{"title":"Jerry Murland","description":"\u003cp\u003eDelve into the thrilling world of Jerry Murland, where gripping mysteries and suspenseful thrillers await. Perfect for fans of crime fiction with a British twist. Discover his captivating stories today.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"retreat-of-i-corps-1914-book-jerry-murland-9781783463732","title":"Retreat of I Corps 1914","description":"The book is divided into 3 stages and each stage is the subject of a detailed car tour that takes the battlefield tourist to each of the locations described. 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This work offers an account of two generations of a family who fought for their country and the impact it had upon their lives.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49507750707473,"sku":"GOR005246679","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ LIKE_NEW \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50645342486801,"sku":"GOR014022069","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1906510709.jpg?v=1751435293"},{"product_id":"retreat-and-rearguard-1914-the-bef-s-actions-from-mons-to-the-marne-book-jerry-murland-9781848843912","title":"Retreat and Rearguard 1914: The BEF's Actions From Mons to the Marne","description":"The British action at Mons on 23 August 1914 was the catalyst for what became a full blown retreat over 200 blood drenched miles. In this fascinating book the Author examines eighteen of the ensuing desperate rearguard actions that occurred over the twelve days of this near rout. While those at Le Cateau and Nery are well chronicled, others such as cavalry engagements at Morsain and Taillefontaine, the Connaught Rangers' action at Le Grand Fayt and 13 Brigade's fight at Crepy-en-Valois are virtually unknown. We learn how, in the chaos and confusion that reigned, units of Gunners and other supporting arms found themselves in the front line.The work of the Royal Engineers responsible for blowing bridges over rivers and canals behind the retreating troops comes in for particular attention and praise: likewise the sterling efforts of the RAMC. The fact that no less than 16 VCs were won during this historic Retreat shows that, even in these darkest hours, individuals and units performed with gallantry, resourcefulness and great forbearance. Extensive use of primary source material, including first-hand accounts, letters, diaries and official unit records, brings alive this delightful and informative account of an historic, if not victorious, chapter in our Nation's military history. It would make an excellent companion on a battlefield visit.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49508948476177,"sku":"GOR006471067","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ LIKE_NEW \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49584466624785,"sku":"GOR010422089","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50225498980625,"sku":"GOR013497600","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":50400663699729,"sku":"CIN1848843917G","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1848843917.jpg?v=1750963763"},{"product_id":"aristocrats-go-to-war-uncovering-the-zillebeke-churchyard-cemetery-book-jerry-murland-9781848841529","title":"Aristocrats Go to War: Uncovering the Zillebeke Churchyard Cemetery","description":"Aristocrats Go To War is the account of eighteen officers and men who fought principally with 4th Guards Brigade, the 1st Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment and the 7th Cavalry Brigade during the final months of 1914 and are buried in the small churchyard cemetery at Zillebeke, near Ypres.  The cemetery, often referred to as the 'Aristocrat's Cemetery', is noted for the high proportion of individuals from their families of the aristocracy and landed gentry who are buried and commemorated therein.  These men were part of a regular army that had evolved from nearly a century to reform and reorganization.  Some had fought in South Africa in the second Boer War and most were typical of the Edwardian officer corps in their social origins and outlook.  Using their personal careers, the book traces the historical and political processes that saw the British Army emerge from being the plaything of the aristocracy to the professional organization it became in the early twentieth century.  It takes the reader to France with the British Expeditionary Force in early August 1914 and concludes with the first Battle of Ypres. It was at Ypres these men made the final sacrifice in a battle that, in many ways, determined the outcome of the First World War.  This is their story.  Thanks to detailed research and support from the families concerned, the author has unearthed letters, memorabilia and photographs.Prior to embarking on a teaching career, Jerry Murland served in the Parachute Regiment on operations in the Middle East.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49512768700689,"sku":"GOR006222967","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":52964780802321,"sku":"GOR006489077","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ WELL_READ \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":53124290216209,"sku":"GOR014756702","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1848841523.jpg?v=1751423765"},{"product_id":"retreat-and-rearguard-somme-1918-book-jerry-murland-9781781592670","title":"Retreat and Rearguard - Somme 1918","description":"The German Spring offensive - or Kaiserschlacht - was a period of great danger for the Allies.  Both sides were exhausted after years of bitter fighting and huge losses.  While eventually catastrophically unsuccessful and the prelude to their final defeat, the German forced the Allies back over hard-won ground until the tide turned. Historian Jerry Murland has researched and visited the scenes of desperate actions during late March 1918. He describes in graphic detail the battles fought by British, Irish and South African regiments in the area from St Leger in the North to La Fere in the South.  He unearths the extraordinary stories of unit and individual courage.  He also examines the work of the Royal Engineers who blew bridges and disrupted lines of communication. This original approach covers battles that in many cases have only been described briefly in official histories.  The book is a useful companion for any battlefield visitor.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49570460270865,"sku":"GOR010634464","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ LIKE_NEW \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50145879064849,"sku":"GOR013215569","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ WELL_READ \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50755536847121,"sku":"GOR014060048","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1781592675.jpg?v=1751440921"},{"product_id":"frankforce-and-the-defence-of-arras-1940-book-jerry-murland-9781473852693","title":"Frankforce and the Defence of Arras 1940","description":"There is no other city in France that has the same associations in time of conflict that the British have with Arras. Since the campaigns of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, in the early 18th century, British soldiers have fought in and around Arras, occasionally as an enemy but, more often, as defenders of French and Allied democracy. Battlefield visitors to the area will immediately recognize the names of towns and villages that were as significant to the men of Marlborough s army as they were to those who fought in the First and Second World Wars.  This book serves both as guide to the Second World War battlefields that surround the city and its environs as well as detailing the actions of the British armoured attack of 21 May 1940\\. The book looks at the strategic situation that led up to the famous Arras counter-stroke and, using material that has not been published before, examines the British and German actions between 20 and 23 May. The only Victoria Cross action that took place during this time is looked at in detail; as is the fighting that took place in Arras and during the breakout. Despite its shortcomings, the counter-stroke achieved the essential element of surprise and caused widespread alarm amongst the German command and hit Rommel s 7th Panzer Division at precisely the moment when his armoured units were ahead of the infantry and gunners. The British infantry fought well and both the Durham battalions were fortunate that their commanding officers and senior NCOs were men who had already fought in one conflict and possessed the determination to rally their less experienced junior ranks and fight on regardless. Such was the case with the two tank battalions, although sadly they lost both their commanding officers and over half the tanks that went into the engagement. The attack did enable the British to tighten their hold on Arras albeit temporarily and, as is often cited, built doubts in the minds of German High Command as to the speed of their advance and contributed to the subsequent Hitler halt order of 24-27 May. The author has gone to some lengths to track down accounts from those individuals who served in the area during May 1940 and fought the enveloping tide of the German advance  The book is supported by three car tours, one of which takes the visitor along the tragic path taken by the Tyneside Scottish on 20 May and two walking routes, which concentrate on Arras.  137 black and white photographs (integrated) and a number of maps derived from regimental histories; and six tour maps provide the battlefield visitor with illustrations of the battlefields as they were in 1940 and as they are today.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49603532062993,"sku":"GOR009340529","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":49733529436433,"sku":"NGR9781473852693","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ LIKE_NEW \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":51744939737361,"sku":"GOR011301955","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1473852692.jpg?v=1751405069"},{"product_id":"battle-on-the-aisne-1914-the-bef-and-the-birth-of-the-western-front-book-jerry-murland-9781848847699","title":"The Battle on the Aisne 1914: The BEF and the Birth of the Western Front","description":"The river Aisne featured prominently in August 1914 during the Retreat from Mons and in September was the scene of bitter fighting when the BEF re-crossed it in their unsuccessful attempt to dislodge the German Army entrenched along the Northern Crest.The fighting was hugely costly to the BEF which had already fought three major engagements and marched over 200 miles in a month.  The three British Corps lost over 700 officers and some 15,000 men.  Little wonder one officer wrote that he felt he was 'in the company of ghosts'.Historian Jerry Murland places the Aisne battles in their context, both from the BEF and German viewpoints.  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By 25 May the decision to evacuate the BEF via Dunkirk had already been taken, Lord Gort, commanding the BEF in France, had given instructions to Lieutenant General Sir Ronald Adam to relinquish his command of III Corps and prepare a perimeter of defence around Dunkirk. As part of the western defensive line of the Dunkirk Corridor, 145 Brigade were deployed to Cassel and Hazebrouck with the instructions to hold the two towns until the last man. Under the command of Brigadier Nigel Somerset, the brigade occupied Hazebrouck with the infantry of 1st Buckinghamshire Battalion and Cassel with the 4\/Ox and Bucks Light infantry together with the regulars of the 2nd Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment. Attached to Somerset s meagre force was a number of units that had previously been part of two of Gort s ad hoc formations - Macforce and Woodforce, and it was with these men that the two towns were fortified against the advancing German armoured divisions.?While Hazebrouck was overwhelmed very quickly, the hilltop town of Cassel held out for much longer with German forces failing to consolidate any penetration of the perimeter. The book looks closely at the deployment of units in both towns and focuses on the individuals involved in the defence and the subsequent break-out, which ended in capture or death for so many. There are two car tours that explore the surrounding area of Cassel and the deployment of platoons within Hazebrouck. These are supplemented by two walking tours, one in Cassel itself and the second further to the west of the town around the area controlled by B and D Companies of the 2nd Gloucesters. 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It covers the area that most people in Britain associate with the fighting in France in 1940, a military disaster that could have been much worse. This grievous military setback was soon transformed into a morale boosting symbol of the resilience of the British against a Germany that had crushed so many nations in a matter of weeks.  With over 200 black and white photographs and fourteen maps, this book looks in some detail at the units deployed around Dunkerque and Nieuport and their often desperate actions to prevent the inevitable advance of German forces opposing them. The evacuation of the BEF from the beaches east of Dunkerque is covered in detail from the perspective of the Royal Navy and from the standpoint of the soldier on the beaches. Unusual for a Battleground Europe publication is the inclusion of a walk and drive around Ramsgate and Dover, covering the English end of the evacuation.  In addition to visits to the relevant cemeteries, the book includes three appendices and two car tours, one tour covering the whole of the Dunkirk perimeter and the other covering Ramsgate and Dover, although there is plenty of scope for walking in both tours. There is also a walk around De Panne, which takes the tourist along the beach that saw so much of the evacuation, and into the back areas of the town where the Germans left their mark when clearing up after the British had gone.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":49733653037329,"sku":"NGR9781473852235","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50263195713809,"sku":"GOR010275196","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ LIKE_NEW \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":51528489566481,"sku":"GOR010800265","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":53389658456337,"sku":"GOR013371897","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1473852234.jpg?v=1750955600"},{"product_id":"battle-of-the-ypres-comines-canal-1940-book-jerry-murland-9781473852570","title":"The Battle of the Ypres-Comines Canal 1940","description":"Known in some accounts as the Battle of Wijtschaete, the confrontation along the Ypres-Comines Canal in 1940 is still hardly remembered in this country and, apart from the battle honours displayed proudly on the colours of the regiments who took part - many no longer in existence, very little has been written about the four days which probably saved the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) from almost complete destruction. This is quite surprising, given the pivotal nature of the battle, for without the sacrifice of the battalions on the canal there would probably have been no evacuation from Dunkerque on the scale to which we have become accustomed, and the war may well have taken on a different outcome.  Although there was fighting north of Ypres along the Canal Van Ieper Naar De Ijzer, where 151 Brigade and the 3rd Division were deployed, the actual Battle of the Ypres-Comines Canal took place to the south, where the three divisions of General der Infantry Viktor von Schwedler's IV Korps were pitted against three British brigades along the disused canal which runs from Comines in the south to Ypres in the north.  The book looks in detail at the order of battle of the British and German units engaged and focuses on the four British brigades that fought on the canal. The mainly territorial 143 Brigade was positioned in the south, 13 Brigade was in the middle and 17 Brigade held the northern end of the line up to Zillebeke Lake. Apart from the 12\/Lancers and a few tanks from 3\/RTR, Ypres itself was largely defended by 150 Brigade. Major General Franklyn's instructions were to hold the line for as long as possible to allow the remainder of the BEF to strengthen the Dunkerque Perimeter.  With over 150 contemporary and modern black and white photographs, ten maps, and visits to eight CWGC Cemeteries, the book enables the battlefield tourist to explore the area and undertake three car tours together with two short walks. 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Even before events on the line of the Escaut line had concluded with yet another Allied withdrawal, Lord Gort was diverting units to bolster the Canal Line defenses  This is probably the first occasion that the fighting along the Canal Line has been looked at in detail; overlooked by the inevitable withdrawal towards the channel coast, the units deployed along the canal faced some of the stiffest fighting in the whole 1940 France and Flanders campaign. Whole battalions, particularly those in the 2nd Division, were sacrificed as units were thrown into the battle in an attempt to slow down the German advance. The book looks in some detail at the ad hoc nature of the Usherforce and Polforce units, the units of the independent 25 Brigade and the vicious fighting that enveloped the 2nd Division. Time is given also to the notorious massacre of the Royal Norfolks at Louis Creton's farm near Le Paradis.  Material concerning the deployment of units along the Canal Line in 1940 has been found in a variety of sources, including regimental histories and unit war diaries. The author has been fortunate in being able to access a number of personal diaries and accounts from men serving with the independent 25 Brigade and the 2nd Division, which has, in some cases, added to and enhanced the actions taken by those units while deployed on the canal.  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Howard Pixton's 1914 victory in a Sopwith Tabloid biplane surprisingly surpassed the performance of monoplanes and other manufacturers turned back to biplanes. During The Great War aerial combat was almost entirely conducted by biplanes, with their low landing speeds, rapid climb rates and manoeuvrability.  Post-war the Races resumed in 1920\\. The American Curtiss racing aircraft set the pattern for the 1920s, making way for Harold Mitchell's Supermarines in the 1930's. Having won the 1927 race at Venice Mitchell developed his ground-breaking aircraft into the iconic Spitfire powered by the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. This new generation of British fighter aircraft were to play a decisive role in defeating the Luftwaffe and thwarting the Nazis' invasion plans.  This is a fascinating account of the air race series that had a huge influence on the development of flight.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":49738517250321,"sku":"NGR9781526770011","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50290313330961,"sku":"GOR012048427","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1526770016.jpg?v=1751087322"},{"product_id":"battle-of-cambrai-1917-book-jerry-murland-9781399017435","title":"The Battle of Cambrai 1917","description":"The 1917 Battle of Cambrai featured the first massed tank attack in military history and provoked the biggest German counter-attack against the British since 1914. The British aimed to break through the German Hindenburg Line, then threaten the rear of the German positions to the north. The battle is one of the most famous and controversial episodes of the First World War, and the battlefield is one of the most commonly visited on the Western Front. Jerry Murland's clearly written, highly illustrated guide is the ideal introduction to it.  Visitors can trace for themselves the course of the battle across the modern landscape and gain a fascinating insight into the nature of the fighting - and the wider conflict across the Western Front - throughout the war. Included are a series of routes that can be walked, cycled or driven. Among the key sites covered are Haverincourt, Flesqui res, M uveres, Graincourt, Cantaign, Marcoing and Masni res, Bourlon, La Vacquerie and Villers-Plouich, Gouzeaucourt and Gonnelieu.  In each place Jerry Murland describes the fighting that occurred there, recording what happened, exactly where it happened and why, and he points out the sights that remain for the visitor to see. His guidebook is essential reading for visitors who wish to enhance their understanding of the Battle of Cambrai and the war on the Western Front.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":49741876166929,"sku":"NGR9781399017435","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1399017438.jpg?v=1751083019"},{"product_id":"allied-air-operations-1939-1940-book-jerry-murland-9781399087711","title":"Allied Air Operations 1939 1940","description":"While much has been written about the Battle of Britain, the air war over France and the Low Countries from September 1939 to June 1940 has been largely neglected - until now. As expert aviation author Jerry Murland reveals in this fascinating book, there may have been little ground action until May 1940 but the war in the air was far from  phoney'.  In contrast to their adversaries, the Allied air forces on the mainland of Europe were poorly equipped, regardless of increased development from 1934 onwards. But in spite of this, when the German invasion began, the Low Countries of Holland and Belgium fought back tenaciously. While development of the Spitfire, Blenheim and Wellington was continuing at a pace, the RAF with only four squadrons of Hurricanes among a force of outdated bi-planes, was a little more prepared than the French, but still woefully outgunned by the Luftwaffe.  While the Allied air forces of Britain, France and the Low Countries may have been inferior, the gallantry and tenacity of their pilots makes for inspiring reading.  This is a work that will enthral and inform all those interested in the history of the Second World War, particularly aviation enthusiasts.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":49741945635089,"sku":"NGR9781399087711","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50766949351697,"sku":"GOR012685728","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ LIKE_NEW \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":53475890987281,"sku":"GOR012549831","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1399087711.jpg?v=1750954196"},{"product_id":"western-dunkirk-corridor-1940-book-jerry-murland-9781526743183","title":"The Western Dunkirk Corridor 1940","description":"The story of 144 Brigade's defence of Wormhoudt and Bambecque must rank in importance alongside the defence of Cassel and Hazebrouck by 145 Brigade; however, what is often forgotten in the uncertainty that surrounded Wormhoudt and Bambeque is the heroic defence of West Cappel and Vwyfeg (les Cinq Chemins today) by the Welsh Guards and the 1\/Fife and Forfar Yeomanry (1\/F\u0026amp;F Yeomanry). Brigadier Norman's composite brigade was the final piece in the jigsaw of defence on the western flank of the Dunkerque Corridor and, after the last stand of the 2\/Royal Warwicks and the 8\/Worcesters, Norman's Brigade, held the line south of Bergues, containing the attacking German units at great cost, until the perimeter at Dunkerque had been established. He and the remnants of his brigade left Yvfweg just as the Germans were entering it from the south. The full story of the evacuation of the BEF from Dunkerque can be read in Battleground Europe: The Dunkerque Perimeter and Evacuation 1940.  The defence of Wormhoudt in 1940 has long been associated with the massacre of British servicemen after they had surrendered and been taken prisoner. The events in the barn at La Plaine au Bois will always be considered one of the most appalling acts of the Second World War, carried out by elements of the Liebstandarte Regiment, in what looked very much like revenge; a massacre that was almost second nature to this group of fanatical followers of Adolf Hitler. Up against the regular troops of the 2\/Warwicks and their supporting units, the Liebstandarte found no easy victory at Wormhoudt in an encounter that saw their regimental commander, Gruppenfuhrer Otto  Sepp' Dietrich, having to take shelter in a roadside ditch away from the fury of the Cheshire machine gunners. Then again, what is often overshadowed by the events in the barn is the series of other murders of civilians and British soldiers that took place as the Liebstandarte overwhelmed the fragile defence of the Warwicks. Captain  Tony' Crook, the Warwicks' Medical Officer, draws attention to just one of these incidents as he was marched into captivity past the bodies of A Company men, who he felt sure had been murdered in cold blood. Another incident involving the Worcesters at Bambecque is related by Lieutenant Roger Cleverley of C Company, who writes in his diary that all the wounded were shot by a commander of the Liebstandarte. Apart from hearsay and diary entries, there is little other evidence to support the deaths of these men but, in the opinion of the author, there is no doubt whatever that many British soldiers met a premature end after they had surrendered in the fields and on the pavements of Wormhoudt and Bambecque.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":49744853500177,"sku":"NGR9781526743183","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50484509770001,"sku":"GOR013084630","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1526743183.jpg?v=1750925632"},{"product_id":"battle-on-the-aisne-1914-book-jerry-murland-9781399074544","title":"Battle on the Aisne 1914","description":"The river Aisne featured prominently in August 1914 during the Retreat from Mons and in September was the scene of bitter fighting when the BEF re-crossed it in their unsuccessful attempt to dislodge the German Army entrenched along the Northern Crest.  The fighting was hugely costly to the BEF which had already fought three major engagements and marched over 200 miles in a month. The three British Corps lost over 700 officers and some 15,000 men. Little wonder one officer wrote that he felt he was in the company of ghosts.  Historian Jerry Murland places the Aisne battles in their context, both from the BEF and German viewpoints. He highlights the early deficiencies and unpreparedness of the British Army staff and logistics organisation as well as friction among the command structure, all of which hampered effective operations.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":49777896653073,"sku":"NGR9781399074544","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50942642553105,"sku":"GOR014136504","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1399074547.jpg?v=1751369559"},{"product_id":"defence-of-st-valery-en-caux-1940-book-jerry-murland-9781473852273","title":"The Defence of St Valery-en-Caux 1940","description":"The story of the 51st (Highland) Division during 1939 and 1940 is a short and largely tragic one and although it firmly burnt itself into the minds of Scotsmen it has never been granted the recognition it deserves. Even in Scotland it is often forgotten that the men, and attached troops, of the 51st Division, were fighting for survival in Normandy for some ten days after the evacuation from Dunkerque had been completed. Most present-day accounts of the Second World War in 1939\/40 deal with the ‘Phoney War’ and the evacuation from Dunkerque but few mention the rearguard action at St Valery-en-Caux, other than a giving it a passing mention. Nevertheless, the action of the 51st Division against the might of German forces won the admiration of General Erwin Rommel and Charles De Gaulle, who fought against and alongside them.  One of the enduring beliefs is that Churchill deliberately sacrificed the 51st Division in an attempt to keep France in the war; this, apart from being palpably incorrect, fails miserably to address the intricacy of the circumstances that overtook the 51st Division after they returned from the Saar. In a situation where units were repeatedly changing affiliation, communication between the French Supreme Command and British forces suffered language difficulties and the inclination to blame each other for the debacle that inevitably ensued. Nevertheless, for all the criticism that is thrown at the French Army, it is clear that a number of French units fought hard and with great courage, the main fault with the French command lying with poor leadership and lack of tactical planning.  As far as the Highlanders were concerned it was bad luck that their term of duty on the Saar coincided with the beginning of Fall Rot. The speed and extent of the German advance from Abbeville took their own High Command and the French by surprise and it was with little wonder that Allied military thinking failed to keep up with actions on the battlefield. The theory that Churchill sacrificed the division to keep the French in the war owes a great deal to the Scottish need to attribute all the misery of the world to one scoundrel, a trait that exists to this day!  Supported by eleven maps and over 150 photographs, the book traces the history of the 51st Division from its inception until its final surrender at St Valery-en-Caux and deals with the fighting on the Saar and the often ragged skirmishing though Normandy. The book also touches on the actions of the 1st Armoured Division and the Battle of Abbeville. There are three walks and a car tour included in this volume which allows the battlefield visitor to base themselves firstly in Abbeville and, secondly, further into Normandy.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":49778693505297,"sku":"NGR9781473852273","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":51356824174865,"sku":"GOR014236968","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1473852277.jpg?v=1751084671"},{"product_id":"retreat-and-rearguard-dunkirk-1940-the-evacuation-of-the-bef-to-the-channel-port-book-jerry-murland-9781473823662","title":"Retreat and Rearguard - Dunkirk 1940: The Evacuation of the BEF to the Channel Ports","description":"This book, the third title in the Author's Retreat and Rearguard series, covers the actions of the BEF during the retreat from the Dyle Line to the evacuation points of Dunkirk, Boulogne, Calais, St Valery-en-Caux and finally the Cherbourg Peninsula.  Some of the engagements are relatively well known (Cassell, the Arras counter-attack and the notorious Le Paradis SS massacre) but the author has unearthed many less known engagements from the long and painful withdrawal.  While the main Dunkirk evacuation from the port and beaches was over by early June, elements of the BEF fought on until 21 June.  In relating those, often heroic, actions the author catches the atmosphere of desperate defiance that typified this never-to-be-forgotten period.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50412425281809,"sku":"GOR009351761","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1473823668.jpg?v=1751447515"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/collections\/author-books-by-jerry-murland.oembed","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}