Military History

[AndyWoodall]

I've just started on a couple that might be of note, 'No Easy Day' written by one of the SEAL's that took part in the Bin Laden mission and an interesting one by Al Murrary called 'Watching War Films with my Dad', with is entertaining.

[RizzoTheRat]

AndyWoodall said:

an interesting one by Al Murrary called 'Watching War Films with my Dad', with is entertaining.

I saw that in a shop the other day and it looked interesting, it's worth a read then?

[AndyWoodall]

RizzoTheRat said:

I saw that in a shop the other day and it looked interesting, it's worth a read then?

I'm only on the first chapter, but so far its him talking about the war films his Dad introduced him to and historical goofs/accuracy. Its not a traditional history book, but if you are into your film there are some nice little nudgets of info there.

[gmm1210]

the forgotten soldier... gets my vote too
the red badge of courage by Stephen crane - the best war book ever written?

[easytiger123]

The best military history (of sorts) that I've read is 'On the psychology of military incompetence' by Norman Dixon. Despite the somewhat challenging title it is an absolutely fascinating book full of stories of disastrous military campaigns and battles and why they failed. The book does become a bit more of a psychology study in the latter chapters but is one of my all time favourite books nonetheless. Well worth checking out.

[Sammitch]

All of Max Hastings books are worth reading.

[Nom de ploom]

Sammitch said:

All of Max Hastings books are worth reading.

i'm 38% through all hell let loose - his single volume opus.

its excellent so far.

I had no idea up until now how terrible the conflicts in Papau New Guinea were for example or the extent ad suffering of the merchant navy in the arctic - rivetting stuff!

[Crafty_]

I'm just finishing "Home Run:Escape from Nazi Europe" by John Nichol and Tony Rennell. It covers (mostly) airmen escaping after being shot down but gives a bit of history about MI9, the escape routes and the many, many people in occupied europe who went to extraordinary lengths to help allied servicemen.

Nichol & Rennell also wrote "tail end charlies" that someone else recommended. I concur.

Not one that I often see mentioned, but I thought it was interesting, written by a young German flighter pilot: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spitfire-My-Tail-View-Othe...

Sticking with fighters, books from Jeffery Quill and Alex Henshaw, both test pilots for Supermarine who helped to develop the Spitfire. Quill's is especially good and recounts working with Mitchell before his death.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spitfire-Pilots-Story-Jeff...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sigh-Merlin-Testing-Spitfi...

Spying, intelligence and covert operations were rife in WW2, each of these explores different areas:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0007313535/ref=...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0571221963/ref=...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Secrets-Vera-Atkins-A...

The goings on at Bletchley Park are well known now and there are several books on 'Station X' as it was known. For me, one of the best is this : http://www.amazon.co.uk/Enigma-Battle-Cassell-Mili...
Be warned there is a fair bit of technical detail about the Enigma machine and its operation and the methods that the code breakers used to break it.
This is a less technical book, but covers Bletchley in a bit more detail : http://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Life-Bletchley-Park...

Finally, if you haven't got the Band Of Brothers series from a few years ago get on your christmas list, it is simply stunning as a piece of cinema.
It was based on the works of Stephen Ambrose and Easy company commander, Richard Winters.

Winters sadly died last year but he did write his memoirs: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beyond-Band-Brothers-Memoi...

There are a whole bunch of other BoB books written by/for the men of Easy Company.

[Maracus]

RizzoTheRat said:

Tail End Charlies by John Nicholl and someone else - the story of bomber command towards the back end of the war, I found it a particularly good read as my grandfather was a tail gunner on Lancasters

Great book

[Ian D B]

Maracus said:

RizzoTheRat said:

Tail End Charlies by John Nicholl and someone else - the story of bomber command towards the back end of the war, I found it a particularly good read as my grandfather was a tail gunner on Lancasters

Great book

Yeah, Tail End Charlies really is a good read, very entertaining account of RAF Bomber Command crews.

If you like that then you will like Bomber Boys by Patrick Bishop too.

Berlin at War by Roger Moorhouse is gripping and also challenges some of our naiive beliefs... Well, mine at any rate. For instance, I used to think that most people in Germany were terrified of the Nazis, lived in fear of being caught out for some minor offence against the Reich. Moorhouse tells it very differently; most members of the public thought it absolutely right that people committing such offences were indeed enemies of the state and deserved whatever punishment they got. People like the couple spreading anti Nazi messages in the book Alone in Berlin were not generally admired or respected.

Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut Jr is an astonishing novel. He was captured during the Battle of the Bulge and as a PoW he witnessed the firebombing of Dresden which is central to this sci-fi classic.

All Quiet on the Western Front, Das Boot and The Forgotten Soldier are three books about war from a German point of view.

[Crafty_]

Received "Doctor For Friend & Foe: Britain's Frontline Medic in the Fight for the Falklands" by Rick Jolly for christmas, this is a revised version of "The red and green life machine" by the same author. You may have seen a show on Discovery called "Falklands Combat Medics". Jolly was Surgeon-Captain at the time of the Falklands and was Commanding Officer of the medical squadron.

The book is a great read, recommended.

Currently a couple of chapters in to "The Hut 6 Story" by Gordon Welchman.

[Voldemort]

Don't think it's been mentioned on this thread (but if it has take this as a +1)

Vulcan 607 by Rowland White. The story of the bombing raid on Port Stanley airport during the Falklands War.

[AndyWoodall]

Continuing on the Falklands theme I decided to finally read '100 Days' by (Admiral) Sandy Woodward and I thought it a very interesting perspective having read books from the fleets ship commanders, crews and some of the ground forces.

I thought it read very well, he clearly wasn't always the most personable of chaps but its a great read.

[kremlingazette]

Chickenhawk is a great book, if you enjoy the helicopter theme, have a look at "Low level hell"

All about an air cavalry scout pilot in Vietnam, its a better read than Chickenhawk.

[frodo_monkey]

If you like aviation, probably the best I have read is Sagittarius Rising by Cecil Lewis - fantastic book about flying in the RFC during WW1...

[Maracus]

I'm currently reading 'One of the Few' by Gp Capt J.A.Kent.

The story of a Canadian pilot who joined the RAF in the late 30s and flew in the Battle of Britain.

Last updated in 1971

[and31]

"Lancaster Target" by Jack Currie dfc.
brilliant account of his first tour of thirty missions on lancs.
he wrote two other books about his time in bomber command,"wings over georgia" and "mosquito victory" -well worth a read also.
pick them up on ebay for a couple of quid.

[lemmingjames]

Quartered Safe Out here - Follows a soldier through Burma during WW2

[Nobby Diesel]

2 to suggest.

"My Golden Flying Years" - The flying career of my wife's great grandad. From 1st WW, to the 60's. Part of the last British team to win the Schneider Trophy.

"Once a Pilgrim" - Will Scully; soldier of fortune. An account of one his more memorable jobs.

[Cotty]

Electric Beaver said:

Any time period is good,

What about Romans times?
Try Simon Scarrow. Start with Under the Eagle
http://www.scarrow.co.uk/page9.html