Eyewitnesses at the Somme: A Muddy and Bloody Campaign, 1916-1918
In 1915, news of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landing and the slaughter at Gallipoli stirred tens of thousands of young men to go to war.

They answered the call and formed battalions of the Australian Imperial Force. By the time the new recruits were combat ready, the campaign at Gallipoli had ended. Their battlefields became the muddy paddocks of France and Belgium.

Based on eyewitness account, Eyewitnesses at the Somme traces the story of one of these battalions, the 55th, from its birth in the dusty camps of Egypt through three years of brutal, bloody conflict on the bitter western front.

When the Great War ended in 1918, over 500 of the 3,000 men who served in the 55th had been slain and another 1,000 wounded. Eyewitnesses at the Somme, shares personal stories of Australian men as they stared down the horrors of war with determination, courage and comradeship. With chapters devoted to the significant battles at Fromelles, Doignies, Polygon Wood, Péronne and Bellicourt, this book tells the story of one battalion, but in doing so it encapsulates the experiences of many Australians on the Western Front.
1127061932
Eyewitnesses at the Somme: A Muddy and Bloody Campaign, 1916-1918
In 1915, news of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landing and the slaughter at Gallipoli stirred tens of thousands of young men to go to war.

They answered the call and formed battalions of the Australian Imperial Force. By the time the new recruits were combat ready, the campaign at Gallipoli had ended. Their battlefields became the muddy paddocks of France and Belgium.

Based on eyewitness account, Eyewitnesses at the Somme traces the story of one of these battalions, the 55th, from its birth in the dusty camps of Egypt through three years of brutal, bloody conflict on the bitter western front.

When the Great War ended in 1918, over 500 of the 3,000 men who served in the 55th had been slain and another 1,000 wounded. Eyewitnesses at the Somme, shares personal stories of Australian men as they stared down the horrors of war with determination, courage and comradeship. With chapters devoted to the significant battles at Fromelles, Doignies, Polygon Wood, Péronne and Bellicourt, this book tells the story of one battalion, but in doing so it encapsulates the experiences of many Australians on the Western Front.
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Eyewitnesses at the Somme: A Muddy and Bloody Campaign, 1916-1918

Eyewitnesses at the Somme: A Muddy and Bloody Campaign, 1916-1918

by Tim Cook
Eyewitnesses at the Somme: A Muddy and Bloody Campaign, 1916-1918

Eyewitnesses at the Somme: A Muddy and Bloody Campaign, 1916-1918

by Tim Cook

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Overview

In 1915, news of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landing and the slaughter at Gallipoli stirred tens of thousands of young men to go to war.

They answered the call and formed battalions of the Australian Imperial Force. By the time the new recruits were combat ready, the campaign at Gallipoli had ended. Their battlefields became the muddy paddocks of France and Belgium.

Based on eyewitness account, Eyewitnesses at the Somme traces the story of one of these battalions, the 55th, from its birth in the dusty camps of Egypt through three years of brutal, bloody conflict on the bitter western front.

When the Great War ended in 1918, over 500 of the 3,000 men who served in the 55th had been slain and another 1,000 wounded. Eyewitnesses at the Somme, shares personal stories of Australian men as they stared down the horrors of war with determination, courage and comradeship. With chapters devoted to the significant battles at Fromelles, Doignies, Polygon Wood, Péronne and Bellicourt, this book tells the story of one battalion, but in doing so it encapsulates the experiences of many Australians on the Western Front.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781526714633
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Limited
Publication date: 11/30/2017
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 416
Sales rank: 512,349
File size: 16 MB
Note: This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Tim Cook is an author, editor and military history enthusiast. He has written extensively on the Australian and Kiwi troops stationed on the Western Front over many years in a variety of publications. _Eyewitnesses at the Somme_ showcases Cooks's penned relationship with and emotional connection to these events in its personal and poignant voice.

Table of Contents

Introduction vii

Acknowledgements ix

List of maps xi

List of figures xi

List of Symbols used in maps xii

Organisation of an AIF division xiii

Chapter 1 Egypt - 'too hot for a white man' 1

Chapter 2 Fleurbaix, July 1916 - 'a short apprenticeship' 18

Chapter 3 Fromelles - 'the whole turnout was absolute hell' 24

Chapter 4 Fleurbaix, July-October 1916 - 'I am starting to feel the strain' 65

Chapter 5 Somme winter, 1916-1917 - 'like hell let loose every day' 74

Chapter 6 Doignies - 'what a mess-up it all was' 107

Chapter 7 Bullecourt - 'that horror of a death-trap' 122

Chapter 8 Polygon Wood - 'not worth the life of even one man' 135

Chapter 9 Anzac Ridge - 'mud, mud and more mud' 174

Chapter 10 Wytschaete - 'a quiet spell in the line' 182

Chapter 11 Villers-Bretonneux - 'altogether it was a very bad business' 203

Chapter 12 July-August 1918 - 'lost a few good sterling lads' 216

Chapter 13 August 1918 - 'an anti-climax' 225

Chapter 14 Péronne - 'no one will be left soon' 240

Chapter 15 Bellicourt - 'what a time you must have had' 273

Chapter 16 Peace - 'La guerre est finie!' 304

Roll of Honour 308

Summary of Casualties 315

Honours and Awards 316

Summary of Honours and Awards 319

Nominal Roll 320

Bibliography 358

Endnotes 362

Index 389

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