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The full story of the battle of Loos, an offensive presaging those of the Somme and Passchendaele, drawn from the memories and written accounts of veterans and survivors. --Chris Buckland
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Loos is a small mining town between Lens and La Bassee in northern France. But on 25th September 1915, and for a few days after, it was the centre of one of the most intense and bloody battles of the First World War. The casualties were appalling - about 60,000 of which the majority died on the first day. The main objective - a large-scale breakthrough - was not achieved although some 8,000 yards of enemy trench were captured and in some places their defences were penetrated up to two miles. Yet if the initial gains had been exploited the course of the war might have been different. If courage and determination could have won the day by themselves. Loos would have been a success. It is these qualities which Philip Warner's narrative reveals above all. For a large part of this story of Loos consists of survivors' own accounts and diaries of the time, including that of Sir John French. The author has traced survivors from all parts of the line, infantry, gunners and officers, and through their words has revealed one of the most horrific tales of war yet to be published as well as the determination and heroism that in the end turned the scales to victory.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a curious book, one that offers so much, and sadly so nearly delivers but seems to fall short at the final hurdle. Phillip Warner is an excellent writer, as can be seen by his book on Passchendaele, however the account of Loos never really quite gets off the ground.
I was keen to read about a battle that cost so many lives yet has had so little written about it, and although interesting it lacks sufficient detail about the tactical reasons for the fighting. There is very little explanation of why this battle actually happened and what the troops aims were, and even less about its' impact on the rest of 1915.
Three quarters of the book is taken up with personal reflections by troops who fought at Loos, and these are quite superb, indeed, they are the redeeming feature of this book. I felt that a balance should have been struck between historical explanation and personal narrative and sadly this did not quite happen.
I would recommend reading about this little written about battle, but this is not a book that will stick in your memory for the right reasons.
I was keen to read about a battle that cost so many lives yet has had so little written about it, and although interesting it lacks sufficient detail about the tactical reasons for the fighting. There is very little explanation of why this battle actually happened and what the troops aims were, and even less about its' impact on the rest of 1915.
Three quarters of the book is taken up with personal reflections by troops who fought at Loos, and these are quite superb, indeed, they are the redeeming feature of this book. I felt that a balance should have been struck between historical explanation and personal narrative and sadly this did not quite happen.
I would recommend reading about this little written about battle, but this is not a book that will stick in your memory for the right reasons.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a rare examination of the first 'Big Push', at Loos in September 1915. Whilst it includes a good collection of personal stories, it does little justice to the battle. The reasons why this action took place, the unfolding of events and the consequences of failure are barely covered. Worth reading as there is so little on this action, but hardly going to satisfy.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is another in a recent run of reprints of well-known works on the Great War, published by Pen & Sword. As a study of the battle it pales in comparison with at least two more recent works ("Most unfavourable ground" by Niall Cherry and "Loos 1915" by Nicholas Lloyd), and is not up to the high standard of academic rigour we have now come to expect from such works.
Warner's treatment relies heavily on personal accounts and letters by men who were there, and these are undoubtedly the strongest and most interesting aspect of the book. These include extracts from the diary of the Commander-in-Chief, Sir John French. Unusually, the personal accounts are not organised by timeline but into chapters, one for each British Division that was in action. This tends to make it difficult to follow the battle as it unfolds, and Warner's opening description of the conception and execution of the battle is at too high a level for the uninformed reader to position the individual that is speaking. Read in conjunction with, or possibly after, one of the two books named above, the accounts make much more sense and do add to our understanding. There is also a clear one-page sketch map.
I would not recommend rushing out to buy "The Battle of Loos" and certainly not for anyone wishing to study the battle for the first time, but the personal content is certainly of interest and worth buying for that alone.
"The Battle of Loos" was first published in 1976.
Warner's treatment relies heavily on personal accounts and letters by men who were there, and these are undoubtedly the strongest and most interesting aspect of the book. These include extracts from the diary of the Commander-in-Chief, Sir John French. Unusually, the personal accounts are not organised by timeline but into chapters, one for each British Division that was in action. This tends to make it difficult to follow the battle as it unfolds, and Warner's opening description of the conception and execution of the battle is at too high a level for the uninformed reader to position the individual that is speaking. Read in conjunction with, or possibly after, one of the two books named above, the accounts make much more sense and do add to our understanding. There is also a clear one-page sketch map.
I would not recommend rushing out to buy "The Battle of Loos" and certainly not for anyone wishing to study the battle for the first time, but the personal content is certainly of interest and worth buying for that alone.
"The Battle of Loos" was first published in 1976.
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