Warrior
1 primary work • 2 total works
Book 134
During World War One the French Army was in a state of disarray, plagued by indiscipline, mutinies and desertion. The ordinary French citizens that were called upon to defend their motherland - the Poilu - were disrespected and demoralized, and the infamous mutinies of 1917 by the Poilu were not protests against the war itself, but against how the war was conducted. Ian Sumner expertly charts the history of the Poilu, from the conscription of hundreds of thousands of men, through their training, to the horrors of the trenches and the fear of no man's land. Accompanied by new artwork and diagrams, this book provides a fascinating insight into the experiences of ordinary Frenchman called upon to defend their motherland.
This title explores the recruitment, training, and combat experiences of the famous ANZAC infantry in the opening years of World War I. When war broke out in 1914, men rushed to the colours even before their governments had formally offered troops to Britain. The decision to employ the ANZACs in the Dardanelles came as a complete surprise, but the events at the Anzac and Suvla beach-heads quickly revealed the discipline and bravery of the men involved. This book takes a close look at day-to-day life in the trenches of Gallipoli, and explores how the wounded were treated. The experience of Gallipoli had a profound effect on its survivors, and it continues to mark the psyche of the two nations down to the present day.