Mud, Blood and Determination: The History of the 46th (North Midland) Division in the Great War

Description

This groundbreaking modern history of the 46th (North Midland) Division draws upon a vast array of largely neglected sources from a variety of archives, and challenges some comfortable assumptions. University historians' increasingly positive views of Haig are challenged by primary evidence of his own blatant willingness to change his mind to protect his promotion prospects. The overall theme is of how the ordinary Tommies of 46th Division learnt to fight more effectively and ultimately stormed the Hindenburg Line. In dealing with the Somme, the book effectively rewrites our understanding of Third Army's experience; the book demonstrates that Middlebrook was mistaken in accepting the claim by Major General Stuart-Wortley that he was sacked for saving his men from further slaughter. That chapter concludes with the evidence of young subalterns, bringing to life moments in history that illuminate a generation's experience of the carnage of war. All previous large-scale studies have focused on elite units, but this book follows this un-fancied, often belittled, division along the learning curve of the British Army. The book therefore develops the view put forward in studies of the Canadian Corps, and reflected in modern biographies of leading commanders, that the British Army gradually developed the system of"bite and hold". The poignant chapter on a"Shot at Dawn" and the concluding chapter on the poor postwar treatment of the many miners make this book more than a purely military history by linking the First World War to its social, political and economic context. "Mud, Blood and Determination" brings scholarly debate, detailed historical accounts and the wider implications of war together for both the specialist military history buff and the general reader, and with the added dimension that it will have poignant local interest across Staffordshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire whose Territorials went off to war in March 1915.

Author of "European Diplomacy 1870-1939", which sold well in the USA and Canada, as well as in the UK, Simon is a sought-after speaker at WFA events, and his ability to present history in an exciting way is reflected in his role as Head of History and Politics at Princethorpe College, a leading independent HMC school. Simon's grandfather fought on the Western Front and his great uncle lies there still. Simon originally graduated from Bristol University, and whilst a student there went on a Goodwin tour to Ypres, where the guide was none other than John Giles who founded the Western Front Association. Simon's PhD from Birmingham as a mature student was combined with involvement in local politics, where he had the privilege of serving as Mayor of Tamworth, including leading the civic Remembrance Day tribute honouring local servicemen including those who served in the 46th Division. Simon's London Irish background means he takes a robust view of the political establishment, and his writing challenges the comfortable consensus amongst some University academics whilst being based on the most thorough research of primary source materials. Simon has been married to Sheree for 29 years and has two grown up sons, Thomas and Edward.

I have reviewed a number of books in this excellent series from Wolverhampton University under the editorship of Stephen Badsey. Each has, in my opinion, been a sensibly priced and valuable addition to the Great War canon. * The Bulletin of the Military Historical Society *