The battle for Ypres in October and November 1914 represented the last opportunity for open, mobile warfare on the Western Front. In the first study of First Ypres for almost 40 years, Ian Beckett draws on a wide range of sources never previously used to reappraise the conduct of the battle, its significance and its legacy.
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Review
'Thorough and scholarly'
Professor Sir Michael Howard in Times Literary Supplement
A first rate work by one of the leading specialists on the First World War'
Professor Jeremy Black in History
'Should become the standard scholarly account of First Ypres'
Dr Nik Gardner in Journal of Military History
'A valuable addition to the growing library of scholarly studies of the British Army's experience on the Western Front'
Professor Peter Simkins in English Historical Review
'The scholarship of the work is massively apparent on every page'
Society of Friends of the National Army Museum Newsletter
'Gripping, pulse-quickening detail'
Worcester Evening News
From the Back Cover
The First Battle, 1914
Ian Beckett
Front cover:
'A first-rate work by one of the leading specialists on the First World War.' History
"First Ypreswas the stuff of legends. And this excellent book explains why in gripping, pulse-quickening detail." WorcesterEvening News
Back cover:
'...this is a well-researched and readable book that should become the standard scholarly account of First Ypres.' The Journal of Military History
"This is a good account with something for everyone, soldier, descendant, Western Front enthusiast, or student of leadership, intelligence or logistics in war." The British Army Review
"Professor Beckett is one of the great unsung heroes of modern scholarship in British military history...The scholarship of this work is massively apparent on every page...this title earns its place on the bookshelf of anyone with a considered interest in World War One." The Society of Friends of the National Army Museum
"Beckett's survey is thorough and scholarly, and gives to Britain's allies, and to Foch, all the credit due to them." Professor Sir Michael Howard - TLS
The battle for Ypresin 1914 represented the last opportunity for open, mobile warfare on the Western Front for the next four years. It was an end of innocence, marking the transition between war as it had been and war as it would become. The first battle to associate the British army with the ‘immortal salient’ and, indeed, regarded as the end of the ‘old army’, the mythologizing of the British struggle has obscured the major role of the French and Belgians in defending Flanders. But it has also been mythologised from the German perspective, the so-called kindermord (slaughter of the innocents) proving a useable myth for the Nazis through the participation of the young Adolf Hitler. Ian Beckett draws on a wide range of sources, including never before published personal accounts, to reappraise the conduct of the battle, its significance and its legacy.
Professor Ian Beckett is an internationally known specialist on the Great War, his publications including acclaimed titles such as The Great War, 1914-1918 (2001), The First World War: The Essential Guide to Sources in the UK National Archives (2003) and (co-edited with Keith Simpson) A Nation in Arms: A Social Study of the British Army in the First World War (1985). Ian Beckett is Professor History at the Universityof Northampton, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and Chairman of the Army Records Society.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If you are a military historian or family history researcher with an interest in the Great War and have around ten pounds to spare (yes - a bargain), here is one first rate work you will certainly want to include on your bookshelves.
The author of this splendid volume is acknowledged internationally as a specialist on the British army and the First World War- and as a result of his in depth research, where he has drawn on previously unpublished eye witness accounts and a wide range of other resources, he now provides the reader with a fascinating insight into this, the final major battle of 1914, which also marked the end of the "Race to the Sea"
As well as generally explaining both the significance and legacy of the actual battle, he also covers a wide range of fascinating, subjects that includes leadership and logistics, the land and terrain, the early actions and sorties, an overview of the armies in Flanders at the time and chapters on both Kindermord (the slaughter of the innocents) and the Race to the Sea. There is no doubt therefore, that everyone, no matter what their specialist interest might be, will find something of interest to them here.
In summary, although this is a paperback, it's a snip at this low price and in terms of what the reader will get out of it, is worth much, much more!
The author of this splendid volume is acknowledged internationally as a specialist on the British army and the First World War- and as a result of his in depth research, where he has drawn on previously unpublished eye witness accounts and a wide range of other resources, he now provides the reader with a fascinating insight into this, the final major battle of 1914, which also marked the end of the "Race to the Sea"
As well as generally explaining both the significance and legacy of the actual battle, he also covers a wide range of fascinating, subjects that includes leadership and logistics, the land and terrain, the early actions and sorties, an overview of the armies in Flanders at the time and chapters on both Kindermord (the slaughter of the innocents) and the Race to the Sea. There is no doubt therefore, that everyone, no matter what their specialist interest might be, will find something of interest to them here.
In summary, although this is a paperback, it's a snip at this low price and in terms of what the reader will get out of it, is worth much, much more!
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By goldsrobin
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Beckett's book is the latest account of the first year of the first world war. The exploits of Britain's excellent 1914 army made up of regulars and reservists is described in the international and military context. The battles from Mons and Le Cateau to Ypres are well described with useful maps. It is an excellent account of the brilliant feat of arms during which the small British Army stopped the massive German assault through Belgium and into Flanders. In the early stages, four infantry and one cavalry divisions faced I and II German Armies. The Germans were advancing in column to outflank the French and pass around Paris to the west before circling back east to wrap up the French army. They did not succeed. One of the main reasons was the heroism and tenacity of the British Army. By the end of the year, they had ceased to exist. The German attack had been halted and the static phase of the war had begun.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is personally fascinating for me.
It documents very clearly the involvement of my grandfather Charles FitzClarene in
the first battle of Ypres.
I have been to the sites on two occasions and this book is a great addition to my collection.
Jane reid
It documents very clearly the involvement of my grandfather Charles FitzClarene in
the first battle of Ypres.
I have been to the sites on two occasions and this book is a great addition to my collection.
Jane reid
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