in 1914 53
Army Command 56
Going to War 56
Enlistment 58
Volunteers, Derby Scheme, Conscription, Officers
Definition of Army Formations 61
British Expeditionary Force, Lines of Communication (Troops), Army, Corps, Division, Brigade (Infantry), Regiment, Battalion, Pals Battalions, Cadre, Company, Platoon, Section, Artillery, Artillery Brigade, Cavalry
Medals 66
Campaign Medals and Entitlement, Silver War Badge, Gallantry Medals, etc., Victoria Cross, Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross, Distinguished Conduct Medal, Military Medal, Indian Order of Merit, Mentioned in Despatches
Regimental Numbers 71
Chapter 3 The New Soldier 74
Why Enlist? 74
Attestation 75
Over / Under Age and Aliases 76
Pay and Allotment 76
Currency Guide
Training 78
Embarkation 80
Wills 80
Uniforms and Accoutrements 81
Marching: Time and Distances 81
Identity Discs 83
Home Leave 83
Chapter 4 The Trench 85
Trenches: Summary 85
Defence in Depth 88
Elements of a Trench or Trench System 89
Barbed Wire, Berm, Bombing Pit/Trench, Bomb Store, Breastworks, Communication Trenches, Duckboards, Dugouts, Enfilade, Fire-Step, Front-Line, Keep, Latrines, Loopholes, No Man's Land, Parados, Parapet, Periscopes, Pill Boxes and Bunkers, Reserve Line, Reserve Trench System, Sap, Shell Trench or Slip Trench, Special Purpose Trenches, Strongpoints, Sump, Support Trenches, Traverse, Trench Block
Chapter 5 A Soldier's Life 99
A Summary 99
Infantry and its Specialists 100
Getting to the Front 101
Kit 102
Battles and Trench Raids 102
Artillery Formation 103
Rotation from Front to Rear 104
Trench Life 104
Letters and Parcels 107
Rations 108
Pay 111
Battle Hardening 111
Discipline 112
Desertion 113
Billets 113
Estaminets 114
Religious Services and Padres 114
Prisoners of War 115
Leaving the Army - Honourably and Alive 115
Chapter 6 Weapons of War 117
Introduction 117
Rifles and Bayonets 119
British Rifle, British Bayonet, German Rifle, German Bayonet Pistols 121
Machine Guns 122
Hand Grenades 123
British: The Mills Bomb, German: The Stick Grenade Artillery 125
Mortars 128
Landmines 131
Explosives 132
Chemical Weapons - Gas 133
Miscellaneous Weapons 135
Flamethrowers, Kukri, Caltrop, Fléchettes
Improvised Weapons 136
Chapter 7 Death in its Many Forms 137
Casualty 137
Categories of Death 138
Instantaneously 139
Causes of death 140
Friendly Fire, Shell-Fire, Shrapnel, Bullet Wounds, Bayonet Wounds, Snipers, Gas
Daily Attrition and Truces 145
Live and Let Live
Accidents and Disease 146
Executions 148
Morale and Courage 149
Chapter 8 Army Corps 151
Royal Army Medical Corps 151
Royal Flying Corps 151
Royal Regiment of Artillery 151
Machine Gun Corps 155
Royal Engineers 156
Tunnelling, Communication
Tank Corps 160
Army Service Corps 161
Labour Corps and Similar Units 163
Royal Defence Corps 164
Other Corps 164
Chapter 9 Medical Matters 165
Wounds 165
Initial Treatment 168
Evacuation 168
Field Ambulance, Casualty Clearing Station
Ailments 171
Dentistry, Drunkenness, Dysentery, Gas Poisoning, Influenza, Malaria, Self-inflicted Injuries, Shell Shock, Trench Foot, Venereal Diseases
Various Notes and Medical Statistics 178
War Pensions 180
Chapter 10 Interesting Facts, Definitions and Statistics 181
First Casualties 181
Fust British Rifle Shots in Anger 181
First Royal Flying Corps Aircraft Shot Down 181
Armistice Day Fatalities 182
Duration of the War 182
Theatres of War 182
Strategy and Tactics 184
Flak 184
Calibre 184
Parachutes 185
Pyrotechnics 186
France 186
German Spies and their Fate 187
British Army Ranks 1914-1918 187
Warrant Officers, Sergeants, Corporals, Privates Stores 191
Women on the Western Front 193
Boring But Important Statistics 193
Attrition 199
Chapter 11 A Guide to Visiting the Western Front Battlefields 200
Getting There 200
Suggested Kit List 201
Useful Telephone Numbers 202
Language 203
Recommended Guidebooks 203
General Books, Walking Guides
Maps 204
France, Belgium, First World War Trench Maps, Digital Mapping
Visiting the Battlefields 206
Belgium, France
Museums 209
Metal Detectors 210
Munitions Seen on the Battlefield 210
Battles and Engagements of the British Army on the Western Front 211
Chapter 12 Research Sources and Tips 217
Preamble 217
What do you Already Have? 218
Photographs 219
Visible Insignia 221
Rank, Regiment, Overseas Service Chevrons, Long Service and Good Conduct, Wound Bars, Skill Badges
The National Archives 222
Catalogue, Medal Index Cards, Campaign Medal Rolls, Gallantry Medals, War Diaries, Service Records: Other Ranks, Officers' Records, Other Records in The National Archives.
Imperial War Museum 226
Regimental Museums 227
Army Lists 227
Postmarks 227
Red Cross Lists of Missing 227
Voluntary Aid Detachments 228
County Record Offices 228
Prisoners of War 228
Soldiers (and Officers) Died in the Great War 229
Royal Naval Division 229
Commonwealth War Graves Commission 230
Published Sources 230
War Memorials 231
Internet Family History Sites 232
What's Left? 233
Postscript 233
Bibliography 234
Index 236