Page 95 - History of War - Issue 30-16

REVIEWS

THE SOMME & VERDUN THE FIRST WORLD

1916 REMEMBERED WAR IN 100 OBJECTS

Author: Peter Doyle
Writer: Julian Thompson Publisher: Carlton Books Ltd Publisher: The History Press Price: £25
Price: £40 Released: 2016 THE STORY OF THE GREAT WAR AS TOLD BY THIS
JULIANTHOMPSON’SCENTENARYEDITIONOFWORLDWARI’SMOSTVITALBATTLESISA FASCINATINGSELECTIONOFARTEFACTSANDLOCATIONS
TREASURETROVEOFIMAGES,REPRODUCTIONS,AUDIOINTERVIEWSANDFINENARRATIVE
Last year History of War reviewed The Battle Of Waterloo In
100 Objects – a beautifully presented collection offering a
sobering glimpse into the world of warfare 200 years ago.
This is the predecessor to that title, tackling the Great War
of a century ago, with military historian Peter Doyle acting as
curator of another i ne selection of badges, books, uniforms,
medals, bayonets and more.
The objects tell the story of the war in its entirety, ranging
from recognisable iconic images of the conl ict, such as
a Kitchener poster, to some more-obscure i nds – for
instance, a badge of the Chinese Labour Corps. It’s Doyle’s
deliberately eclectic mix of objects that makes the book so
appealing, with something to offer both newcomers to the
period, as well as grizzled academics.
From a wonderfully detailed image and description of
the pickelhaube, you can l ick forward just a few pages to
i nd a Dough Boy’s i eld equipment, and from there stumble
upon the haunting image of a rudimentary gas mask, circa
1915-16. Pieces like this, along with other treasures such as
original cap badges and ID bracelets, give the sense of a real
connection with the ordinary people caught up in the war.
“IT’S DOYLE’S DELIBERATELY
ECLECTIC MIX OF OBJECTS THAT
MAKES THE BOOK SO APPEALING”

There are few years in history that are contains interviews with British veterans
instantly emotive and are so utterly of the Somme, which are chronologically
dei ned by one or two events, but 1916 ordered to tie in with key moments and
is one of the notable exceptions. In important aspects of the battle.
what was possibly the most pivotal As one of Britain’s leading military
year in World War I, the Western Front historians, Thompson’s book is a
witnessed two of the biggest and balanced work that devotes equal
most terrible battles the world had yet attention to both the Somme and Verdun
witnessed: Verdun and the Somme. and makes a convincing case for 1916
These titanic clashes have since become being the year that changed the course
bywords for apocalyptic suffering, and of the war. These events can often
for the centenary Major General Julian seem extremely complicated and too
Thompson’s thorough work on the huge in their scale to be adequately
battles has been re-released. comprehended, but for those seeking an
The Somme & Verdun. 1916 introduction to one of the major moments
Remembered is an excellent introduction of 20th century history then this is an
to these campaigns and benei ts by its excellent and thought-provoking start.
close collaboration with the Imperial
War Museum. Within its pages are over
30 removable documents, which are
integrated throughout the book. Readers
can examine diaries, letters, secret
documents and reports, booklets and
posters. There are also 17 full-colour
battle maps that follow their progress.
Additionally, there are unique images
of artefacts ranging from weapons,
uniforms and pieces of equipment. The
book also contains an audio CD that

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