Fortress

Book Review

by Don Featherstone

A History of Military Defence by Ian V. Hogg.
(11" x 8 3/4"; 160 pages; dozens of photographs and black and white drawings. Macdonald and Jane's - £4.95p)

The fascinating subject of fortifications through out the ages has quite justifiably led to some really beautifully produced books such as Christopher Duffy's "Fire and Stone" (David and Charles); Quentin Hughes "Military Architecture" (Hugh Evelyn) and the reprint lof de Vauban's "Manual of Siege Craft and Fortification". Ian Hogg's latest work admirably maintains the standard and is a masterpiece of a work describing in a readily understandable manner the undoubted intricacies and technicalities of a subject which has been studied by Man almost since the beginnings of Time.

This history of military defence begins at the very beginning with the ramparts and palisades, built by pre-historic man to defend himself against his predatory neighbours, excitingly it runs through !history, with the Romans, the Normans and the Knights of the Middle Ages all featuring prominently before the greatest ages of fortification began with the advent of gunpowder. Every picture in this book tells a story and invites study but particularly I found those of the more modern fortifications lof the 19th and early 20th century to hold my interest.

The epic sieges of the French and Belgium forts in World War I, culminating in the fighting around Verdun seemed to have received far too little attention in recent years and the Military Historical Society's proposed expedition to this area, among others, in May 1976 is much anticipated. Similarly neglected are the representation of sieges on the wargames table, perhaps because wargamers are deterred by the technicalities of this subject plus the problems arising from formulating rules that permit our miniature attackers to prevail against well protected defenders. But it can be done and opens up a whole new sphere of our hobby. The wargamer will find this book of inestimable aid but even if he is not putting it to practical use, then it makes fascinating reading and is recommended as essential reading to all interested in military affairs.

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© Copyright 1976 by Donald Featherstone.
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