36 War and Militaria WAR AND MILITARIA


I don’t know whether war is an interlude during peace, or peace an interlude during war.


- Georges Clemenceau


69500 SOE’S SECRET WEAPONS CENTRE STATION 12 by Des Turner


The full story of Aston House in World War Two has never been told before. Its activities were top secret and as important to the Allied war effort as those of Bletchley Park, but in a different way. Situated near Stevenage, Aston House was one of the many British country houses requisitioned by


SOE. Born out of Bletchley Park where it begun life as SIS Section D (for Destruction), Station 12’s scientific and military personnel invented, made and supplied ‘toys’ for the Commandos, Special Boat Service, SAS and resistance groups. Included in their deadly arsenal of weapons were plastic explosives, limpet mines, pressure switches, tree spigots, incendiary bombs, incendiary liquids and arrows, and a variety of time fuses. They worked on the tools for famous operations such as the St-Nazaire and Dieppe Raids, and the assassination of Himmler’s deputy in Prague. Here too are the human stories of the personnel stationed in this extremely remote village and the explosive pranks they played on each other and certain visitors, adding some light relief to their destructive purpose. 243pp in paperback with photos. £9.99 NOW £5


69409 HISTORY BUFF’S


GUIDE TO THE CIVIL WAR by Thomas Flagel


Subtitled Top Ten Rankings of the Best, Worst, Largest, and Most Lethal People and Events of the Civil War. Here are unsung heroines, the self-promoting spy Belle Boyd and the privileged diarist Mary Chestnut, sisters of mercy like Catholic nuns, civil war films, facts like 470,000 soldiers captured, cross-


eyed Benjamin F. Butler (New Hampshire 1818-93) who was a walking contradiction, newspapers and many characters. With over 30 annotated top ten lists and unexpected new findings, the author will have you hotly debating the most intriguing questions about the conflict. From the causes of the war to the bloodiest battles, this invaluable guide will delight and inform. Excellent timeline, 495 paperback pages, photos. £11.99 NOW £5


69489 HIGHLANDER: The History of the Highland Soldier


by Tim Newark


The Highlanders are one of the fiercest regiments in the British Army and the most feared soldiers in the world. On the fields of Waterloo, the deserts of Sudan, from the Plains of Abraham and the mountains of Dargai, the trenches of Flanders and the jungles of Burma,


the great Highland regiments have made their mark. At the Battle of Quebec in 1759, only a few years after their defeat at Culloden, the 78th Highlanders faced down the French guns and turned the battle. At Waterloo, Highlanders memorably fought alongside the Scots Greys against Napoleon’s feared Old Guard. In the Crimea, the thin red line stood firm against the charging Russian Hussars and saved the day at Balaclava. Yet the story is also one of betrayal. Over the last decade, the historic regiments have been dismantled and this engrossing history reads like a thriller. 402pp in paperback with photos.


£9.99 NOW £5


69360 THE NINJA ANCIENT SHADOW WARRIORS OF JAPAN: The Secret History of


Ninjutsu by Dr Kacem Zoughari The fruit of more than ten years of study, practice and investigation, this volume takes Ninjutsu research to a new level, including studies of its history, wisdom and philosophy and presents a wide range of info from authors, historians, chronicles and scrolls in order to foster a deep understanding of this shadowy art. What is Ninjutsu? The commonly held image of the black- clad ninja is a recent invention. Over the years, a whole class of fantasy literature has developed, making the ninja out to be a superman, giving him awesome and terrifying magical capabilities. Influenced by this popular version, most people see Ninjutsu as an arcane science, one that combines mysterious practices with deadly combat techniques. Often defined in English as ‘the art of remaining unseen’ even this definition does not adequately illustrate the traits of invisibility, anonymity and secrecy that are the pillars of the art. Simply put, Ninjutsu is a collection of adaptable survival techniques that allows the practitioner to face the uncertainties of life and to respond to dangerous situations, through physical and psychological discipline, where one uses orthodox weapons in


unorthodox ways. 191 large format pages with


illustrations in colour and b/w, notes and seven appendices including the


historical chronology of the Ninja.


£34 NOW £8.50


69501 SPIES IN THE SKY: The Secret Battle for Aerial Intelligence During World War II by Taylor Downing


Most people know of the famous code-breaking centre at Bletchley Park but how many of our readers are familiar with its little-known partner at Medmenham? This book tells the thrilling story of the daring reconnaissance pilots who took aerial photos over occupied Europe and of the photo interpreters who invented a completely new science to analyse those pictures. This remarkable group of boffins and academics comprised some of the best brains in the country. They pioneered the development of 3D photography and provided vital intelligence throughout the war. Their work resulted in the finding of the Bismarck, the tracking down of Hitler’s V weapons, the clearance of the Mediterranean and the success of D- Day. Here are the legendary pilot Adrian ‘Warby’ Warburton who went missing while on a mission, photo interpreter Glyn Daniel, later a famous television personality, and Winston Churchill’s wayward daughter Sarah, who was convinced that she had failed the stringent entry exam but later became highly successful, particularly in the section that monitored enemy shipping. Here too is the ever hungry Lady Bonham Carter who toted a carrier bag of food with her even when on parade. A riveting read and an eye- opener of a book. 407


pages with b/w archive photos.


£20 NOW £8


69474 CIVIL WAR: The Wars of the Three Kingdoms 1638-


1660 by Trevor Royle On a warm late summer’s day in 1642, two rival English armies faced each other at Edgehill. There, Royalists faithful to King Charles I engaged the supporters of Parliament in a battle that left 1,500 dead and many more wounded. Ahead lay a bloody conflict that would divide the nation and


transform the course of British history. This vivid and dramatic account of these turbulent years from 1638, when the Scots signed the National Covenant, to the end of the Protectorate in 1659 tells the stirring story of one of the greatest struggles in our history. 888 paperback pages, illus in b/w plus maps and plans. £15.99 NOW £6.50


69471 BATTLE FOR SPAIN: The Spanish Civil War 1936-


1939 by Antony Beevor For most people, the Spanish Civil War conjures up an image of Picasso’s Guernica, commemorating the devastation when Hitler carpet- bombed the Basque town and the Republican forces within it. The Spanish Civil War has been crowded out of the history books by World War II which immediately followed,


but it had far-reaching effects on the line-up for the coming conflict. According to Antony Beevor, from the time of Columbus until 1936 Spain was dominated by three different struggles: between the aristocratic class and the peasants; between authoritarian rule and the liberal middle class which had begun to emerge in the 19th century; and between central government and regional Catalan and Basque aspirations for local autonomy. The early years of the 20th century brought prosperity followed by the Depression and in 1931 a Republican government gained power, burning churches and convents and driving the Catholic Church into claiming that a vote for the right was a vote for Christ. As Franco emerged as the leader of the rebel right, Italy and Germany joined the struggle. Hitler’s reasons for helping Franco were strategic: a fascist Spain would present a threat to France and to Britain’s route to the Suez Canal, and the civil war diverted attention from his central European strategy while offering the opportunity to train men and test equipment in the field. Beevor’s masterly analysis is the fruit of outstanding research and carefully balanced judgements. 586pp, battle plans, maps, black and white photos, bibliography. £12.99 NOW £6.50


69485 GREAT COMMANDERS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD 1479BC-453AD


edited by Andrew Roberts When one asks ‘what is leadership?’, the answer is to be found in these pages as top experts in their field examine the careers of the greatest soldiers in the history of mankind, commanders of the great Egyptian, Judean, Assyrian, Greek,


Macedonian, Roman and finally Hun


empires. It is impossible to consider the military and political career of Napoleon Bonaparte for example without reference to the fact that he consciously saw himself as the only worthy modern successor to Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar, and said as much during his exile on St. Helena. Several of the military leaders in this volume were born to command, men like Alexander the Great, Ramesses II, Julius Caesar, Arminius and Trajan were the heirs of kings, princes and senators, and so were trained from birth to lead men into battle. Others rose purely by their own efforts like King David, Cyrus, Judah Maccabeus and Aetius. Distinguished historian Robin Lane Fox and Tom Holland are among the contributors to this authoritative account of the lives and careers of 25 of the greatest military leaders. 379pp in paperback. £9.99 NOW £4.50


65854 SAMUEL COLT: Arms, Art and Invention by Herbert Houze


!


Samuel Colt (1814-1862) first patented his ‘Colt’ revolver in 1835 and thereby redefined the architecture of handguns. He designed his revolvers with an artistic sensibility, paying particular attention to form and beauty and juxtaposing colours and finishes to heighten the visual effects. He was also one of the first American


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manufacturers to secure celebrity endorsements and to commission paintings by renowned artists like George Gatlin to promote his arms. Six decades before Henry Ford, he introduced dedicated production lines and quality control inspectors to assure purchasers of the reliability of his products. In one larger than life person, Samuel Colt was an inventor, patentee, entrepreneur, manufacturer, showman and a supersalesman for his revolvers. Essays discuss Colt’s personal collection of historic firearms as well as the memorial collection of Colt-manufactured firearms, the relationship between art and commerce as they pertain to the inventor’s career and his international celebrity. 260 large pages, lavishly illus in colour. £45 NOW £16


66506 WE SHALL FIGHT ON THE BEACHES: Defying Napoleon and Hitler, 1805 and 1940 by Brian Lavery


This spellbinding volume focuses on the interval between the beginning of war against Napoleon in 1803 until two- and-a-half years later, and the months after the Allied evacuation from Dunkirk until September 1940. Identifying striking parallels and key differences in these periods, the book outlines strategic and political contexts and examines the climate of fear, suspicion and hostility that fermented at all levels of British society as the spectre of invasion loomed. The author analyses the challenges faced by the potential aggressors and those charged with the defence of Britain, and examines the staunch attitudes of the British public. 448 pages, maps, archive photos, colour plates. £20 NOW £3.50


66668 BATTLESCAPES: A Photographic


Testament to 2,000 Years of Conflict by Alfred Buellesbach and Marcus Cowper In this outstanding book, which combines the finest photography and concise military history, leading landscape photographer Alfred Buellesbach has travelled to 34 of the most important battles fought on European soil, from Alesia (near Dijon today) in 52BC, which marked the final step in Julius Caesar’s conquest of Gaul, to the four-day battle of Seelow Heights near the River Elbe, the last major engagement of WWII in Europe, in which the Soviet army finally broke through the last ranks of German resistance leaving the Red Army an unopposed route to Berlin. A total over 200 colour images of these haunting landscapes, many in a panoramic double page spread. Plus a visitor section on each site. 224pp, 12" × 9¾”. £25 NOW £7


66378 SECOND WORLD WAR EXPERIENCE:


Vol. 1 Blitzkrieg 1939-41 by Richard Overy Published in association with the Imperial War Museum, this outsized slipcased box set contains rare removable documents, memorabilia and an audio CD of veterans’ first-hand accounts. We are presenting the first two in the landmark four part history of the Second World War. Blitzkrieg examines the slow build-up as the world moved towards war and goes on to document the Munich crisis in 1938 to the defeat of France, from the retreat at Dunkirk to the sinking of the Bismarck. Here is Field Marshal Montgomery’s personal diary charting the events of the Dunkirk evacuations, Churchill’s annotated notes for his famous June 1940 speech ‘This was their finest hour’ and the complete plan of attack for the German invasion of the UK - ‘Operation Sealion’. Transparent wallets contain superbly reproduced facsimiles in colour, collectable documents, flaps, letters inserted inside envelopes etc. 64 large pages in slipcase. £30 NOW £9


66379 SECOND WORLD WAR EXPERIENCE: Vol. 2 Axis Ascendant 1941-42 by Richard Overy


Measuring over 12" square and in a sturdy slipcase, this collectable book contains over 200 photos, 30 rare facsimile documents and a CD of first-hand veteran accounts. Includes Stalin’s handwritten notes to Kruschev on his ‘scorched earth’ policy, Roosevelt’s handwritten notes for his ‘Day of Infamy’ speech, the order to MacArthur to abandon the Philippines, a page from the handwritten score of Shostakovich’s Seventh Symphony which he called the Leningrad Symphony to honour the defenders of the city, and a programme for its first performance reproduced in colour. Flaps to open, maps to read, typewritten and hand corrected missives and secret documents, many in German (translations at the end), four part foldout maps. £30 NOW £7.50


66676 DECEIVING HITLER: Double Cross and


Deception in World War II by Terry Crowdy By 1941, every German spy in Britain had been captured and was offered a brutal Hobson’s choice - “take it” was to double-cross their homeland, and “leave it” meant the gallows. Not surprisingly most of them chose to live. In North Africa General Wavell created ‘A’ Force, the unit responsible for successfully concealing British weaknesses by creating fake tanks and aircraft to fool German reconnaissance. Buoyed by this success, when Wavell met up with the guardians of the double cross system in London, the stage was set for deception and misdirection on a grand scale. Together they concocted a plan of global deception which culminated in the incredibly complex plot to trick Hitler about the timing and location of the D-Day landings. Plates. With potted biogs, codenames for all plans and operations. 352pp. £17.99 NOW £5.50


67263 VIETNAM: A War Lost and Won by Nigel Cawthorne


Vietnam was the longest war in American history. In all the American commitment in South East Asia lasted 15 years. Australian and New Zealand troops who fought there lost 496 dead and 2398 wounded. Over 50,000 US servicemen died and around 300,000 were wounded, figures which pale besides Vietnamese losses. South Vietnam, America’s Ally, lost 200,000 soldiers and Communist North Vietnam lost a further 900,000. 240pp in paperback, photos and maps. Apologies for sticker. ONLY £1


67321 ADMIRALS: The Naval Commanders


Who Made Britain Great by Andrew Lambert The author celebrates the rare talents of the men who shaped the most successful fighting force in world history, from the Armada and the Napoleonic Wars onwards. Through their lives and battles, this volume charts the evolution of naval command across four centuries, while proving that maritime power is still a vital and living element of modern Britain. 492 paperback pages illus in colour. £9.99 NOW £3


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66681 HELL IN THE PACIFIC: The Battle for Iwo Jima


by Gordon Rottman and Derrick Wright The Japanese successes at Pearl Harbor, the Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong and Indonesia in 1941-2 were little more than a memory at the close of 1944 as Japan prepared to defend their homeland. With their final lines of defence creaking and the US Navy scenting blood, it was absolutely essential for the Japanese to retain control of Iwo Jima, a volcanic island of just eight square miles. It was of equal importance for the USAF, as it would provide the vital staging point for the final assault on Japan. When the Marines invaded in February 1945 there were 20,000 deeply entrenched Japanese troops there, for who, as was generally the case with the Imperial Army, surrender was not an option. In all 100,000 men fought over this crucial speck of rock and black sand, and the battle raged for 36 days. 100 b/w and colour photos, maps. 224pp. £20 NOW £7.50


68871 GO! GO! GO!: The Definitive Inside Story of the


Iranian Embassy Siege by Rusty Firmin and Will Pearson


The SAS storming of the Iranian Embassy at Princes Gate, near the Royal Albert Hall in London, began at 1924hrs on 5 May 1980 and ended a siege controlled by six men which had started at 1120hrs five days previously. The pictures of the initial SAS attack are some of the


best known in the world, and made the SAS a household name the world over. “Operation Nimrod”, as it was known, became the gold standard for hostage- rescue missions. Rusty Firmin was leader of the SAS team that made the assault on the rear of the building and PC Trevor Lock, who was on the door of the Embassy when the six forced their way in and immediately became a hostage, and Sim Harris, the BBC soundman who had arrived 20 minutes earlier to collect a visa give their accounts. Includes Saddam Hussein’s direct involvement, the police operation including surveillance, and completely new material from the negotiating team. 228pp paperback. Colour and b/w photos.


£12.99 NOW £4.50


66811 LOOSE CANNONS: 101 Myths, Mishaps and Misadventurers of Military History by Graeme Donald


Subtitled “101 Things They Never Told You About Military History”. How successful was Operation Accoustic Kitty, the CIA’s plan to infiltrate the Kremlin using cats equipped with listening devices? How effective was the Dambusters Raid? Churchill in fact never made the “rum, sodomy and the lash” quip, but dearly wished he had. All these and many more military myths, mishaps and misconceptions are gleefully and brilliantly investigated and untangled in this wonderful and frequently extremely funny exposé of long-held military truths. 320pp. £9.99 NOW £2.75


66885 SIAM IN TRADE AND WAR: Royal Maps of the 19th Century


by Narisa Chakrabongse, Henry Ginsburg et al In 1996, 17 hand-drawn and hand-coloured cotton map rolls were discovered within the Grand Palace, Siam. These long-lost treasures recorded cartographically Siamese warfare and trade during the first three reigns of the Bangkok Period (1782-1851). Works of art in themselves, the maps are full of historical and landscape detail and also included a remarkable four metre long coastal map covering the area from Peninsular Malaysia to Korea. The Muang Thawai map looks west and records campaigns by King Rama I against the Burmese and records the defeat of an insurrection against the Siamese and Khmen Nai Ni looks to the area around the Great Lake and Angkor Wat which at that time was part of Siamese territory. Features colour illus, manuscripts. 88 very large pages in softback. £14.95 NOW £3


68943 DOUGLAS HAIG:


Architect of Victory by Walter Reid


Haig was the man most responsible for delivering victory in 1918, yet his reputation is that of a butcher who sent millions to their deaths. This new biography tells a balanced story. A veteran of the Sudan and Boer Wars, he was appointed Chief of Indian General Staff in 1909 and it was on leave from India that he met and married his wife within 36


hours. When Kitchener chose him for the Egyptian army, the Prince of Wales asked Haig to write to him regularly about the progress of the campaign. On the outbreak of WWI he was given command of a section of the British Expeditionary Force and in 1915, following the disastrous defeat at Loos, he joined Kitchener and the King to challenge the authority of Sir John French, the British Commander in Chief.


Haig replaced French later


that year and at French’s request gave Winston Churchill a battalion. Haig assumed command during the most tragic part of the war, and is often blamed for the high number of casualties at the Battle of the Somme. 555pp, paperback, photos. £10.99 NOW £4


68079 TO WAR WITH WELLINGTON: From


the Peninsula to Waterloo by Peter Snow


What made Arthur, Duke of Wellington the military genius who was never defeated in battle? The author recalls how Wellington evolved from a backward, sensitive schoolboy into the aloof but brilliant commander-in-chief. Digging deep into the rich treasure trove of diaries and journals that make this war the first in history to be so well recorded, broadcaster Peter Snow examines Wellington’s prickly relationship with generals such as the irascible Thomas Picton and the ruthless ‘Black Bob’ Craufurd, cavalrymen like the daredevil Fred Ponsonby, and soldiers including jaunty Irishman Ned Costello and failed actor Thomas Todd. Using many first-hand accounts, he describes the horror and the humanity of life in and out of battle, and explains how Wellington mastered the battlefield to beat Napoleon and change the future of Europe. 384 pages, colour plates, maps. £25 NOW £13


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