A Taste of Success: The First Battle of the Scarpe April 9-14 1917 - the Opening Phase of the Battle of Arras, 9-14 April 1917

Description

Wedged between the Battles of the Somme and Passchendaele, the Battle of Arras has often been termed 'The Forgotten Battle' with little in the way of supporting literature. A Taste of Success is aimed at filling that void -giving the reader an insight into a battle that clearly showed the development of the British and Commonwealth Armies over the early years of the First World War, and how far they still had to go to achieve victory. Why Arras became a focal point and the political background is covered in depth - being controversial and giving the reader an insight into the divide between the military and their political chiefs. A Taste of Success shows us how infantry tactics had improved and how the use of artillery had become a fine art in supporting the men as they attacked; how a preliminary artillery bombardment left the German defenders shattered, but also created the conditions that would hinder any kind of rapid movement once the first lines were broken. The key role of the Royal Flying Corps, how tanks were used and the vital role of support units such as the Royal Engineers are all examined in detail. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the initial success - based upon excellent planning and training - was followed by a chaotic confusion of command and control. It soon becomes evident that the development of the British Army in April 1917 had reached a point where in the Battle of Arras, they could stage a successful assault - applying perfect planning, but lacking the forethought to plan and carry out the follow-up phases. Controversially, although the performance of the soldiers carrying the fight is never questioned, that of many of their commanders is - it being clear that they were not yet ready to win the war. A great deal of the work is based upon primary material, with both British and German sources being used to deepen the analysis of events and also to challenge myths and previous descriptions of the battle. A Taste of Success presents a fresh and important reassessment of this important, yet generally ignored, battle as we approach its centenary. This book contains 16 colour images and maps - in addition to many illustrations, maps and diagrams - throughout the text.

Born and brought up in Sheffield, Jim always had a love of the countryside. He initially saw instructing in outdoor pursuits as a career prospect, but was soon persuaded that his interpersonal skills and personality were best suited to teaching. Graduating in 1990 from Durham University, he entered the teaching profession - and affter an initial couple of years teaching in West Yorkshire, he moved to Germany to teach in the British forces schools. After over 32 years' teaching, there he was: deputy headteacher in one of the secondary schools. Jim has always had a keen interest in military history - beginning with an appetite for wargaming as a teen. This started his interest in the First and Second World Wars - leading to him visiting the battlefields at every opportunity. This passion eventually led to him buying a house in France in 2007 - giving him a base in the heart of the areas of the Western Front he was studying, as well as the opportunity to 'walk the ground' of those battles on a daily basis. With the closure of military schools in Germany in 2014, Jim had the opportunity to retire, move to his house permanently and 'live the dream' - an opportunity that could not be passed by. Working as a battlefield guide on the Western Front has allowed Jim to share his enthusiasm with others - something he loves doing and making it the best job he's ever had. He has an appetite for primary research and the fluency to be able to do it in both English and German - resulting in a deep knowledge and understanding of the First World War from both sides of the wire. It was only natural that Jim's first book should have, as its subject, the very battlefield within which he lives - allowing him to share his intimate knowledge of the ground he regularly walks and gaining a deep insight into the fighting that went on there.

Once again, a word for Helion's production: glossy, good quality paper; some colour photographs and great design for a very reasonable price...as a text to underpin any tour of this area, it is simply a must. * Long Long Trail * The author doesn't hold back with the criticism of commanders on the ground...Production standards are excellent. * The Armourer *