Jerry Murland

A quaint little book, this publication is part of the series Battleground Dunkirk. They are intended as guides for people wishing to explore the battlefield of the 1940 campaign involving the British Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders.

Chapter One is an twelve page introduction called ‘The First Steps to War’. It is brief, and states wrongly that the Munich Agreement was in 1936, when it was in fact in 1938. There is a brief overview of the higher formations and their commanders. Chapters Two, Three and Four cover the actions of the three corps level formations on the Escaut Line, with Chapter Five about the role of artillery. Chapter Six provides details of four car tours and two walking tours of the area. The four chapters on the historical actions in May 1940 are interesting and informative, and obviously focus on just the actions on the Escaut Line.

The car tours and walking routes are very useful if you intend to visit the area. They provide much detailed information, which should make visiting the area relaxing and logical. Directions are included, and places to stop for a specific event or reason. The book contains several useful, interesting and relevant photographs, which assist in understanding the nature of the area and what a visitor will see some seventy-six years after the event.

In conclusion, if you are considering visiting this area to view the battlefields of May 1940, I consider this book to be essential reading. If not, the details of this battle are valuable, although readers may find other accounts more comprehensive. My last observation is whether this format of publication is better on the internet, as changes may affect the tours that cannot be reflected in the book, and the internet is more dynamic.… (mais)

As indicated on the cover, this book discusses the actions taken by the BEF during the retreat from Mons in 1914. However, the book covers the activities of several specific units. In this way it is able to provide details which would not normally be covered in a book of this nature. Generally books dealing with the rertreat have a broader vision. In that sense this book presents the missing personal experiences of specific units and individuals which are not included in other works. Also discussed is what happened later in the war and after the war to some of the participants the book introduces.

Of lesser importance in the text is where the author covers some of the tensions and clashes between and among the higher command in the BEF. This is a relatively small portion of the book.

If you are looking for to learn about small unit actions and individual performance during the Mons retreat, this would be useful for you. However, if you are seeking an overview of the action...take a pass.… (mais)