{"title":"Wolverhampton Series","description":"\u003cp\u003eDelve into the gripping Wolverhampton series, where gritty realism meets compelling characters. Perfect for fans of Martina Cole and Mandasue Heller, this series offers a raw and unflinching look at life on the streets.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-battle-of-the-selle-book-peter-hodgkinson-9781911512639","title":"The Battle of the Selle","description":"This book considers a relatively unknown series of actions of the victorious Hundred Days of 1918: the operations at the River Selle. Between 9-24 October, the British Fourth Army drove elements of two German armies back from the Hindenburg support line in the 'Pursuit to the Selle' (9-11 October); prepared and fought the set-piece Battle of the Selle (17-18 October); and then drove in the flank of the German Second Army towards the Sambre-Oise Canal (23-24 October). Contrary to expectations, the enemy resistance on 17 October (as Fourth Army crossed the river) was strong and effective, which contradicts the idea that the German Army was an entirely spent force at this late point in the conflict. Furthermore, Fourth Army suffered its worst intelligence failure of the war and artillery, airpower and armor were unable to support the infantry effectively; it was largely the infantry, fighting a 'soldier's battle', that gave victory. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe book gives a detailed account of the fighting and the infantry tactics deployed, and it analyses why Fourth Army's 'weapons system' struggled to be effective - weighing the contribution of each element and the qualities of the infantry that made victory possible. It also examines the nature of 'semi-mobile' warfare in the Hundred Days and assesses the limitations of the British ability to pursue this. The idea that the BEF had an invincible formula - repeatedly deployed - that ensured success is challenged; similarly, the nature of the German resistance is subject to analysis. The book further examines Fourth Army's planning process and the efforts of the Royal Engineers and the logistics system, without which no victory would have been possible.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49531741831441,"sku":"GOR009737798","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1911512633.jpg?v=1751632542"},{"product_id":"courage-without-glory-book-spencer-jones-9781912174119","title":"Courage Without Glory","description":"The year 1915 was one of unprecedented challenges for the British Army. Short of manpower, firepower and experience, the army needed time to adapt before it could hope to overcome the formidable German defenses of the Western Front. Yet the insistent demands of coalition warfare required immediate and repeated action. The result was a year of disappointments, setbacks and costly fighting. The very difficulties of 1915 make it especially worthy of study. This book offers a fresh and insightful evaluation of the experience of the British Army through a series of thematic essays examining the strategic, operational, tactical and logistical problems that shaped the fighting. Within these pages are assessments of broad topics such as the performance of British high command, the 'Shell Scandal' and the development of the Royal Flying Corps, as well as a thorough selection of battle studies which cast new light on engagements such as Neuve Chapelle, Second Ypres, Festubert and Loos. Special attention is placed on the composite nature of the British Army, with chapters examining Canadian, Indian, Regular and Territorial unit experience. Taken as a whole these essays offer an important reassessment of a forgotten year of the war, and illustrate the tremendous difficulties faced by the British Army as it endured a bloody learning curve in difficult conditions. This book will be of great interest to anyone who studies the First World War, and of particular value to those who seek a greater understanding of the British Army of the era.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":49736878817553,"sku":"NGR9781912174119","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":51715744956689,"sku":"GOR012766646","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ LIKE_NEW \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":51756113723665,"sku":"GOR012217740","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1912174111.jpg?v=1751631887"},{"product_id":"the-48th-south-midland-division-1908-1919-book-k-w-mitchinson-9781911512547","title":"The The 48th (South Midland) Division 1908-1919","description":"On the outbreak of war, the South Midland was the second strongest division in the Territorial Force (TF); by October 1914, it was considered to be the second most efficient of the TF's fourteen 1st Line formations. Like other TF divisions, its pre-war officers and other ranks came from a variety of urban and rural backgrounds, trades and professions, but in contrast to the Kitchener formations, all of its units had a history and tradition dating back to the mid-19th century at least. It became the third TF division to be dispatched to the Western Front and, having spent 30 months in France and Belgium, it deployed to Italy as one of the British formations tasked to support the Italian Army. In the same way as the majority of British divisions, 48th (South Midland) Division was not an especially spectacular formation, with no particular or outstanding success to its name. It did suffer the indignity of having its commander sacked, but on the whole, it earned a reputation as a good, solid, reliable formation. This volume explains the division's prewar difficulties in trying to raise, equip and train efficient units; it also assesses those units' successes and failures in their major engagements. It examines the extent to which the TF ethos and the division's local character were maintained during the course of the war and how well its various constituent units adapted to the tactical and operational evolution apparent within the British Army. The key elements of command and leadership - and what in modern conceptual doctrine is known as 'fighting power' - are analyzed across the component units, with considerable attention also being paid to the essential roles played by the supporting arms. The book offers a comprehensive study of the character and activities of a reasonably typical TF division, but also of a formation which although competent and efficient, received few of the plaudits enjoyed by many of its fellow 'Saturday afternoon soldiers'.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":49740064063761,"sku":"NGR9781911512547","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":53338183139601,"sku":"GOR011349501","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1911512544.jpg?v=1751632703"},{"product_id":"futile-exercise-book-simon-batten-9781911512851","title":"Futile Exercise?","description":null,"brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":49740537528593,"sku":"NGR9781911512851","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50557661118737,"sku":"GOR011539614","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1911512854.jpg?v=1750835648"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/collections\/wolverhampton-series-book-series.oembed","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}