Sending My Laundry Forward: A Review

Sending My Laundry Forward: A Staff Officer's Account of the First Gulf War is based upon author Stuart Crawford's diary, which he wrote for the duration of the conflict. While his unit as a whole was not sent to the Gulf they did make up the numbers in other regiments, and for various admin tasks.

Stuart Crawford was assigned as a staff officer based in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, and while his time in the Gulf was not spent in the thick of combat in the front line his account is no less interesting for this.

Instead of an account of modern-day combat, you instead get a glimpse of a side of a British military campaign that some might not be happy to let you see. It is clear from this account that there was a large element of making things up as they went along, of improvising and figuring out things on the hoof.

The supply situation in particular makes for interesting reading, as the tank regiments remaining in Germany are stripped of every serviceable part and engine, leaving them with tanks which were nothing more than empty hulks. Copious amounts of supplies are ordered but never reach their destination, and units send men on scavenging missions which further confuse the supply situation. Crawford makes clear in his book that one of the lessons which had to be learned from the first Gulf War was to take a leaf from private businesses and sort out some kind of inventory system.

The situation at headquarters appears confused and disorganised, taking time to get into any kind of routine, but it remains clear that communication between the front line troops and headquarters is patchy at best. Once air superiority is gained the flow of information becomes a deluge, often leading to an overload of information of little use to those who need it.

Being written from a staff perspective actually makes this a more refreshing read than some modern-day combat memoirs – this gives a different viewpoint from that which you would normally expect to read and it is all the more enjoyable for that. Having said that it would be unfair to say that this was a story of a cushy position well out of danger – with regular missile attacks this was in no way a danger-free position, and you do get a sense of concern for the well-being of himself and his colleagues. Despite this it is clear that the end result of the war was never in doubt, and you can feel the sense of distaste as the killing continues beyond the point where it might have been necessary.

I must admit to not having read many books on the first Gulf War – Bravo Two Zero being possibly the only other memoir I have read, but Sending My Laundry Forward joins the engaging Gulf War One by Hugh McManners on my Desert Storm reading list, and it has made me determined to seek out others like it. Truthful, humorous and enlightening; I recommend you seek out a copy.

Sending My Laundry Forward can be purchased direct from the publisher or through Amazon.

 

How the Scottish won the English Civil War

Book review by Adam Brown

A bugbear of the SMRG is the use of the term English Civil War to describe the wars of the mid-seventeenth century which ranged from Cornwall to Caithness and from Dundee to Duncannon. It wasn’t one war and it wasn’t just the English. The accepted description is now the War of Three Kingdoms.

That being said, Alisdair McRae can be forgiven for its use for the title of his latest book How the Scottish won the English Civil War because his main focus is on the Scottish intervention in the three English Civil Wars of 1644-46, 1648 and 1649-51 (and he classes the three wars as one).

 McRae uses an unusual angle to take us through that history. He follows one Scottish cavalry regiment – Colonel Hugh Frazer's Dragoones - from their raising in 1643 to their disbandment in 1647. By using their story he explains the impact of the war on ordinary Scottish soldiers, and since Fraser’s Dragoons were involved in the Scottish Civil War it explains the presence of those battles in a book about the English Civil Wars. But what piece about Scotland in this period could not mention Montrose?

McRae’s book pivots on Fraser’s Dragoons from 1643-47 and the greatest value from this book is explaining in clear terms how battles like Marston Moor – seen today as very much as an English Royalist Cavalier vs Parliamentarian Roundhead battle - and one of the key battles of the First English Civil War - was decisively influenced by the presence of Covenanting blue bonnets from over the border. In fact he likens the Scottish intervention at Marston Moor, and the North of England, as akin to the US entry into the two World Wars. He also points out that where Englishmen might have baulked at killing fellow Englishmen, battle-hardened Scots felt no such qualms.

 This work isn’t just about the First English Civil War though. McRae goes back to the late sixteenth century as a prologue to give the political and military situation of mid-seventeenth century Scotland some context. He also covers a most important factor which may often be overlooked in our more secular times – the religious fervour of the Covenanting army which was whipped up by the Kirk’s ministers accompanying the Scottish army. He writes about the professionalism of the Scottish troops in the early stages of the English Civil War – thanks mainly to many experienced Scottish mercenaries who returned home to fight in the Bishops Wars in 1639 after being blooded in Europe. The Thirty Years War (TYW) had been raging across the continent since the 1620s and tens of thousands of Scots found employment in the armies of Poland, Sweden and France. McRae calculates that during one period of the TYW, one in ten of the adult males of Scotland were European mercenaries. Colonel Fraser, who raised and led his Dragoons, had been four years in Swedish service for example.

The bulk of the book is about the Scots in the North of England and their war with Charles I; once Fraser’s Dragoons were disbanded McCrae still continues his history of Scottish soldiers in the War of Three Kingdoms, and covers the dark days of defeat at Preston, Dunbar and Worcester.

 It is clear McRae has done extensive research on the subject and his comprehensive End-Notes, giving short biographies on many soldiers mentioned in the book amongst other interesting snippets, is a very useful appendix.

 I am still not entirely convinced by the title, given the coverage of Scottish affairs and the fact we were ultimately trounced by the New Model Army in the 1650’s. Perhaps it should have been titled “How the Scottish won the First English Civil War” - but it is a very valuable and well researched addition to the historiography of this neglected period, from an author who is obviously passionate and knowledgeable about the period.

 How the Scottish won the English Civil War by Alisdair McRae is available from The History Press.

Bridge of Allan Roll of Honour

As we approach the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, attention turns to commemorating the servicemen and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice. New publications appear regularly, containing research into those who fought and died in the service of their country.

 

While this is highly commendable, several members of the Scottish Military Research Group (SMRG) feel this does a disservice to the countless Scots who served just as gallantly and after demobilisation returned home to a thankful family.  

 

We believe that those who returned from the war deserve to be remembered just as much as those who died on a foreign field. Many who survived came home with physical and psychological scars and for some their war did not end with the cessation of hostilities; they carried their wounds with them until the day they died, perhaps decades later.

 

As part of our commitment to remembering all those who served in the First World War we are transcribing and digitally republishing rolls of honour from ninety years ago which list the fallen and the survivors. While the current focus is on First World War rolls the SMRG also intends to republish rolls of honour from other historic conflicts.

 

The Bridge of Allan Roll of Honour 1914-1919 was published shortly after the end of the First World War and is a fascinating record of the service given by the men of one town in Scotland .

 

The roll includes soldiers, sailors and airmen. It mentions those decorated for acts of gallantry and those who died on land, at sea and in the air. There is no rank or class divisions in the list; all men are listed equally from the highly-decorated colonel serving as an Aide-de-Camp to the King, to the humble private who did his own bit in achieving the final victory.

 

This rare out-of-print roll of honour is now available to download from the Scottish Military Research Group by following this link: 

The Bridge of Allan Roll of Honour

Steel and Tartan - The 4th Cameron Highlanders in the Great War: A Review

There have been many histories written about Scottish battalions in the First World War. Many of these were published in the 1920s and 30s, and remain fascinating time capsules, written by men who had served in the trenches themselves.

Lately there have been newer additions to the list of battalion histories, most notably Jack Alexander’s McCrae’s Battalion about the 16th Battalion Royal Scots and Come On Highlanders!, Alec Weir’s history of the Glasgow Highlanders.

Steel and Tartan, Patrick Watt’s history of the 4th Bn Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders in the Great War, is a worthy addition to the list of titles covering Scottish units.

The 4th Camerons time on the Western Front was brief; spanning just over a year from February 1915 until they were disbanded in March 1916 but their time was not uneventful. They fought hard and suffered heavy casualties at the battles of Neuve Chapelle, Aubers Ridge, Festubert, Givenchy, and of course the Battle of Loos in September 1915. Watt covers all these engagements in remarkable detail.

This is an extremely well-researched book and while it may appear to be slimmer than some battalion histories, it packs in an enormous amount of detail. Each battle is covered well and because the Camerons place in the order of battle is well explained you can understand the context of the actions they fought in.

The book does not restrict itself to the 4th Camerons time on the Western Front; the period leading up to their deployment, as well as a resume of their time after disbandment rounds off a detailed and extensive history. Regular readers of this Blog may remember that we covered the disbandment of the 4th Cameron Highlanders in 1916 in one of our ‘On this day…’ articles.

A large number of appendices are the icing on the cake – they make up a complete list of the officers and men who served, and there are also detailed Rolls of Honour for all the men who gave their lives while serving with the battalion. Another appendix gives detailed biographies of each officer, detailing their time with the battalion and subsequent history, in many cases completing the picture of their lives until their deaths.

This book deserves to sit on bookshelves alongside the best of the regimental histories of the First World War. It paints a complete picture of the life of a fighting unit in the trenches and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Steel and Tartan is published by The History Press, and can be purchased from their website.

You can also purchase it together with Scotland on the Frontline: A Photographic History of Scottish Forces 1939-45 for the price of £25 and free postage simply by using the code HPScot12 at the History Press website. But hurry, as this code is only valid until the 1st of July.

Falklands War - 30 Years On

Wit the 30th Anniversary of the Falklands War approaching, I expect a number of television programmes and books devoted to the subject.

The first of these comes from the History Press:


Ordinary Heroes: Untold Stories from the Falklands Campaign

Previously unpublished accounts of the Falklands War from the men at the sharp end

In 1982, 8,000 miles from home, in a harsh environment and without the newest and most sophisticated equipment, the numerically inferior British Task Force defeated the Argentinian forces occupying the Falkland Islands and recaptured this far-flung outpost of what was once an empire. It was a much-needed triumph for Margaret Thatcher’s government and for Britain.

Many titles have been published on the Falklands War, some offering accounts from participants in it. But this is the first one only to include interviews with the ordinary seamen, marines, soldiers and airmen who achieved that victory, as well as those whose contribution is often overlooked – the merchant seaman who crewed ships taken up from trade, the NAAFI personnel who supplied the all-important treats that kept spirits up, the Hong Kong Chinese laundrymen who were aboard every warship.

Published to mark the thirtieth anniversary of the conflict, this is the story of what ‘Britain’s last colonial war’ was really like.

• Interviewees drawn exclusively from lowest ranks of services
• None previously interviewed for publication 
• Includes those normally overlooked, e.g. Merchant Navy (STUFT), NAAFI

 This looks like an interesting publication. Unlike many accounts of war written by veterans, this one is still fairly fresh in the memory, so the accounts will hopefully be fairly accurate. The Falklands War is one I can remember, but I was quite young at the time, and I am interested in learning more. I've read a few books on the conflict in the past, and I think this one might be added to the list.

On this day in Scottish Military History - 16th Bn HLI hold Frankfurt Trench - 1916

"The Somme" by Lyn MacDonald is probably my favourite book about the First World War. I have a well thumbed copy on my bookshelves and tonight I will bring it down again and read the epilogue.

1st July 1916 overshadows every other phase of the Battle of the Somme, but the battle was not fought on one day; it officially ended with the end of Battle of the Ancre just over ninety five years ago. Amongst the Scottish troops in action during the last battle were the 51st (Highland) Division. They captured Beaumont Hamel (and a place in history) on 13th-14th November. Their bravery that day is commemorated by the magnificent bronze highlander which was unveiled by Marchal Foch in 1924.

They weren't the only Scots in action in the last phase of the Battle. The 16th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry attacked the German trenches east of Beaumont Hamel on the what was officially the last day of the Battle - 18th November 1916. The battalion reached its objectives of Munich and Frankfurt trenches but were beaten back by the Germans.

Three days later, on this day ninety-five years ago, it was realised that not all the Highland Light Infantry had retreated. Some of 'D' Company, 16th HLI still held Frankfurt Trench. They were surrounded, and lesser men would have surrendered, but the Glasgow Boys' Brigade battalion men were made of sterner stuff and held on, hoping to be relieved.

This takes me back to Lyn MacDonald's book. The story of the fight of the men of 16th (Service) Battalion (2nd Glasgow), Highland Light Infantry in November 1916 is the subject of the epilogue of her book. I'm not going to go into more detail here. Nothing I could write could come close to Lyn MacDonald's moving description to the events which closed the 1916 fighting on the Somme. Instead I'd encourage you to find a copy in a shop or a library and read it.

In the mean time have a look at the Glasgow Roll of Honour which we have just published. Many of the men listed are just like the ones MacDonald describes in her book. "The shipping clerks, errand-boys, stevedores, railway porters, grocers' assistants, postmen"; the men of Glasgow who answered the call in 1914.

The City of Glasgow Roll of Honour 1914-1918

We have posted updates on our progress with the Glasgow Roll of Honour project before, and today we are proud to be able to say that this project is now complete and the full Roll can now be downloaded entirely free of charge.

Below is a short piece we have written giving further information on this Roll, which may be of interest to you. It also gives the link where the Roll can now be downloaded. It is free of charge for a digital download, and a printed copy of the Roll can be purchased for a reasonable charge.

The Scottish Military Research Group is proud to announce the release of the fully transcribed Glasgow Roll of Honour 1914-1918.

The transcription of the Glasgow Roll of Honour 1914-1918 by the Scottish Military Research Group has made a valuable historical resource available online for the first time. This will enable genealogists, military historians, social historians and local Glasgow historians to study a snapshot of Scotland's biggest city from nearly 100 years ago.

Two of our members have worked on it for several years and the transcription was only recently completed. The late Kevin O’Neill and David McNay transcribed and double checked 17,695 entries which listed the name, rank, regiment and address of the men of Glasgow who died in the war. (There are no women listed but there are actually some men who survived the war listed!). There are original copies in the Mitchell Library and City Chambers in Glasgow, but this is the first time the Roll has been made available to the general public to own. It is now available to be downloaded for free.

Although this Roll cannot be seen as a completely true reflection of Glasgow’s sacrifice in the war because of the way it was collated, it does give a very good indication of the distribution of Glaswegians through the armed forces. For example it shows that approximately 21% of the men on the Roll were serving in the Highland Light Infantry (3,726 men). Not surprising for the City’s local regiment. A further 2,234 were in the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles).

The number of men who joined the Service battalions of the Highland Regiments is highlighted too with large numbers serving in the Cameron Highlanders (1,032); Seaforth Highlanders (795); Black Watch (442); Gordon Highlanders (724) and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (993).

Those men who had chosen to emigrate or work abroad before 1914 are listed too with 401 men serving in the Canadian Forces, 181 in the Australians, 44 in the New Zealand Forces and 25 with the South African Forces. There are even two Newfoundland Regiment men. Newfoundland was still a British Colony in the First World War, it wasn't part of Canada until 1949, and Alexander MacDougall of 105 Elder Park Street, Govan and William Maddock of 119 New City Road both served in the blue-putteed regiment attached to the British 29th Division.

At the other end of the scale are smaller units such as the Egyptian Camel Corps with two entries and the Nyasaland Force in which one Glasgow man, Private Leonard Dumelow of 16 Dudley Drive, Hyndland died.

Not surprisingly there are a large number of sailors listed. 812 men are listed under Royal Navy, Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve. Many men are listed under the land-based Royal Naval Division and eight as serving on HMS' Indefatigable' which was sunk at the Battle of Jutland in 1916.
The Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force are also represented with a combination of 178 entries in total.

Some well known names can be found within the Roll. One officer who can be found listed under 419 St Vincent Street is a surprise entry. Professional footballer and the British Army’s first black officer Walter Tull is believed to have visited Glasgow in 1917 to speak to Rangers about signing for them once the war was over. It’s not his football club but rather a family connection which sees him listed. His brother Edward Tull-Hunter lived at the St Vincent Street address.

Visitors to the new Riverside Museum in Glasgow will no doubt have seen the display on the Glasgow Tramways Battalion which features Company Sergeant Major George Cockburn. The Roll lists his address as 53 Barloch Street, Possilpark.

Although the Roll does not list any gallantry awards, some winners of the Victoria Cross can be found on the list. One in particular is Lieutenant Colonel William Anderson VC of the Highland Light Infantry. He is listed along with his three brothers Alexander, Charles and Edward who also died. All are listed under their father's address at 18 Woodside Terrace.

It is the Scottish Military Research Group's intention that this Roll of Honour should be made available to view for free. It can be downloaded in pdf format where the names are listed alphabetically. It can also be printed for those who prefer a hardcopy book. Both the download and printed book can be found at the following website:

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/scottishmilitary

VCs of the First World War: 1914 - a book review

The Victoria Cross has something about it that's difficult to describe. Seeing one "in the flesh" can be an awe-inspiring feeling, and to meet a living recipient could well be an ambition that many share. The hold that the VC has over many means that it has countless books written about it (and has even spawned a book about the books written about it).

VCs of the First World War: 1914 is one of many books on the Victoria Cross, but I enjoyed this one more than others. Where some I have read in the past restrict themselves to the bare facts, this goes beyond the citation detail, and attempts to put each VC action into context. Small maps show the area each action happened in, and the VC action is explained as part of the main action. These were not isolated incidents - they took place within a larger battle or action, and this book shows that.

The biographies of the 46 men who won the VC in the opening months of the war are fairly detailed. Again, the action in which they won a VC was but one part of their life, and Gliddon paints a picture of what came before and (for those that survived) what came after.

There are a variety of tales here. There is hardship as one VC holder is found unemployed selling matches in the street, but there is also happy endings as many of the men lived full and happy lives. I enjoyed this aspect of the book - the First World War was four years out of a life that perhaps lasted for many decades and it's pleasing to get a sense of the full picture of someones life.

This book is one of a series of books looking at the VCs of the First World War which the History Press are reprinting. On the strength of this one I will certainly look out for the others.

VCs of the First World War: 1914 by Gerald Gliddon is published by The History Press, priced £9.99

Book launch and exhibition in Thornhill

Today sees the launch of Gladys Cuttle's latest war memorial book.

"Morton War Memorial and Memories in Thornhill, Dumfriesshire" compiled by Gladys Cuttle is being launched in Lodge St John's Masonic Hall in Thornhill (66-68 Drumlanrig Street) at 7.00 pm. It is going on sale at £10.00.

The author of Monday's post on Fighting Ministers, Paul Goodwin will be there too.

Tomorrow there is an exhibition in the same location between 11.00am and 3.00pm called "War memorials and War Years"

The other books on Nithsdale war memorials which Gladys has compiled are:

'History of the Penpont War Memorial and Parish Memories' (Updated Reprint) - £10.00
'Keir War Memorial and Parish Memories' - £10.00
'Closeburn War Memorial and Parish Memories' - £10.00
'Letters of a Durisdeer Soldier: james Hendrie 1889 - 1916' - £15.00
'Durisdeer War Memorials and Parish Memories' - £10.00

All books including the latest one can be purchased directly from Gladys (at the price given above, plus £2.00 p&p). Please use the feedback form on the SMRG website and we can put you in touch directly with Gladys if you wish to order any books.

Alistair Urquhart and Tom Renouf in Edinburgh on May 5th

Blackwells Bookshop on Edinburgh's North Bridge will host a talk by two recently published Scottish Second World War veterans.

Alistair Urquhart wrote "The Forgotten Highlander" about his time as a Gordon Highlander in Malaya in 1941-2 and then as a PoW of the Japanese; and Tom Renouf has written "Black Watch" about his experiences in North-West Europe with a battalion of the 51st Highland Division during 1944-45.

The evening will be chaired by Trevor Royle. It starts at 6:30pm and is only a couple of days away on Thursday 5th May.

The talk is ticketed, but tickets are free. They are available from the front desk at Blackwells.

Elcho of the ‘45 - a book review

Karen Nichols, a Dundee historian, has provided today's guest blog post. It was originally posted on Karen's own book Blog in March but with our recent series of Jacobite posts it is worth publishing on here too.

Elcho of the ‘45

With an insatiable appetite for Jacobitism I eagerly clutched the chance to delve deep into one man’s experience of being a follower to Prince Charles Edward Stuart literally on to the battlefield at Culloden.

Two hand-written manuscripts, one in fluent French, by David, Lord Elcho, are the basis of this book. The Fife based family of Wemyss have a lineage dating back to the 12th century when their service to kings began. With Presbyterian allegiances since the Reformation Elcho and his brother went against family tradition. They found themselves as accidental Jacobites due to a father’s leanings and a tutor who may have been a Jacobite agent. After the obligatory Grand Tour and training at a military college in Angers, France, Elcho rose through the ranks as a competent officer in the royal army.

Despite examples around him of men who joined the Bonnie Prince then became disillusioned Elcho continued to serve the man he believed was rightful king of the newly integrated Great Britain. His life before defeat at Culloden was socialising with a Who’s Who of the aristocracy. Once exiled in Europe and inextricably linked to both the Prince and Catholicism Elcho was in turns treated as an outcast or favoured guest.

Unfortunately, their relationship fell apart over the non-repayment of a loan that Elcho maintained he gave the Prince to fund the Rising. In defeat, these funds were sorely needed by Elcho to rebuild a life in exile but his request was stubbornly ignored by his Prince. This rift meant isolation from the company that he had known since birth. To add to the anguish, Elcho remained an exile whilst other Jacobite activists were pardoned by the English government. He was destined never to receive that pardon nor return to his homeland.

There is no doubt that Elcho was sorely used by his Prince and paid the price for his loyalty for the rest of his life. The Prince Charles that is hinted at in Elcho’s Journal is not the romantic ideal of nostalgic history but a headstrong, ill-educated, vain-glorious self-seeker. For this reason alone I would recommend reading this book. Despite severe provocation Elcho maintained the mindset of his period and did not write derogatory remarks about his master. However, what also comes across is that Elcho was a dry, factual writer with no hints at emotion. His contemporaries considered him irritable and slightly eccentric. Although I think his judgment of the Prince is accurate how much did Elcho contribute to his own loneliness?

Throughout the book there are several references to the fact that these narratives were not intended, by Elcho, for publication. With the double negatives and convoluted grammar I often found myself wishing that the editors had abided by that decision. This book is for scholars of the subject and for those well acquainted with Jacobitism.

Elcho of the ’45, Alice Wemyss. Ed: John Sibbald Gibbon, 2003, Saltire Society

River of Fire: The Clydebank Blitz - Review and Competition

The "Clydebank Blitz" of March 1941 was a series of raids which devastated the town of Clydebank - a devastation which was never properly recognised at the time and is perhaps not as well remembered today as it perhaps deserves.

A new book, "River of Fire" by John MacLeod attempts to redress that balance. MacLeod sets the scene well, describing the rise of the town, and its place in the social and economic history of Scotland, but it is in the description of the events of those two nights where this book excels.

No punches are spared in the description of the air raids - the events are chronicled with such vivd detail at times you feel part of the action. The horror of the blitz comes right out of the page at you in the first-hand descriptions of many of the survivors.

Rounding this book off is an extensive list of those who lost their lives over the nights of 13-14 March. This book is worth purchasing for that alone - as it is that is the icing on the cake that is a fantastic read.

Incredibly well-researched, this book deserves its place as the book on the Clydebank Blitz. I heartily recommend it.

John MacLeod, the author, may be familiar to some as the author of When I Heard The Bell - The Loss of the Iolaire. That book is now near the top of my reading list...

River of Fire is now available in bookshop or from the publishers website.

We have a copy of River of Fire to give away, courtesy of Birlinn Limited. To be in with a chance of winning, simply email us as scottishwarmemorials@hotmail.co.uk with the answer to the following question:

The mass grave and memorial to the fallen of the Clydebank Blitz can be found in which cemetery?

Closing date for entires is Monday 28th March, when one correct answer will be chosen at random. One entry per person, the judges decision is final.

Snow on the Ground...

All this snow reminds me of one of my favourite films 'Tunes of Glory' which was taken from James Kennoway's book. It’s set in a fictitious Scottish castle in winter time. In fact a lot of the exterior shots were filmed in and around Stirling Castle.

Although filmed in the home of the Argylls and the officers are wearing Cameron kilts, the regiment it was based on was the one Kennoway served in just after the war in Edinburgh; 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders

He had joined the Camerons just after the war but transferred to the Gordons and didn’t enjoy his time in the regiment. You can probably get that vibe from the book and the film.

Coincidentally the writer George MacDonald Fraser also served in the Gordon Highlanders at the same time. First with the 2nd Battalion in Libya, and then with the 1st Battalion in Edinburgh when the two battalions merged in 1948.

MacDonald Fraser did enjoy his time with the regiment though and turned them into the amusing "General Danced at Dawn" trilogy.

His third book "McAuslan in the Rough" deals with his time in Edinburgh at the same time Kennoway was there.

What is fascinating is that in both books, which claim to be of fictional regiments, certain characters in them are quite clearly the same people and must be the men of 1st Bn Gordon Highlanders.

I'd heartily recommend the "General Danced at Dawn" series of books and "Tunes of Glory". If you read them back to back you'll recognise the martinet colonel, RSM, pipe sergeant, adjutant and other characters used by both authors.

Interestingly in the film there is a character Captain Rattray, a dark-haired, thickset officer played by Ricard Leech who is one of the ringleaders in the mess taking Major Sinclair's side against Colonel Barrow. I wonder if that was Kennoway's recollection of McDonald Fraser? Leech certainly has a resemblance to GMF and in his books GMF doesn't seem to care for his new colonel.

Book review: In the Footsteps of Robert the Bruce

In the footsteps of Robert the Bruce in Scotland, Northern England and Ireland

By Alan Young and Michael J. Stead

We’ll set the record straight at the start. This isn’t a new book it’s a re-issue but this edition has been updated with dozens of new photographs.

First published in 1999 this lavishly illustrated book will be of great interest to anyone with an interest in Robert the Bruce and the Scottish Wars of Independence.

It does what it says on the cover. If you want to retrace Bruce’s steps in these three countries then this is definitely the book for you. You’ll cover a lot of ground though because Bruce’s life took him through most of the length and breadth of the British isles.

I’m familiar with the period but I’m no expert so I can’t comment on the facts in the text however the author Alan Young has obviously consulted many sources in his research. Don’t be fooled by the sheer number of Michael J. Stead’s photographs. This is an illustrated reference book, not a coffee table book with accompanying text.

It isn’t just a history of his campaigns either. It follows Bruce’s life from his youth and the days of peace in late thirteenth century Scotland and England. It also traces his lineage and like me you’ll probably be surprised at just how ‘English’ Bruce’s Norman family was.

Then there are the bitter war years in Scotland and northern England and the uneasy period after Bannockburn including his expedition to Ireland in support of his brother Edward. I’d like to have seen a bit more detail on these campaigns but I guess there aren’t that many sources for early fourteenth century Irish campaigns to go on so we have to make do with only a couple of pages.

As a book for those who have only a primary school knowledge of this period (like me) and would like to know a lot more then it’s a very good book to start with. The text is detailed and informative and full of interesting and well researched facts about Bruce and his contemporaries.

It’s not just a history book, it delivers in its aim to be a guide book too, and at the back there are notes on the primary locations associated with Bruce.

The team behind this book Alan Young and Michael J Stead have also produced a similar volume about William Wallace. I can guarantee that it’s now on my reading list.

now available in paperback from The History Press.

City-based war story goes Commando in comic

The following story appeared in the Scotsman newspaper last week. I loved reading Commando comics when I was younger, and this might make me start buying them all over again. It seems you only have to say "Gott im Himmel!" to men of a certain age to make them smile fondly as they remember reading these...

IT WAS the moment the war came to Edinburgh, and now a famous dog fight in the skies over the Capital has been used as the inspiration for the latest Commando comic.

The year was 1939 and RAF 603 Squadron was repelling 12 Luftwaffe Junkers Ju 88s over the Firth of Forth. By the end of the engagement, one Junker had been shot down east of Dalkeith.

The historic encounter provided the basis for the latest graphic novel from Edinburgh writer Ferg Handley, a Second World War adventure called Divided Aces, released later this month by the famous Commando comics.

"A while back, I wrote a Commando book set during the Battle of Britain in southern England and it started to bug me that there was so little literature on the same battle in Scotland," said Handley.

"I was amazed to learn that the first German aircraft to be shot down by the RAF was in Scotland, a bomber which was involved in a failed attempt to bomb the Forth Bridge.

"Of course, there was a certain amount of research to do. The main problem was working out which type of airfield to use, as they varied in size and had different functions. RAF Kenmure, the one in the story, ended up loosely based on RAF Drem in East Lothian."

Divided Aces is also the story of a man coming to terms with his move to Scotland, where he learns to love Edinburgh. It's not just the Forth Bridge and Edinburgh Castle that feature either, with the Camera Obscura and Royal Mile also shown in the epic tale.

"I wanted to depict the beauty of Edinburgh, to suggest that it was so important to protect the city. We're lucky so many famous landmarks remain.

"Jose Maria Jorge, the artist, is Spanish, so kudos to him for doing such a good job. He got so many small details in."

First published in 1961, Commando comics have entertained generations. Divided Aces is one of four new adventures due for publication this month to mark the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

Handley also said that he hoped it wouldn't be the last time the Capital stars in one of his novels.

"I've already set a Spider-Man story in Edinburgh and a Commando book about the old Border Reivers, which had some Edinburgh scenes," he said. "Regular readers may also have come across a series called Ramsey's Raiders. One of the characters, Sergeant Derek Jarvis, was based on a close friend of mine, which led to a few more Edinburgh scenes. I reckon Edinburgh would be a good setting for more superhero battles. 'Hulk Smash Trams!' anyone?"

Bannockburn: A New History

I've received notification of the publication of a new book on the Battle of Bannockburn. Here's the information from the press release:

"Bannockburn 1314: A New History
by Chris Brown
To be published 11th January 2010, priced £12.99

A history of the most celebrated battle between Scotland and England in which a mere 7,000 followers of Robert The Bruce defeated over 15,000 of Edward II's troops.

The battle of Bannockburn, fought over two days by a small river crossing in Stirling, was a decisive victory for Robert the Bruce in the Scottish Wars of Independence against the English. It was the greatest defeat the English would suffer throughout the middle ages, and a huge personal humiliation for King Edward II.

• The most comprehensive history of the battle ever undertaken.
• The author’s conclusions rewrite the history books.
• A new look at the terrain where the battle was fought.
• Recreates the campaign and battle from the perspectives of both the Scots and English.
• In-depth investigation of the contemporary narrative sources and the administrative records.
• Major reassessment of the Scottish victory against the English.
• 25 colour illustrations and 25 b&w illustrations.

Chris Brown is an acknowledged expert on medieval Scotland and was awarded a PhD from St Andrews University. His other books include William Wallace, The Second Scottish Wars of Independence, Robert the Bruce, The Battle for Aberdeen 1644, and Scottish Battlefields: 500 Battles that Shaped Scottish History. He lives near Fife in Scotland."

To be published by The History Press, this looks worth picking up. I hope to publish a review nearer the time of publication.

The People's Army: Home Guard in Scotland 1940-1944

Mention the Home Guard to anyone and the answer you receive will invariably involve Dad's Army. A few years ago it might have been the answer I gave. But behind the comedy show there lies a true story that was almost as fascinating and at time amusing as the exploits of Pike, Fraser, Jones and co.

I've been particularly fascinated by the Home Guard for quite a while, and have a number of books on the subject. What has been lacking has been a book describing how the Home Guard was organised and operated in Scotland.

Brian Osborne's book The People's Army: Home Guard in Scotland 1940-1944 more than adequately fills this gap. From the earliest beginnings of the days following Anthony Eden's call for volunteers, to the closing days and "stand down" in 1944, this book covers almost every aspect of the Home Guard story.

Each chapter covers either a separate period in the short life of the Home Guard, or a particular facet of the organisation, such as weaponry and equipment, or the little-known effort the Home Guard made in the field of anti-aircraft batteries. These chapters cover all the information I knew a little about, while at the same time bringing to light new information and stories. One in particular stands out - that of a High Court judge in Edinburgh finding himself on patrol with the man who had been facing him in the dock the previous week! Stories like this stop this book from being just a dry history of the Home Guard; they add meat to the bare bones of the story and make this book the better for it.

Scotland it seems is particularly lucky, and this story could perhaps not have been told about any other part of Britain: we are lucky in that an officer in Scottish Command instructed each area to compile a "regimental history" of its service. These were then collated and are now held by the National Library of Scotland. (A set of documents I might make a point of requesting on my next visit!)

If you have an interest in Scotland's military history, or just in the Home Guard, I would recommend this book.

Click here to buy direct from the publisher.