"I have just read "Imperial Camel Corps" by Geoffrey Inchbald (Johnson 1970). The various Camel Corps, Anzac, Bikaner and English (reassembled from Yeomanry Cavalry Regiments) served in the 1914-18 War in the Middle East, first against the Senussi, and later against the Turks under Murray and Allenby and with Lawrence. The author was an officer with the Corps and the book is an interesting account of a little known activity in World War I. It should interest our Colonial wargamers particularly.
I have recently read "From the Land of Lost Content" by Noel Barker, published by Collins in, I think, 1969. It is an account of the flight of the Dalai Lama from Lhasa, and of the street fighting that took place there to cover his escape. This might give ideas for a novel wargame.
"They Rode Into Europe" by Miklos Jankovich (Harrod £ 4.50) written by an Hungarian, (originally in German and now translated into English) is a history of horsemanship from the later dark ages, and the effect of riders from the Steppes, Huns, Magyars, Mongols, Turks on Europe. There is a lot of technical stuff on horsemanship, but also a lot of useful materials for the wargamer - from early mediaeval to the 19th century. You will be interested in the following comment from the translation preface about the nomad archer. "They could shoot faster and straighter from the saddle than any Westerner on foot, though not so far."
I think I did mention to you that I have read John Strawson's book on "Hitler as Military Commander" (Batsford 1971: £ 2.10p). It shows Hitler was a better commander than we gave him credit for in the War. He appreciated the tank and the Stuka - and Guderian and Udet. And he appreciated the value of Von Manstein's plans for the break through in 1940 against the opinion of his general staff. Again he was right to insist in refusing to withdraw against the first Russian counter-offensive.
Where he failed was in trying to usurp the position of his army commanders and to grasp logistical problems on army levels. Of course in his last years he had lost control, of himself and his forces, and this led Gerry to his demise.
I have read two books recently on the Mongols "The Mongols" and "The Mongol Empire." I think one must rank Genghis Khan among the greatest captains of all time.
S. Durnoie's novel about an R.A.F. bombing raid during the war "Bomb Run" - while not such a big book as Deighton's "Bomber", I think in some ways it is more successful.
2nd Tactical Air Force by Christopher F. Shores (Osprey Publications 1970: £ 4.00) This is an account of the 2nd Tactical Air Force formed in 1943 to provide air cooperation with the invading forces for "Overlord". I suppose to a considerable extent the air component, 2nd T.A.F. and its U.S. counterpart were merged into the general picture of "Overlord", and have not received the separate attention that has been given to Bomber and Fighter Commands and to the 8th U.S.A.F.
This is a well illustrated book and gives a good account of the whole operations of the air component of "Overlord". fhe first three chapters give an account of the formation of the Force; of its work during the invasion and the advance to the search bombers, and finally of the battle for Germany itself. The remaining nine chapters deal in turn with the components of the force, Typhoon, Reconnaisance Squadrons, Medium Bombers, Spitfires, Mustangs, Yosquitos, Tempests, Spitfires VIV and other types.
There are a number of useful appendices. This book will be of interest to all wargamers dealing with mouern and air wargames, as well as of wider general interest in throwing light on one of the lesser publicised sides of the war effort. There is a very good series of coloured illustrations of the various types of planes which make up the Force.
"The Grey Goose Wing" A History of Archery by E.G.Heath. (Another Osprey publication - £ 8.00). The author is a founder member and Editor and Archivist of the Society of Archer Antiquaries, and a member of the Royal Toxophalite Society.
This is a large, well-illustrated coffee table type of book, with some superb colour plates. It is very wide-ranging in its coverage from prehistoric and stoneage bowmen; the composite; the longbow; the sporting revival of archery after its abandonment as a weapon of warfare in Europe; Japanese Archery; Redskin archers; a chapter on the crossbow; and a chapter on legendary archers - including William Tell and Robin Hood - and archery symbolism. Altogether an interesting background book but, nevertheless I found it somewhat disappointing. Possibly the publishers blurb with its claim that "no definitive history of archery has ever before appeared" is not quite it.
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© Copyright 1972 by Donald Featherstone.
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