Page 96 - History of War - Issue 01-14

reviews medal yearBook 2014

John W & Philip Mussell Token Publishing RRP £19.95
★★★★★

ot surprisingly on this,
the 100th anniversary
of the outbreak of the
First World War, Token’s
annual Medal Yearbook
N features a poignant cover
devoted to the “Pip, Squeak and
Wilfred” campaign medals and For example, the Africa Star Medal, the Gulf Medal and the
memorial plaque of that conflict. – one of nine British campaign Iraq Medal – from the Falklands,
But as usual, there’s so much medals – was awarded to those Gulf and Iraq Wars of 1982, 1992
more to this 600-page handbook: troops who fought in the Second and 2004 respectively.
15 chapters devoted to different World War Africa campaign It’s fair to say that, as well as
types of medals, including those of 1940-43. Specifically, it was providing indications of medals’
from the Commonwealth and given to those who served in values, the book provides more
the Irish Republic, as well as an operational area of North
Police and life-saving examples. Africa between 10 July 1940 The book provides more than a glimpse
There are sections devoted (the date of Italy’s declaration into the stories behind medals from
to opinion, medal ribbons, the of war) and 12 May 1943 (the
collecting of medals and the values end of operations there). It was the 18th Century to the present day
medals are currently achieving also awarded to those who
at auctions and antiques shops. served in Abyssinia, Eritrea, than a glimpse into the stories For example, 120mm-diameter
The book also contains advertising Somalia and Malta. Further behind medals from the 18th bronze memorial plaques issued
from nationwide sale rooms detail in the book explains the Century to the present day. to mark the death of male
and valuers that specialise silver 1 and 8 numerals of The same can be said of the British soldiers during the course
in military collectables of this the First and Eighth Armies on descriptions of the gallantry of the First World War are valued
nature. However, Medal Yearbook the ribbon for service between medals awarded during the same “from £50”, but the fact that
2014 is not solely a trade book, 23 October and 23 May 1942. period. This reviewer believes 1,335,000 were minted and
because of the comprehensive Medals from more recent that the story behind the medals all individually named tells a
information it provides about each conflicts are explained in similarly and their link with turbulent periods completely different story about
featured medal and how service great detail, with, for example, of history are more important the scale of the conflict that
personnel became eligible for it. entries for the South Atlantic than their monetary values. started 100 years ago. John Carroll

Theirs NoT To reasoN Why BaTTlefield raTioNs leNiNgrad CouNTrymeN

Graham Winton Helion and Co Anthony Clayton Helion and Co RRP £16.95 Brian Moynahan Quercus RRP £25 Bo Lidegaard Atlantic Books RRP £22
RRP £37.50 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★
★★★★★ While rationing The siege of Over 14 days in
The horse as may seem like Leningrad – October 1943,
a vehicle of war a distant concept in which the nearly 8,000
has a history that to many of us, German army Jews were
is almost as long it wasn’t so long devastated the smuggled out
as that of armed ago that it was city over the of Denmark by
combat itself – a way of life – course of three ordinary citizens
though it wasn’t especially for years, from 1941 sympathetic
until the late British troops. In to 1944 – is to their plight,
19th Century that the British Army this book, Anthony Clayton provides often overlooked when it comes right under the noses of the
formed a dedicated organisation a number of eye-opening accounts to Second World War history. country’s Nazi occupiers. This
for the monitoring and purchase of the hardships that many soldiers But renowned historian Brian book tells the remarkable story of
of horses for military purposes – faced during the turmoil of war. Moynahan makes amends here that incredible exodus, gathering
the Central Remount and Veterinary Starting with the second Boer with an astonishing book that together numerous eyewitness
Services. Graham Winton’s War of 1899-1902, he emphasises incorporates the biography of accounts, letters, maps and
500-page tome starts with the the importance of morale in the Russian composer Shostakovich photographs – much of which has
creation of this faculty in 1878, field of battle, and how food has and his Seventh Symphony against been previously unavailable to the
then traces the role of the steed played a huge part in this. Even a savage backdrop of cannibalism, public. Written by the award-winning
throughout the Anglo-Boer and a simple brew of tea could provide starvation and hypothermia. Bo Lidegaard, Editor-in-Chief of
First World Wars. It’s a fascinating, momentary respite – even if the tea While the book is on the Danish newspaper Politiken and
if rather studious, read where was sometimes prepared in an old lengthy side at just over 500 pages, a best-selling author of several
incredible amounts of research meat tin and heated with a candle! it makes for effortless reading history books, Countrymen is a real
and considerable knowledge have Covering eight wars leading up as the engrossing and entirely page-turner, at once fascinating
been engaged and employed. to the present Afghanistan conflict, harrowing details of the siege and heartbreakingly poignant, while
Whereas Michael Morpurgo’s War Clayton provides intricate details on unfold. Moynahan has left no stone remaining accessible throughout.
Horse brought the plight of horses the methods used to prepare food, unturned in his research, drawing At £22, it doesn’t come particularly
for military purposes to the fore, and the differences between male on extensive archives, personal cheap, but then you do get plenty
this book provides the back story and female rationing. In places, letters/diaries and eye-witness for your buck: namely, a book that
and an extreme level of detail. it’s awkwardly written, with broken accounts. The result is a truly marries the emotion of a tragic
If you have a passion for combat sentences that force you to read humbling experience. Chris Short romance with the high suspense
history and an interest in all the same sentence more than Buy next month’s issue of History Of War of an espionage novel. Countrymen
things equestrian, this should be once, but there’s enough here to to read an exclusive extract from Brian is essential reading matter for
your one-stop shop. Paul Pettengale provide food for thought. Chris Short Moynahan’s Leningrad anyone with a pulse. Paul Dimery
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