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The Donkeys: A History of the British Expeditionary Force in 1915 by: Alan Clark

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Review Pages: 1 2 3

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Rating: - The death of the British professional army in 1915

A pungent and concise account of three major offensives on the Western Front in 1915 - the rivalries among British generals and politicians, the difficult relationships with the French allies, the belief that war could still be fought on colonial 19th century lines, when the reality was long columns of men marching into machine gun fire - it's all well documented by Clark in this excellent, readable account. Although nearly 40 years old, it has not suffered, and relying as it does on the official military histories of both sides, it is probably a reliable account written by a military historian. Much emphasis on which unit was where, on troop dispositions, on what went wrong and why. Poor maps mar the detailed accounts of offensives, but still an excellent survey of the death of the British professional army (to be replaced in 1916 by volunteers, and in 1917 by conscripts). Also makes it clear that for 2 brief moments - measured in hours - first at Neuve Chapelle, then at Loos, the British, with better communications and bolder commanders, might have made massive breakthroughs which would have shortened - or even ended - the war. Unfortunately, those moments were lost to the cost of the many hundreds of thousands who were sacrificed in later offensives. Recommended by a keen reader of military history, and congratulated for its laudable brevity.

Review Pages: 1 2 3