Simon Jones's graphic history of underground warfare during the Great War uses personal reminiscences to convey the danger and suspense of this unconventional form of conflict. He describes how the underground soldiers of the opposing armies engaged in a ruthless fight for supremacy, covers the tunnelling methods they employed, and shows the increasingly lethal tactics they developed during the war in which military mining reached its apotheosis.He concentrates on the struggle for ascendancy by the British tunnelling companies on the Western Front. They outfought their German adversaries underground, and their efforts climaxed with the detonation of nineteen enormous mines beneath the Messines Ridge in June 1917. But this wide- ranging study also tells the story of the little known but fascinating battles fought in the French sectors of the Western Front which have never been described before in English.Vivid personal testimony is combined with a lucid account of the technical challenges - and ever- present perils - of tunnelling in order to give an all-round insight into the extraordinary experience of this underground war. Simon Jones assesses the impact of these underground battles on the fluctuating fortunes of the opposing armies, and he places them in the longer context of military history from medieval times to the present day.
Underground Warfare 1914-1918
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17 of 20 people found the following review helpful
By Chris Baker
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover
Simon Jones' "Underground warfare" is a welcome addition to work covering the mining and sapping operations on the Western Front. The subject has received little (but generally high quality) coverage in the past but attention has been raised in recent years by TV documentaries and the novel "Birdsong". Certainly more people are now aware that there were teams of engineers and navvies at work, fighting a claustrophobic and deadly war below the trenches.
This book takes us through the evolution of underground warfare, beginning with a brief history of military mining since the 1700's, through the tentative work in France in 1914 and 1915, to the spectacular tactical effects of mine and tunnel works in 1916 and 1917. I was particularly glad to see that it spans German and French efforts, as well as the British, and provides perhaps the best overview to date. The subject is necessarily technical, but Jones manages very well the difficult balance between providing enough coverage of the engineering and munitions aspects and making the book a readable work that will appeal to many. It should not be regarded as a reference work for military mining, but as an excellent overview of how it came about, why it was considered important, what took place and the effects it had. Similarly it is not a history of the Royal Engineers Tunnelling Companies, although their formation, organisation and command are covered and indeed British organisation of its underground work is considered by the author to be superior to the German. It is illustrated with plenty of useful diagrams, maps, technical drawings and photographs.
I certainly enjoyed reading it, learned a few things and can recommend it to anyone interested in trench warfare. The Great War was not just about infantry going "over the top" and "Underground warfare" adds to our understanding of a key aspect of the fighting.
This book takes us through the evolution of underground warfare, beginning with a brief history of military mining since the 1700's, through the tentative work in France in 1914 and 1915, to the spectacular tactical effects of mine and tunnel works in 1916 and 1917. I was particularly glad to see that it spans German and French efforts, as well as the British, and provides perhaps the best overview to date. The subject is necessarily technical, but Jones manages very well the difficult balance between providing enough coverage of the engineering and munitions aspects and making the book a readable work that will appeal to many. It should not be regarded as a reference work for military mining, but as an excellent overview of how it came about, why it was considered important, what took place and the effects it had. Similarly it is not a history of the Royal Engineers Tunnelling Companies, although their formation, organisation and command are covered and indeed British organisation of its underground work is considered by the author to be superior to the German. It is illustrated with plenty of useful diagrams, maps, technical drawings and photographs.
I certainly enjoyed reading it, learned a few things and can recommend it to anyone interested in trench warfare. The Great War was not just about infantry going "over the top" and "Underground warfare" adds to our understanding of a key aspect of the fighting.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By I. Fry
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book provides a great deal of information about the development and use of mining by the opposing armies during WWI. It is well researched and eminently readable. Simon Jones, the author, is part of the La Boisselle Study Group which is undertaking extensive archaeological research at "The Glory Hole" on the July 1st 1916 Battle of the Somme front line. If you are a traveller to the battlefields of the First World War I highly recommend you read this.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Robster
Format:Hardcover
Well researched and informative .Contains details from British, French and German sources to give details from all combatants
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