For as long as generalship in war is studied, there is certain to be controversy over the qualities, achievements and treatment of Field Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck. ''The Auk'', as he was universally known, was born in India and raised in conditions near poverty. Yet his talent ensured his career flourished, in spite of his Indian Army background, and he was appointed Commander of the newly formed 8th Army in North Africa. Despite great political interference, he was the first British general to defeat the Germans when he stopped Rommel''s Africa Corps at 1st Alamein only to be sacked by Churchill. After a spell in the wilderness he became Commander-in-Chief India during the dark period of Partition and, ironically, had to preside over the destruction of his beloved Indian Army. A private man of great humour and integrity, he steadfastly and honourably refused to be drawn into discussing or criticising the roles of others such as Churchill, Montgomery or Mountbatten, even when his own abilities were, often shabbily, appraised. He always argued that history would be his judge. Drawing on unpublished transcripts of interviews, newly available papers and document and recollections of those who served with the subject, biographer and historian Philip Warner has succeeded in painting a superb and objective study of this remarkable, yet somehow tragic, figure. It remains for the reader to decide whether Auchinleck was the hapless victim of character assassination or as inadequate as his detractors claimed.

Firepower is an absorbing and stimulating study of methods of winning wars. Firepower does not invariably mean what comes out of the barrel of a gun; it comprises everything from morale to tactics, strategy to logistics, and subversion to diplomacy. Written by the leading military historian Philip Warner, Firepower examines weapons from slings and poisoned arrows to their modern counterparts – rockets and chemical weapons. Many weapons now thought to be ultra modern were derived from less sophisticated versions to use in pre-Christian and medieval times. Some of the secrets of early terror weapons such as ‘Greek fire’ which could burn on water and stick to stone, have been lost, but the author makes shrewd assessments of their constituents and power. The book describes the evolution of aircraft, tanks, underwater craft, and even the art of secret communication. The narrative is illustrated by accounts from soldiers with personal experience of clearing minefields, engaging in hand to hand combat and pitting human skills against electronic devices. Motivation is shown to be one of the most important factors in the history of warfare, and is closely allied to training. The book includes a wide survey of modern weapons and their systems, explaining those available in the armouries of the NATO forces and the then Warsaw Pact countries. All this is essential reading for anyone who wishes to understand the wars and skirmishes which take place in many parts of the world today; by its knowledgeable, sober assessments, the book tends to be reassuring rather than alarmist. Firepower is a comprehensive survey which avoids technical jargon and is written in a clear, vigorous style. It will interest the expert and amateur alike. Philip Warner is a former senior lecturer at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst and author of forty books in the field of military history and biography. He joined the army after graduating from Cambridge in 1939 and served in the Far East throughout Would War II. The book includes an extensive picture gallery and author biography and bibliography.

PHANTOM remains perhaps the least well-known of the wartime special regiments. It was formed in 1939 with the mission of finding out exactly where all the Allied forward positions were; a task which required linguistic ability, tact and radio expertise. After Dunkirk its squadrons at first kept an eye on all invasion points, before deploying to Greece and the Middle East. An indispensable direct communications link between the forward units and command headquarters, it operated in Italy, Sicily, Austria, France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. PHANTOM was at Dieppe with the Commandos, in France with the SAS, at Arnhem with the 1st Airborne Division and in Germany until the surrender. As Philip Warner’s fascinating history shows, PHANTOM was so successful in its role of tracking both allied and enemy movements and relaying vital information direct to commanders that it became hugely respected and yet retained its aura of mystery.

Today the castle is only too often a romantic ruin; but in the Middle Ages it was an important military and administrative centre, essentially utilitarian in its design and in the purposes it served. Inevitably, the castle played a leading role in mediaeval history. Using the wealth of material available Philip Warner has focused his study on English sieges undertaken in the period from the Norman Conquest to the end of the War of the Roses, a field that includes many dramatic actions fought in the continental dominions of the English Crown. Warner is equally concerned with the evolution of siege warfare and with the narrative events that centred on sieges. The skills of the architect, engineer and miner are as important to his theme as the courage of the troops and their commanders. And the results of these sieges – for example, Wallingford, Chateau Gaillard, Bedford and Rouen – often decided far more than the campaigns of which they were the climax. Warner has drawn extensively on contemporary accounts of these sieges, verifying them by inspection of the sites where traces of the siege-works are sometimes still visible. His stirring narrative will be of interest to the general reader as well as to the student of medieval warfare. Philip Warner was a former senior lecturer at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst and the author of forty books in the field of military history and biography. He joined the army after graduating from Cambridge in 1939 and served in the Far East throughout Would War II. The book includes an extensive picture gallery, author biography and bibliography.

The term ‘regiment’ was first used in the British army as late as the seventeenth century when small companies were grouped together to form more convenient battle units. Since then while our army as a whole has continued to maintain an unsurpassed record, single regiments have frequently gained fame for their individual achievements in the field of battle. Phillip Warner, drawing upon contemporary diaries and reports of campaigns ranging from the Napoleonic Wars, the Crimea, South Africa and India to the First and Second World Wars, has recreated some of the many acts of heroism performed by the British soldier. Futile though some of them may have eventually proved, such as the infamous Charge of the Light Brigade and the tragic stand at Maiwand, there is no doubting the outstanding courage of their perpetrators. The words of men who were present at the scenes of conflict described here, successful or otherwise, speak more clearly and movingly than any second hand account. Philip Warner was a former senior lecturer at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst and the author of forty books in the field of military history and biography. He joined the army after graduating from Cambridge in 1939 and served in the Far East throughout Would War II. The book includes an extensive picture gallery, author biography and bibliography.

The Crimean War is famous as a source of heroic and horrific legend. Philip Warner’s concern in his reassessment of the campaign has been to uncover the true course of the war, to place the heroics in their proper context and to show how General Simpson’s description of the assault on the Redan can be applied to the whole war. Warner also brings together the initial strands of the conflict and its escalation to involve many of the Great Powers of the day. He is also able to bring in the other locations of the conflict as the two sides poured men and resources into containing the other. The author, Philip Warner, quotes extensively from contemporary sources and especially from previously unpublished Allied and Russian soldiers letters and diaries which provide haunting glimpses of the realities of war. His expert knowledge of fortification and siege warfare and his understanding of nineteenth century armies have combined to make this book both a valuable work of scholarship and an intensely readable account of the battles. Philip Warner is a former senior lecturer at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst and author of forty books in the field of military history and biography. He joined the army after graduating from Cambridge in 1939 and served in the Far East throughout Would War II. The book includes an extensive picture gallery and author biography and bibliography.

On 6th June 1944 there took place the greatest seaborne invasion in the history of mankind. The Allies, who had been planning and preparing for that day for over four years, launched a massive assault on the northern shore of France. It was on a scale which is never likely to be repeated, for the development of weapons of mass destruction has made it unlikely that such a large, vulnerable concentration of force would ever be assembled again. In a war which saw one massive military action after another – the blitzkrieg, the German invasion of Russia, Stalingrad, the Italian campaign – D Day stands supreme. It has been celebrated as a triumph of planning, of international co-operation, of combined operations, of political foresight. In this maelstrom of analysis, self-congratulation, and euphoria one fact seems to have been glossed over. It was made possible by the ordinary man. Much of this book consists of the recollections of these unassuming men. They found themselves on that day and the succeeding days in extraordinary situations, performing deeds of which they did not even know they were capable, and which in retrospect seem so fantastic as to be scarcely believable. For the facts of D Day are that it was such an enormous and unique occasion that even though a man had been a soldier, sailor or airman most of his adult life and had exercised his skills in similar though lesser events, the assault was on such a scale that it made everyone a novice, whether general or private, whether pilot flying high over the battlefield or private crawling over it and digging in.

The Special Boat Squadron, or SBS, is one of the most admired, respected and feared Special Forces units in the world. The date of the formation of the SBS is a matter of some debate. Officially it is the 14th April 1942, but long before that date SBS forces had been harassing the enemy in an unofficial existence; soon it was to be put on a more formal footing. Today, decades after the final curtain has dropped on World War II, it is a mystery to many people, particularly those in the regular forces, how the war managed to foster so many small, unorthodox formations like the SBS. In this book Philip Warner reveals much of the workings and history of this tight knit group that with so little did so much to impact upon World War II and subsequent campaigns. Their exploits, heroism and efforts are a continuing and extraordinary tribute to those that fell and those who continue to serve.

SPECIAL FORCES OF WORLD WAR II. Philip Warner’s book is the first to make a general survey of secret forces, to show how they were interrelated, and what effect they had on the war as a whole. It is an astonishing story. The vast range of the subject has meant that nothing could be treated as fully as I would have wished. However, sample incidents have been described in detail. Some readers may be astonished to find how much rivalry there was between different departments and even between different arms. Most of the ''inner'' departments, SOE, SIS, Ml5, etc., were keenly competitive (to put it in its best light); the regular forces were always slightly suspicious of ''wartime only'' enlistments; and orthodox thinkers nurtured a deep resentment of the ''funnies'' - specialist groups like the SAS, LRDG, Paras and Commandos. Politicians, apart from Churchill, were collectively and individually thought to be a ''blight,'' although in those days the politickings of Beaverbrook, Crossman and Dalton were unknown except to their close colleagues. After the war had dragged to an end in 1945, it soon became clear that much more had gone on during those six years than most of the participants realized. Vastly interesting it was, too, even though difficult to understand. This book aims to make one part of it a little easier to grasp.

The Special Air Service (The SAS) are perhaps the Special Forces Regiment. With an almost unparalled experience and a rich history that is encapsulated by their motto ‘Who Dares Wins’. The story which follows is not of course a complete account of all the deeds of this remarkable regiment. If such a record could be compiled it would require several volumes and, even then, there would be gaps because some of those who took part in the early raids are dead or untraceable, and many of the later activities are unavailable for security reasons. It is indeed typical of the SAS that they should choose to have their history written by someone who is not a member of the regiment, and while giving every possible assistance over obtaining facts should never make the slightest attempt to influence the presentation or approach. And of course they are absolutely right. They believe that, if you appoint someone with a reasonably detached view to write up your regimental history, the facts will speak for themselves. These are the facts.

Much has been written by military historians concerning the skill of generals and the dash of officers, but they are largely silent about the brave deeds of the private soldier. In consequence it is easy to forget that ordinary soldiers are the most important part of the army: if there are no soldiers there is no place for officers, however dashing, or for brilliant generals. In this very readable book Phillip Warner gives the humblest member of the army his rightful pride of place. Covering the period from 3000 BC to the Second World War and ranging over many nationalities, he shows us a day in the life of the ordinary soldier by means of a series of skilfully connected pen portraits. With penetrating insight into the military mind he makes the soldier of each period, be he English, Roman, Viking, Mongol, Italian, Spanish, French or American, a living and vivid figure. By looking at the world through that soldier’s eyes he is able to create a clear picture of his routines, training and skills and a deep impression of the man’s problems, fears and failures, ideals and triumphs, underlining the fact that, throughout history, certain experiences, attitudes and beliefs have remained common to the soldier whatever his nationality, cause or weapon. Philip Warner was a former senior lecturer at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst and the author of forty books in the field of military history and biography. He joined the army after graduating from Cambridge in 1939 and served in the Far East throughout Would War II. The book includes an extensive author biography and bibliography.

Very few living men have taken part in a battle, and many must wonder how they would acquit themselves if ever they had to. A medieval battle was a very complex affair; it was far from being a simple kill or be killed. It could be won or lost at any stage; it could turn on the action of one man, and it could settle nothing, or alternatively the fate of a nation. But for the majority, when thinking of a battle, the overriding question would be: how would I behave? What would happen to me? Would I emerge unscathed and join in the celebrations, or would I be left wounded on the battlefield waiting for someone to save me, or for some ghoul to finish me off? Would I lose all fear in the excitement? In Volume 1 - The South, Philip Warner, one of Britain''s foremost military historians describes the battles from the actual locations they were fought bringing not only a military but a human eye to this chapter in our history. Volumes 2-5 are also available.

Very few living men have taken part in a battle, and many must wonder how they would acquit themselves if ever they had to. A medieval battle was a very complex affair; it was far from being a simple kill or be killed. It could be won or lost at any stage; it could turn on the action of one man, and it could settle nothing, or alternatively the fate of a nation. But for the majority, when thinking of a battle, the overriding question would be: how would I behave? What would happen to me? Would I emerge unscathed and join in the celebrations, or would I be left wounded on the battlefield waiting for someone to save me, or for some ghoul to finish me off? Would I lose all fear in the excitement? In Volume 2 - The North, Philip Warner, one of Britain''s foremost military historians describes the battles from the actual locations they were fought bringing not only a military but a human eye to this chapter in our history. Volumes 1-5 are also available.

Very few living men have taken part in a battle, and many must wonder how they would acquit themselves if ever they had to. A medieval battle was a very complex affair; it was far from being a simple kill or be killed. It could be won or lost at any stage; it could turn on the action of one man, and it could settle nothing, or alternatively the fate of a nation. But for the majority, when thinking of a battle, the overriding question would be: how would I behave? What would happen to me? Would I emerge unscathed and join in the celebrations, or would I be left wounded on the battlefield waiting for someone to save me, or for some ghoul to finish me off? Would I lose all fear in the excitement? In Volume 3 - The midlands, Philip Warner, one of Britain''s foremost military historians describes the battles from the actual locations they were fought bringing not only a military but a human eye to this chapter in our history. Volumes 1-5 are also available.

Very few living men have taken part in a battle, and many must wonder how they would acquit themselves if ever they had to. A medieval battle was a very complex affair; it was far from being a simple kill or be killed. It could be won or lost at any stage; it could turn on the action of one man, and it could settle nothing, or alternatively the fate of a nation. But for the majority, when thinking of a battle, the overriding question would be: how would I behave? What would happen to me? Would I emerge unscathed and join in the celebrations, or would I be left wounded on the battlefield waiting for someone to save me, or for some ghoul to finish me off? Would I lose all fear in the excitement? In Volume 4 - Scotland & The Border, Philip Warner, one of Britain''s foremost military historians describes the battles from the actual locations they were fought bringing not only a military but a human eye to this chapter in our history. Volumes 1-5 are also available.

In July 1942 German and Italian forces were on the point of sweeping away the remainder of the British resistance in the Middle East and triumphantly overrunning Egypt. If this had happened, the disaster for the Allies would have been irretrievable. Instead Rommel’s victorious army was checked on the Alamein line in what became the first battle of Alamein. Two months later with General Bernard Montgomery now commanding the 8th Army and General Harold Alexander as C-in-C Middle East, another Axis thrust was held in the second battle of Alamein at Alam El Halfa. On 23 October the Allied forces finally went on the offensive and, after two long weeks of bitter fighting, Rommel’s forces were in head long retreat. The tide had truly turned in one of the British Army’s most celebrated victories. The higher strategy of these battles has been well covered in other books, but this one is about the men who fought in the tanks and minefields, in the sand dunes and behind the guns. The experience of the desert has long been a mystery to those who were not actually fighting in it. Using a fascinating selection of first hand accounts from battalion commanders and private soldiers alike, Philip Warner reveals the loyalty and chivalry, courage and hardship, humour and compassion which were an integral part of this remarkable series of battles. These accounts are preceded by a comprehensive introduction and the text is extensively illustrated with maps and photographs. As a result Alamein is a totally satisfying work of military history.

On 25th September 1915, and for a few days afterwards, the small town of Loos, between Lens and La Bassee in Northern France, became the centre of one of the most intense and bloody battles of the First World War. The casualties were appalling - about 60,000, most of whom died on the first day. Although the main objective of a large-scale breakthrough, was not achieved, some 8,000 yards of enemy trench were captured and in some places the German defences were penetrated by up to two miles. Had these initial gains been exploited the course of the war might well have been different. Philip Warner''s narrative is vividly brought to life through the words of survivors from all parts of the line: the infantry, the gunners, the officers, and including extracts from the letters and diaries of Sir John French - if courage and endurance could have won the day, Loos would have been a resounding success. Through their accounts and diaries of the time, they reveal one of the most horrific tales of war yet told as well as the heroism and determination that in the end tipped the scales to victory.

Within these pages the vivid and colourful story of a remarkable episode in the ''high empire'' period of British history. The Mahdi''s rising in the Sudan in the 1880''s, which started as a localised Holy War against the ''decadent'' Turkish/Egyprian overlords, was soon to engulf a million square miles of territory and force the hand of the British Liberal Government, whose reluctance to get involved paved the way for the early disasters of the Hicks'' expedition and Gordon''s death at Khartoum. The narrative makes full use of diaries and first-hand reports, including those of celebrated novelist Rider Haggard''s brother Andrew or Father Ohrwalder (the Austrian missionary who spent ten years of captivity in the Mahdi''s camp), and of the adventurer Rudolf Slatin. These brilliantly describe the growth and strength of the Mahdist movement and the extraordinary devotion and discipline of the Dervish troops. Matching such opponents with stoic endurance were the British, Egyptian and Sudanese soldiers, and the resulting military engagements saw amazing feats of courage and daring-do on both sides. The Dervish Empire outlasted the Mahdi by thirteen years. It ended in the battle of Omdurman and Kitchener''s re-conquest of the Sudan, which was well supported by Reginald Wingate''s military intelligence operations. While lasting for a brief period, it had been at the expense not only of the neighbouring Abyssinians but also of the European white man, at a time when Britain was approaching the zenith of its imperial power.

The story of the achievements of the Empire pioneers has been obscured in recent years by the attention given to continual changes in emergent countries. But the origins of the British Empire, the motives, determination and sheer courage of the early settlers, is a story of which any nation would be proud. Many of the settlements started off peacefully, but troubles usually followed soon enough. There was fighting with other nations similarly bent on colonial expansion - such as the French in India and Canada; some of the settlers who had left England because of religious persecution proved to be equally intolerant once they had become established overseas, and inevitably there were disputes over trading concessions. There were also constant battles both against diseases - and battle is not entirely a misnomer for this - and against warlike peoples such as the Mahrattas and the Ashantis, professional fighting men who wished to carry on fighting and did not welcome British attempts to instil law and order. If the Pax Britannica was to remain something more than a pipe dream, it had to be backed up by force of arms. The driving force behind the growth of the British Empire was also varied in essence - it stemmed from the urge to explore, from commercial advantage, a desire for religious freedom, missionary zeal and often from a genuine desire to better the native population - an oddly paternal streak which revealed itself in many of the British soldiers who had been sent out to the colonies in a more strictly military role. Ironically, this very benevolence often itself led to trouble but was also later acknowledged with lasting affection. It is not merely the famous historical figures but a host of people with no special qualities or advantages who built the British empire. This book describes many of the achievements of that vast and almost unknown civilian army which went out, faced or conquered dangers and problems which in their day were as bizarre as space exploration seems at the present time.

Although the Welsh are perhaps not widely known for their military history, the story of warfare in Wales spans some three thousand years. In Famous Welsh Battles, Philip Warner gives a detailed account of the major battles in Wales from prehistoric and Roman times up through the Battle of Fishguard in 1797. Whether fighting as mercenaries in the Middle Ages, when they were greatly esteemed and widely feared, or engaging in guerrilla combat on more rugged battlefields, where their best allies were mountains and rivers, the Welsh generals’ clear grasp of strategy and tactics served them well in times of war. History reveals that there were no easy victories over the Welsh – as is evidenced by the heroics of such tenacious warriors as Caradoc, the great guerrilla leader who by the year AD 47 was the accepted head of all British tribes; Owen Gwynedd, who twice defeated Henry II, giving Wales a shining example of how unity might be achieved; Owain Glyndwr; the well-known yet mysterious leader thought by many to possess supernatural powers; and Llywelyn the Last, whose call to arms amassed an army of thirty thousand foot soldiers and five hundred knights. Warner also describes how the Welsh at times proved to be their own worst enemies, letting petty rivalries and jealousies weaken their military strength. Complete with Ordnance Survey maps of the battle sites and the surrounding areas, Famous Welsh Battles is an authoritative volume that brings to life the terrain, the people and the epic battles of Wales.

Often described as Britain''s answer to Rommel, the charismatic and courageous Sir Brian Horrocks was one of the most successful field commanders of the Second World War, much of which he spent working with Montgomery. His tireless drive and brilliance were admired and respected not only by Montgomery but by very many around him. Philip Warner once again shows us the man behind the image in his own revealing and engaging way. Tracing his journey from youth through the hurdles and troubles of World War I to his brilliant campaigns in North Africa and Europe in the Second world War that helped to throw off the terrible scourge of Nazism. The book shows how Horrocks could achieve so much by his brilliant handling of the forces under him into a fearsome fighting unit

Invasions are as old as the history of mankind. The possibility of Britain being invaded today is obviously very remote in spite of the disturbing memories of the Nazi''s poised to swoop onto these shores in 1940 and previous attempts, both abortive and successful, reaching back into prehistoric times. Concisely and vividly Philip Warner once again engages with his readers and reveals much about this fascinating journey from the earliest raiding parties seeking new land to cultivate to the would be ambitions of conquerors. He details the reasons as well as methods and hazards. He examines the role of naval, military and air power describing the development of weapons, defences, communication and intelligence. The final chapters contain his chilling assessment of the 1980s when the Cold War was at its peak. His illuminating comments not only show our own weaknesses but the problems of possible opponents.

Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl of Khartoum and of Broome, was Britain''s last great military hero. his face became known to millions before his death in 1916 because it appeared on the recruiting posters of World War I over the caption ''Your Country Needs You''. Kitchener''s ambition was all for his country. His qualities were evident in the campaigns in Sudan and South Africa. His belief that British influence was good and that the strengthening and extension of British influence was essential for world harmony. Appointed as Secretary of State for War to organise the British Army in World War I he was almost alone in saying the war would not be over by Christmas but would last 3 or 4 years with untold casualties. Philip Warner has written a lucid and exceptional book, with the full consent of Kitchener''s family to their exclusive archive. Indeed in the initial reviews it was said ''this story has been told before but never so well".

On the 31st of July 1917, the small Belgian village of Passchendaele became the focus of one of the most gruelling, bloody and bizarre battle of World War I. By 6th November, when Passchendaele village and the ridge were captured over half a million British, French, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders and Germans had become casualties. Philip Warner, the noted historian of twentieth century warfare and the author of over fifty books on military history has skilfully brought together all the elements of this horrific campaign. – the historical background, personal accounts, strategies and tactics, the personalities and the political manoeuvres. He investigates the issues which had a crucial effect on the course of the battle, including the mutinous state of the French army, the bombardment which destroyed the drainage system. Field Marshal’s Sir Douglas Haig’s determination to continue operations despite the appalling weather and ground conditions, and the stormy relationship between Haig and Lloyd George. However it is the determined fighting ability and the bravery of the allied soldiers rather than the tactical plans of the commanders that dominate this detailed and totally absorbing account of the harrowing four month campaign. Passchendaele is a masterly and timely analysis of one of the most important battles in history.

At the end of the First World War the victors decided to punish the aggressors and while doing so to establish free, democratic governments of ethnic groups which would, supposedly, have no reason to go to war. A League of Nations was established with the main aim of confronting potential aggressors with overwhelming force, and with the secondary aim of eradicating possible causes of war such as injustice and economic hardship. But it failed. Hundreds of books have been written about various aspects of the First World War: official and unofficial histories, specialist books in medicine, artillery, logistics, etc., personal reminiscences, and novels which were often autobiographical. Today, with hindsight, a hundred years on, we can see the achievements and mistakes of the time. Many conflicts of the present may be traced to origins in the 1919 peace settlements: it is, of course, easy to be wise after the event. With the mass of material available, the writer and reader of today may see the war in perspective and form judgements which were previously impossible. In this chronological narrative Philip Warner, a former senior lecturer at Britain’s world famous Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, once more cuts to the heart of the matter with his searing analysis as he unfolds the main events, supporting it with a look at women in their new roles and the literature the war provoked. Perhaps the last word, the final summary, the ultimate definitive view can never be made, but we are now in a better position to see the war in its proper perspective than any of our predecessors have been.

‘Truth is stranger than fiction. Some incidents of the war are so bizarre or so brave that no reputable fiction writer would have dared to invent them. War brings out the worst and the best in human beings’. So said Philip Warner the author of World War Two – The Untold Story. Until the official account of Second World War British Intelligence activities was published, myth, propaganda and misrepresentation had combined to confuse our view of the war. We did not – could not – fully understand what had happened, or why. The distinguished military historian Philip Warner based this history of the war, the secret battles as much as the open warfare, on intelligence material that had not been previously available. The result is a vivid, concise and meaningful account of what was really happening day by day through the war, and why. The world was in the dark grip of war on many fronts and for both sides victories and defeats would come in many forms before the victors could finally prevail. Warner shows how the Allies’ success was the result of a combination of factors, not least their increasing awareness of enemy intentions as they broke through German and Japanese codes. It was a war in which intelligence and interpretation came to play a major role.

On 23 April 1918 a force drawn from the Royal Navy and Royal Marines launched one of the most daring raids in history. The aim was to block the Zeebrugge Canal, thereby denying U-boats access, although this mean assaulting a powerfully fortified German naval base. The raid has long been recognised for its audacity and ingenuity but, owing to the fact that the official history took too much notice of the German version of events, has long been considered only a partial success. In this stirring account Philip Warner exposes the error of that interpretation by providing evidence from many sources that the raid achieved much more than it is traditionally credited with. The raid is presented from a variety of viewpoints, from the airmen who took part in the preliminary bombing to the motor launches which picked up survivors. The crews of the launches and coastal motor boats were frequently ‘amateur’ sailors but their courage and skill were second to none. Indeed no less than nine Victoria Crosses were awarded for the action. During his research Philip Warner talked with many of the survivors and corresponded with others. The Zeebrugge Raid is a sobering reminder of this outstanding feat of arms undertaken almost a hundred years ago.

Very few living men have taken part in a battle, and many must wonder how they would acquit themselves if ever they had to. A medieval battle was a very complex affair; it was far from being a simple kill or be killed. It could be won or lost at any stage; it could turn on the action of one man, and it could settle nothing, or alternatively the fate of a nation. But for the majority, when thinking of a battle, the overriding question would be: how would I behave? What would happen to me? Would I emerge unscathed and join in the celebrations, or would I be left wounded on the battlefield waiting for someone to save me, or for some ghoul to finish me off? Would I lose all fear in the excitement? In Volume 5 - Wales, Philip Warner, one of Britain''s foremost military historians describes the battles from the actual locations they were fought bringing not only a military but a human eye to this chapter in our history. Although the Welsh are perhaps not widely known for their military history, the story of warfare in Wales spans some three thousand years. Philip Warner gives a detailed account of the major battles in Wales from prehistoric and Roman times up through the Battle of Fishguard in 1797. Whether fighting as mercenaries in the Middle Ages, when they were greatly esteemed and widely feared, or engaging in guerrilla combat on more rugged battlefields, where their best allies were mountains and rivers, the Welsh generals’ clear grasp of strategy and tactics served them well in times of war. Volumes 1-4 are also available.

For as long as generalship in war is studied, there is certain to be controversy over the qualities, achievements and treatment of Field Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck. ''The Auk'', as he was universally known, was born in India and raised in conditions near poverty. Yet his talent ensured his career flourished, in spite of his Indian Army background, and he was appointed Commander of the newly formed 8th Army in North Africa. Despite great political interference, he was the first British general to defeat the Germans when he stopped Rommel''s Africa Corps at 1st Alamein only to be sacked by Churchill. After a spell in the wilderness he became Commander-in-Chief India during the dark period of Partition and, ironically, had to preside over the destruction of his beloved Indian Army. A private man of great humour and integrity, he steadfastly and honourably refused to be drawn into discussing or criticising the roles of others such as Churchill, Montgomery or Mountbatten, even when his own abilities were, often shabbily, appraised. He always argued that history would be his judge. Drawing on unpublished transcripts of interviews, newly available papers and document and recollections of those who served with the subject, biographer and historian Philip Warner has succeeded in painting a superb and objective study of this remarkable, yet somehow tragic, figure. It remains for the reader to decide whether Auchinleck was the hapless victim of character assassination or as inadequate as his detractors claimed.

Firepower is an absorbing and stimulating study of methods of winning wars. Firepower does not invariably mean what comes out of the barrel of a gun; it comprises everything from morale to tactics, strategy to logistics, and subversion to diplomacy. Written by the leading military historian Philip Warner, Firepower examines weapons from slings and poisoned arrows to their modern counterparts – rockets and chemical weapons. Many weapons now thought to be ultra modern were derived from less sophisticated versions to use in pre-Christian and medieval times. Some of the secrets of early terror weapons such as ‘Greek fire’ which could burn on water and stick to stone, have been lost, but the author makes shrewd assessments of their constituents and power. The book describes the evolution of aircraft, tanks, underwater craft, and even the art of secret communication. The narrative is illustrated by accounts from soldiers with personal experience of clearing minefields, engaging in hand to hand combat and pitting human skills against electronic devices. Motivation is shown to be one of the most important factors in the history of warfare, and is closely allied to training. The book includes a wide survey of modern weapons and their systems, explaining those available in the armouries of the NATO forces and the then Warsaw Pact countries. All this is essential reading for anyone who wishes to understand the wars and skirmishes which take place in many parts of the world today; by its knowledgeable, sober assessments, the book tends to be reassuring rather than alarmist. Firepower is a comprehensive survey which avoids technical jargon and is written in a clear, vigorous style. It will interest the expert and amateur alike. Philip Warner is a former senior lecturer at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst and author of forty books in the field of military history and biography. He joined the army after graduating from Cambridge in 1939 and served in the Far East throughout Would War II. The book includes an extensive picture gallery and author biography and bibliography.

PHANTOM remains perhaps the least well-known of the wartime special regiments. It was formed in 1939 with the mission of finding out exactly where all the Allied forward positions were; a task which required linguistic ability, tact and radio expertise. After Dunkirk its squadrons at first kept an eye on all invasion points, before deploying to Greece and the Middle East. An indispensable direct communications link between the forward units and command headquarters, it operated in Italy, Sicily, Austria, France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. PHANTOM was at Dieppe with the Commandos, in France with the SAS, at Arnhem with the 1st Airborne Division and in Germany until the surrender. As Philip Warner’s fascinating history shows, PHANTOM was so successful in its role of tracking both allied and enemy movements and relaying vital information direct to commanders that it became hugely respected and yet retained its aura of mystery.

Today the castle is only too often a romantic ruin; but in the Middle Ages it was an important military and administrative centre, essentially utilitarian in its design and in the purposes it served. Inevitably, the castle played a leading role in mediaeval history. Using the wealth of material available Philip Warner has focused his study on English sieges undertaken in the period from the Norman Conquest to the end of the War of the Roses, a field that includes many dramatic actions fought in the continental dominions of the English Crown. Warner is equally concerned with the evolution of siege warfare and with the narrative events that centred on sieges. The skills of the architect, engineer and miner are as important to his theme as the courage of the troops and their commanders. And the results of these sieges – for example, Wallingford, Chateau Gaillard, Bedford and Rouen – often decided far more than the campaigns of which they were the climax. Warner has drawn extensively on contemporary accounts of these sieges, verifying them by inspection of the sites where traces of the siege-works are sometimes still visible. His stirring narrative will be of interest to the general reader as well as to the student of medieval warfare. Philip Warner was a former senior lecturer at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst and the author of forty books in the field of military history and biography. He joined the army after graduating from Cambridge in 1939 and served in the Far East throughout Would War II. The book includes an extensive picture gallery, author biography and bibliography.

The term ‘regiment’ was first used in the British army as late as the seventeenth century when small companies were grouped together to form more convenient battle units. Since then while our army as a whole has continued to maintain an unsurpassed record, single regiments have frequently gained fame for their individual achievements in the field of battle. Phillip Warner, drawing upon contemporary diaries and reports of campaigns ranging from the Napoleonic Wars, the Crimea, South Africa and India to the First and Second World Wars, has recreated some of the many acts of heroism performed by the British soldier. Futile though some of them may have eventually proved, such as the infamous Charge of the Light Brigade and the tragic stand at Maiwand, there is no doubting the outstanding courage of their perpetrators. The words of men who were present at the scenes of conflict described here, successful or otherwise, speak more clearly and movingly than any second hand account. Philip Warner was a former senior lecturer at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst and the author of forty books in the field of military history and biography. He joined the army after graduating from Cambridge in 1939 and served in the Far East throughout Would War II. The book includes an extensive picture gallery, author biography and bibliography.

The Crimean War is famous as a source of heroic and horrific legend. Philip Warner’s concern in his reassessment of the campaign has been to uncover the true course of the war, to place the heroics in their proper context and to show how General Simpson’s description of the assault on the Redan can be applied to the whole war. Warner also brings together the initial strands of the conflict and its escalation to involve many of the Great Powers of the day. He is also able to bring in the other locations of the conflict as the two sides poured men and resources into containing the other. The author, Philip Warner, quotes extensively from contemporary sources and especially from previously unpublished Allied and Russian soldiers letters and diaries which provide haunting glimpses of the realities of war. His expert knowledge of fortification and siege warfare and his understanding of nineteenth century armies have combined to make this book both a valuable work of scholarship and an intensely readable account of the battles. Philip Warner is a former senior lecturer at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst and author of forty books in the field of military history and biography. He joined the army after graduating from Cambridge in 1939 and served in the Far East throughout Would War II. The book includes an extensive picture gallery and author biography and bibliography.

On 6th June 1944 there took place the greatest seaborne invasion in the history of mankind. The Allies, who had been planning and preparing for that day for over four years, launched a massive assault on the northern shore of France. It was on a scale which is never likely to be repeated, for the development of weapons of mass destruction has made it unlikely that such a large, vulnerable concentration of force would ever be assembled again. In a war which saw one massive military action after another – the blitzkrieg, the German invasion of Russia, Stalingrad, the Italian campaign – D Day stands supreme. It has been celebrated as a triumph of planning, of international co-operation, of combined operations, of political foresight. In this maelstrom of analysis, self-congratulation, and euphoria one fact seems to have been glossed over. It was made possible by the ordinary man. Much of this book consists of the recollections of these unassuming men. They found themselves on that day and the succeeding days in extraordinary situations, performing deeds of which they did not even know they were capable, and which in retrospect seem so fantastic as to be scarcely believable. For the facts of D Day are that it was such an enormous and unique occasion that even though a man had been a soldier, sailor or airman most of his adult life and had exercised his skills in similar though lesser events, the assault was on such a scale that it made everyone a novice, whether general or private, whether pilot flying high over the battlefield or private crawling over it and digging in.

The Special Boat Squadron, or SBS, is one of the most admired, respected and feared Special Forces units in the world. The date of the formation of the SBS is a matter of some debate. Officially it is the 14th April 1942, but long before that date SBS forces had been harassing the enemy in an unofficial existence; soon it was to be put on a more formal footing. Today, decades after the final curtain has dropped on World War II, it is a mystery to many people, particularly those in the regular forces, how the war managed to foster so many small, unorthodox formations like the SBS. In this book Philip Warner reveals much of the workings and history of this tight knit group that with so little did so much to impact upon World War II and subsequent campaigns. Their exploits, heroism and efforts are a continuing and extraordinary tribute to those that fell and those who continue to serve.

SPECIAL FORCES OF WORLD WAR II. Philip Warner’s book is the first to make a general survey of secret forces, to show how they were interrelated, and what effect they had on the war as a whole. It is an astonishing story. The vast range of the subject has meant that nothing could be treated as fully as I would have wished. However, sample incidents have been described in detail. Some readers may be astonished to find how much rivalry there was between different departments and even between different arms. Most of the ''inner'' departments, SOE, SIS, Ml5, etc., were keenly competitive (to put it in its best light); the regular forces were always slightly suspicious of ''wartime only'' enlistments; and orthodox thinkers nurtured a deep resentment of the ''funnies'' - specialist groups like the SAS, LRDG, Paras and Commandos. Politicians, apart from Churchill, were collectively and individually thought to be a ''blight,'' although in those days the politickings of Beaverbrook, Crossman and Dalton were unknown except to their close colleagues. After the war had dragged to an end in 1945, it soon became clear that much more had gone on during those six years than most of the participants realized. Vastly interesting it was, too, even though difficult to understand. This book aims to make one part of it a little easier to grasp.

The Special Air Service (The SAS) are perhaps the Special Forces Regiment. With an almost unparalled experience and a rich history that is encapsulated by their motto ‘Who Dares Wins’. The story which follows is not of course a complete account of all the deeds of this remarkable regiment. If such a record could be compiled it would require several volumes and, even then, there would be gaps because some of those who took part in the early raids are dead or untraceable, and many of the later activities are unavailable for security reasons. It is indeed typical of the SAS that they should choose to have their history written by someone who is not a member of the regiment, and while giving every possible assistance over obtaining facts should never make the slightest attempt to influence the presentation or approach. And of course they are absolutely right. They believe that, if you appoint someone with a reasonably detached view to write up your regimental history, the facts will speak for themselves. These are the facts.

Much has been written by military historians concerning the skill of generals and the dash of officers, but they are largely silent about the brave deeds of the private soldier. In consequence it is easy to forget that ordinary soldiers are the most important part of the army: if there are no soldiers there is no place for officers, however dashing, or for brilliant generals. In this very readable book Phillip Warner gives the humblest member of the army his rightful pride of place. Covering the period from 3000 BC to the Second World War and ranging over many nationalities, he shows us a day in the life of the ordinary soldier by means of a series of skilfully connected pen portraits. With penetrating insight into the military mind he makes the soldier of each period, be he English, Roman, Viking, Mongol, Italian, Spanish, French or American, a living and vivid figure. By looking at the world through that soldier’s eyes he is able to create a clear picture of his routines, training and skills and a deep impression of the man’s problems, fears and failures, ideals and triumphs, underlining the fact that, throughout history, certain experiences, attitudes and beliefs have remained common to the soldier whatever his nationality, cause or weapon. Philip Warner was a former senior lecturer at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst and the author of forty books in the field of military history and biography. He joined the army after graduating from Cambridge in 1939 and served in the Far East throughout Would War II. The book includes an extensive author biography and bibliography.

Very few living men have taken part in a battle, and many must wonder how they would acquit themselves if ever they had to. A medieval battle was a very complex affair; it was far from being a simple kill or be killed. It could be won or lost at any stage; it could turn on the action of one man, and it could settle nothing, or alternatively the fate of a nation. But for the majority, when thinking of a battle, the overriding question would be: how would I behave? What would happen to me? Would I emerge unscathed and join in the celebrations, or would I be left wounded on the battlefield waiting for someone to save me, or for some ghoul to finish me off? Would I lose all fear in the excitement? In Volume 1 - The South, Philip Warner, one of Britain''s foremost military historians describes the battles from the actual locations they were fought bringing not only a military but a human eye to this chapter in our history. Volumes 2-5 are also available.

Very few living men have taken part in a battle, and many must wonder how they would acquit themselves if ever they had to. A medieval battle was a very complex affair; it was far from being a simple kill or be killed. It could be won or lost at any stage; it could turn on the action of one man, and it could settle nothing, or alternatively the fate of a nation. But for the majority, when thinking of a battle, the overriding question would be: how would I behave? What would happen to me? Would I emerge unscathed and join in the celebrations, or would I be left wounded on the battlefield waiting for someone to save me, or for some ghoul to finish me off? Would I lose all fear in the excitement? In Volume 2 - The North, Philip Warner, one of Britain''s foremost military historians describes the battles from the actual locations they were fought bringing not only a military but a human eye to this chapter in our history. Volumes 1-5 are also available.

Very few living men have taken part in a battle, and many must wonder how they would acquit themselves if ever they had to. A medieval battle was a very complex affair; it was far from being a simple kill or be killed. It could be won or lost at any stage; it could turn on the action of one man, and it could settle nothing, or alternatively the fate of a nation. But for the majority, when thinking of a battle, the overriding question would be: how would I behave? What would happen to me? Would I emerge unscathed and join in the celebrations, or would I be left wounded on the battlefield waiting for someone to save me, or for some ghoul to finish me off? Would I lose all fear in the excitement? In Volume 3 - The midlands, Philip Warner, one of Britain''s foremost military historians describes the battles from the actual locations they were fought bringing not only a military but a human eye to this chapter in our history. Volumes 1-5 are also available.

Very few living men have taken part in a battle, and many must wonder how they would acquit themselves if ever they had to. A medieval battle was a very complex affair; it was far from being a simple kill or be killed. It could be won or lost at any stage; it could turn on the action of one man, and it could settle nothing, or alternatively the fate of a nation. But for the majority, when thinking of a battle, the overriding question would be: how would I behave? What would happen to me? Would I emerge unscathed and join in the celebrations, or would I be left wounded on the battlefield waiting for someone to save me, or for some ghoul to finish me off? Would I lose all fear in the excitement? In Volume 4 - Scotland & The Border, Philip Warner, one of Britain''s foremost military historians describes the battles from the actual locations they were fought bringing not only a military but a human eye to this chapter in our history. Volumes 1-5 are also available.

In July 1942 German and Italian forces were on the point of sweeping away the remainder of the British resistance in the Middle East and triumphantly overrunning Egypt. If this had happened, the disaster for the Allies would have been irretrievable. Instead Rommel’s victorious army was checked on the Alamein line in what became the first battle of Alamein. Two months later with General Bernard Montgomery now commanding the 8th Army and General Harold Alexander as C-in-C Middle East, another Axis thrust was held in the second battle of Alamein at Alam El Halfa. On 23 October the Allied forces finally went on the offensive and, after two long weeks of bitter fighting, Rommel’s forces were in head long retreat. The tide had truly turned in one of the British Army’s most celebrated victories. The higher strategy of these battles has been well covered in other books, but this one is about the men who fought in the tanks and minefields, in the sand dunes and behind the guns. The experience of the desert has long been a mystery to those who were not actually fighting in it. Using a fascinating selection of first hand accounts from battalion commanders and private soldiers alike, Philip Warner reveals the loyalty and chivalry, courage and hardship, humour and compassion which were an integral part of this remarkable series of battles. These accounts are preceded by a comprehensive introduction and the text is extensively illustrated with maps and photographs. As a result Alamein is a totally satisfying work of military history.

On 25th September 1915, and for a few days afterwards, the small town of Loos, between Lens and La Bassee in Northern France, became the centre of one of the most intense and bloody battles of the First World War. The casualties were appalling - about 60,000, most of whom died on the first day. Although the main objective of a large-scale breakthrough, was not achieved, some 8,000 yards of enemy trench were captured and in some places the German defences were penetrated by up to two miles. Had these initial gains been exploited the course of the war might well have been different. Philip Warner''s narrative is vividly brought to life through the words of survivors from all parts of the line: the infantry, the gunners, the officers, and including extracts from the letters and diaries of Sir John French - if courage and endurance could have won the day, Loos would have been a resounding success. Through their accounts and diaries of the time, they reveal one of the most horrific tales of war yet told as well as the heroism and determination that in the end tipped the scales to victory.

Within these pages the vivid and colourful story of a remarkable episode in the ''high empire'' period of British history. The Mahdi''s rising in the Sudan in the 1880''s, which started as a localised Holy War against the ''decadent'' Turkish/Egyprian overlords, was soon to engulf a million square miles of territory and force the hand of the British Liberal Government, whose reluctance to get involved paved the way for the early disasters of the Hicks'' expedition and Gordon''s death at Khartoum. The narrative makes full use of diaries and first-hand reports, including those of celebrated novelist Rider Haggard''s brother Andrew or Father Ohrwalder (the Austrian missionary who spent ten years of captivity in the Mahdi''s camp), and of the adventurer Rudolf Slatin. These brilliantly describe the growth and strength of the Mahdist movement and the extraordinary devotion and discipline of the Dervish troops. Matching such opponents with stoic endurance were the British, Egyptian and Sudanese soldiers, and the resulting military engagements saw amazing feats of courage and daring-do on both sides. The Dervish Empire outlasted the Mahdi by thirteen years. It ended in the battle of Omdurman and Kitchener''s re-conquest of the Sudan, which was well supported by Reginald Wingate''s military intelligence operations. While lasting for a brief period, it had been at the expense not only of the neighbouring Abyssinians but also of the European white man, at a time when Britain was approaching the zenith of its imperial power.

The story of the achievements of the Empire pioneers has been obscured in recent years by the attention given to continual changes in emergent countries. But the origins of the British Empire, the motives, determination and sheer courage of the early settlers, is a story of which any nation would be proud. Many of the settlements started off peacefully, but troubles usually followed soon enough. There was fighting with other nations similarly bent on colonial expansion - such as the French in India and Canada; some of the settlers who had left England because of religious persecution proved to be equally intolerant once they had become established overseas, and inevitably there were disputes over trading concessions. There were also constant battles both against diseases - and battle is not entirely a misnomer for this - and against warlike peoples such as the Mahrattas and the Ashantis, professional fighting men who wished to carry on fighting and did not welcome British attempts to instil law and order. If the Pax Britannica was to remain something more than a pipe dream, it had to be backed up by force of arms. The driving force behind the growth of the British Empire was also varied in essence - it stemmed from the urge to explore, from commercial advantage, a desire for religious freedom, missionary zeal and often from a genuine desire to better the native population - an oddly paternal streak which revealed itself in many of the British soldiers who had been sent out to the colonies in a more strictly military role. Ironically, this very benevolence often itself led to trouble but was also later acknowledged with lasting affection. It is not merely the famous historical figures but a host of people with no special qualities or advantages who built the British empire. This book describes many of the achievements of that vast and almost unknown civilian army which went out, faced or conquered dangers and problems which in their day were as bizarre as space exploration seems at the present time.

Although the Welsh are perhaps not widely known for their military history, the story of warfare in Wales spans some three thousand years. In Famous Welsh Battles, Philip Warner gives a detailed account of the major battles in Wales from prehistoric and Roman times up through the Battle of Fishguard in 1797. Whether fighting as mercenaries in the Middle Ages, when they were greatly esteemed and widely feared, or engaging in guerrilla combat on more rugged battlefields, where their best allies were mountains and rivers, the Welsh generals’ clear grasp of strategy and tactics served them well in times of war. History reveals that there were no easy victories over the Welsh – as is evidenced by the heroics of such tenacious warriors as Caradoc, the great guerrilla leader who by the year AD 47 was the accepted head of all British tribes; Owen Gwynedd, who twice defeated Henry II, giving Wales a shining example of how unity might be achieved; Owain Glyndwr; the well-known yet mysterious leader thought by many to possess supernatural powers; and Llywelyn the Last, whose call to arms amassed an army of thirty thousand foot soldiers and five hundred knights. Warner also describes how the Welsh at times proved to be their own worst enemies, letting petty rivalries and jealousies weaken their military strength. Complete with Ordnance Survey maps of the battle sites and the surrounding areas, Famous Welsh Battles is an authoritative volume that brings to life the terrain, the people and the epic battles of Wales.

Often described as Britain''s answer to Rommel, the charismatic and courageous Sir Brian Horrocks was one of the most successful field commanders of the Second World War, much of which he spent working with Montgomery. His tireless drive and brilliance were admired and respected not only by Montgomery but by very many around him. Philip Warner once again shows us the man behind the image in his own revealing and engaging way. Tracing his journey from youth through the hurdles and troubles of World War I to his brilliant campaigns in North Africa and Europe in the Second world War that helped to throw off the terrible scourge of Nazism. The book shows how Horrocks could achieve so much by his brilliant handling of the forces under him into a fearsome fighting unit

Invasions are as old as the history of mankind. The possibility of Britain being invaded today is obviously very remote in spite of the disturbing memories of the Nazi''s poised to swoop onto these shores in 1940 and previous attempts, both abortive and successful, reaching back into prehistoric times. Concisely and vividly Philip Warner once again engages with his readers and reveals much about this fascinating journey from the earliest raiding parties seeking new land to cultivate to the would be ambitions of conquerors. He details the reasons as well as methods and hazards. He examines the role of naval, military and air power describing the development of weapons, defences, communication and intelligence. The final chapters contain his chilling assessment of the 1980s when the Cold War was at its peak. His illuminating comments not only show our own weaknesses but the problems of possible opponents.

Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl of Khartoum and of Broome, was Britain''s last great military hero. his face became known to millions before his death in 1916 because it appeared on the recruiting posters of World War I over the caption ''Your Country Needs You''. Kitchener''s ambition was all for his country. His qualities were evident in the campaigns in Sudan and South Africa. His belief that British influence was good and that the strengthening and extension of British influence was essential for world harmony. Appointed as Secretary of State for War to organise the British Army in World War I he was almost alone in saying the war would not be over by Christmas but would last 3 or 4 years with untold casualties. Philip Warner has written a lucid and exceptional book, with the full consent of Kitchener''s family to their exclusive archive. Indeed in the initial reviews it was said ''this story has been told before but never so well".

On the 31st of July 1917, the small Belgian village of Passchendaele became the focus of one of the most gruelling, bloody and bizarre battle of World War I. By 6th November, when Passchendaele village and the ridge were captured over half a million British, French, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders and Germans had become casualties. Philip Warner, the noted historian of twentieth century warfare and the author of over fifty books on military history has skilfully brought together all the elements of this horrific campaign. – the historical background, personal accounts, strategies and tactics, the personalities and the political manoeuvres. He investigates the issues which had a crucial effect on the course of the battle, including the mutinous state of the French army, the bombardment which destroyed the drainage system. Field Marshal’s Sir Douglas Haig’s determination to continue operations despite the appalling weather and ground conditions, and the stormy relationship between Haig and Lloyd George. However it is the determined fighting ability and the bravery of the allied soldiers rather than the tactical plans of the commanders that dominate this detailed and totally absorbing account of the harrowing four month campaign. Passchendaele is a masterly and timely analysis of one of the most important battles in history.

At the end of the First World War the victors decided to punish the aggressors and while doing so to establish free, democratic governments of ethnic groups which would, supposedly, have no reason to go to war. A League of Nations was established with the main aim of confronting potential aggressors with overwhelming force, and with the secondary aim of eradicating possible causes of war such as injustice and economic hardship. But it failed. Hundreds of books have been written about various aspects of the First World War: official and unofficial histories, specialist books in medicine, artillery, logistics, etc., personal reminiscences, and novels which were often autobiographical. Today, with hindsight, a hundred years on, we can see the achievements and mistakes of the time. Many conflicts of the present may be traced to origins in the 1919 peace settlements: it is, of course, easy to be wise after the event. With the mass of material available, the writer and reader of today may see the war in perspective and form judgements which were previously impossible. In this chronological narrative Philip Warner, a former senior lecturer at Britain’s world famous Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, once more cuts to the heart of the matter with his searing analysis as he unfolds the main events, supporting it with a look at women in their new roles and the literature the war provoked. Perhaps the last word, the final summary, the ultimate definitive view can never be made, but we are now in a better position to see the war in its proper perspective than any of our predecessors have been.

‘Truth is stranger than fiction. Some incidents of the war are so bizarre or so brave that no reputable fiction writer would have dared to invent them. War brings out the worst and the best in human beings’. So said Philip Warner the author of World War Two – The Untold Story. Until the official account of Second World War British Intelligence activities was published, myth, propaganda and misrepresentation had combined to confuse our view of the war. We did not – could not – fully understand what had happened, or why. The distinguished military historian Philip Warner based this history of the war, the secret battles as much as the open warfare, on intelligence material that had not been previously available. The result is a vivid, concise and meaningful account of what was really happening day by day through the war, and why. The world was in the dark grip of war on many fronts and for both sides victories and defeats would come in many forms before the victors could finally prevail. Warner shows how the Allies’ success was the result of a combination of factors, not least their increasing awareness of enemy intentions as they broke through German and Japanese codes. It was a war in which intelligence and interpretation came to play a major role.

On 23 April 1918 a force drawn from the Royal Navy and Royal Marines launched one of the most daring raids in history. The aim was to block the Zeebrugge Canal, thereby denying U-boats access, although this mean assaulting a powerfully fortified German naval base. The raid has long been recognised for its audacity and ingenuity but, owing to the fact that the official history took too much notice of the German version of events, has long been considered only a partial success. In this stirring account Philip Warner exposes the error of that interpretation by providing evidence from many sources that the raid achieved much more than it is traditionally credited with. The raid is presented from a variety of viewpoints, from the airmen who took part in the preliminary bombing to the motor launches which picked up survivors. The crews of the launches and coastal motor boats were frequently ‘amateur’ sailors but their courage and skill were second to none. Indeed no less than nine Victoria Crosses were awarded for the action. During his research Philip Warner talked with many of the survivors and corresponded with others. The Zeebrugge Raid is a sobering reminder of this outstanding feat of arms undertaken almost a hundred years ago.

Very few living men have taken part in a battle, and many must wonder how they would acquit themselves if ever they had to. A medieval battle was a very complex affair; it was far from being a simple kill or be killed. It could be won or lost at any stage; it could turn on the action of one man, and it could settle nothing, or alternatively the fate of a nation. But for the majority, when thinking of a battle, the overriding question would be: how would I behave? What would happen to me? Would I emerge unscathed and join in the celebrations, or would I be left wounded on the battlefield waiting for someone to save me, or for some ghoul to finish me off? Would I lose all fear in the excitement? In Volume 5 - Wales, Philip Warner, one of Britain''s foremost military historians describes the battles from the actual locations they were fought bringing not only a military but a human eye to this chapter in our history. Although the Welsh are perhaps not widely known for their military history, the story of warfare in Wales spans some three thousand years. Philip Warner gives a detailed account of the major battles in Wales from prehistoric and Roman times up through the Battle of Fishguard in 1797. Whether fighting as mercenaries in the Middle Ages, when they were greatly esteemed and widely feared, or engaging in guerrilla combat on more rugged battlefields, where their best allies were mountains and rivers, the Welsh generals’ clear grasp of strategy and tactics served them well in times of war. Volumes 1-4 are also available.