NEW EBOOK - The Battle of Mons 1914

NEW EBOOK - The Battle of Mons 1914

My very good friend Leonard James has a new ebook out. An ebook containing contemporary accounts of the first major battle fought by British troops in the First World War at Mons in 1914. Complete with explanatory glossary and background.

Britain had not fought a major war for 99 years when its army went into action in Belgium in 1914. Nobody was certain how well the British army would fare in the face of the professional German Army that had fought recent several wars, nor how the British would compare with their French Allies. At the little town of Mons the answer would come in bloody, violent and emphatic fashion.
Here contemporary accounts of the British deployment and of the fighting is given in its full original condition, along with an introductory note and an explanatory glossary by historian Leonard James.
This ebook is a must for anyone seeking to understand more about the First World War.

Contents
Introductory note by Leonard James
Chapter 1 Moltke's Strategy
Chapter 2 The British Arrive at Mons
Chapter 3 The German Tidal Wave
Glossary

About the Author
Leonard James has written dozens of books, mostly on history or military subjects for a wide audience. He is uniquely placed to analyse and comment upon the accounts used in the “Eyewitness World War 1” series.

Get your copy HERE

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Battle-Annotated-Illustrated-Eyewitness-World-ebook/dp/B00KAJHATA/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1406829982&sr=1-1&keywords=bretwalda+the+battle+of+mons

NEW EBOOK - First Battles 1914

NEW EBOOK - First Battles 1914

My good friend Leonard James has a new ebook out.

An ebook containing contemporary accounts of the first battles of the war, fought when the Austro-Hungarian Empire invade Serbia in August 1914. Complete with explanatory glossary and background.

The First World War broke out in the Balkans. When a Serb terrorist murdered Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Imperial Austro-Hungarian throne, the Austrians saw it as an ideal opportunity to crush the Kingdom of Serbia. The Austrian invasion would spark the outbreak of a general European war, but is itself usually ignored by historians. Here contemporary accounts of the Austrian invasion are reproduced, along with an introductory note and an explanatory glossary by historian Leonard James.
This ebook is a must for anyone seeking to understand more about the First World War.


Contents
Introductory note by Leonard James
Chapter 1 Background
Chapter 2 The Austrian Offensive
Glossary


About the Author

Leonard James has written dozens of books, mostly on history or military subjects for a wide audience. He is uniquely placed to analyse and comment upon the accounts used in the “Eyewitness World War 1” series.

Get your copy HERE

http://www.amazon.co.uk/First-Battles-Annotated-Illustrated-Eyewitness-ebook/dp/B00KAGGT3G/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1406535530&sr=1-1&keywords=bretwalda+first+battles

Why do the British drink beer?

Why do the British drink beer?

Beer has been the traditional drink of the English and Welsh since before those nations came into existence. The reason for its popularity lies in its flavour, alcoholic strength and the ease with which it can be brewed.

Quite when the British first brewed beer is unclear. Greek merchants writing in about 300bc spoke of a Celtic drink called curmi, which is similar to the modern Irish word for beer - cuirm. But beer was almost certainly being made in Britain long before that time. And beer has remained the staple alcoholic drink of the British ever since.

The reason for its huge popularity is simply that the ingredients for beer can be produced in Britain with ease. Water has rarely been a problem in islands where the rain falls so often and so steadily. Streams and rivers run everywhere, and wells can be sunk down to the water table with few problems. Some water is better for brewing that others, it is true. That of Burton upon Trent is particularly famous and has made that town a centre for the brewing industry. The soft, mineral-free water is ideal for producing a rich malt without impairing the flavour. The fame of the town’s beer began spreading in the middle ages, but was given a huge boost in 1777 when William Bass opened his famous brewery. The brewery still produces beer and is today equipped with a museum of brewing to attract the tourists.

The second principle ingredient of beer is grain, usually barley but sometimes wheat. Again, grain grows readily in Britain where the rich soils and gentle climate encourage a fairly soft grain, low in gluten, which is favoured by brewers. The grain is sprayed with water and allowed to germinate so that the starch which makes flour is converted into sugar which can be fermented.

The final ingredient of modern beer, hops, flourish in Kent and other warm areas, though the vast majority of hops used in British beers are now imported from abroad. In any case, hops are only the most recent of many flavourings added to beer over the years.

Reptile skin was the key to success

Reptile skin was the key to success
Reptile skin was waterproof. This meant that reptiles such as Varanosaruus (vah-rann-oh-saw-russ) could live in dry areas where amphibians would never survive

from "100 Things you need to know about Prehistoric Life" by Rupert Matthews.
Get your copy HERE

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Prehistoric-Life-Facts-Steve-Parker/dp/1842369741/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1406301303&sr=1-1&keywords=100++Prehistoric+Life%22+by+Rupert+Matthews

Some towns banned the gladiators

Some towns banned the gladiators
Not everyone enjoyed gladiatorial combats. Many Romans refused to go to the games. Some cities, particularly in Greece and the eastern provinces did not have an amphitheatre and refused to put on gladiatorial combats. Some people thought the fights were cruel, others that they were a waste of good slaves. 

from "100 Things You Need to Know About Gladiators" by Rupert Matthews
Get your copy HERE

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gladiators-100-Facts/dp/1842368788/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1406095623&sr=1-1&keywords=rupert+matthews+gladiators

Hoplites and Phalanxes

Hoplites and Phalanxes

In Ancient Greece, heavily armoured soldiers called hoplites formed up in formations called phalanxes. When going into battle hoplites stood shoulder to shoulder so that their shields overlapped. Then they held their spears so that they pointed forwards over the shields. A phalanx was made up of 6 or more ranks of hoplites one behind the other.

from "100 Things you Need to Know about Arms & Armour" by Rupert Matthews
Get your copy HERE

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Arms-Armour-Things-Should-About/dp/1842368508/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1405846402&sr=1-1&keywords=100+things+arms+rupert

Monitor Warships

Monitor Warships

Meanwhile the idea of mounting guns in armored and revolving turrets had been developing. Ships with such features were often termed "monitors", after the USS Monitor of 1862. Ships with flat decks, low freeboards and revolving turrets proved to be effective as coastal harbor guards, but could not survive the heavy seas of the open ocean. A key drawback to this design was that the muzzle-loading guns then in use had to be withdrawn into the turret for reloading. This necessitated very large turrets that were not only cumbersome (several monitors capsized in only moderate seas) but also offered tempting targets to an enemy ship. Attempts to blend turrets with ocean-going hulls produced such freaks as the HMS Agamemnon, which had a turret, placed midway along each side either side of the funnel and superstructure. 

from "The Historical Atlas of the World at War" by Rupert Matthews

Get your copy HERE

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Historical-Atlas-World-War/dp/0785827455/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1405578969&sr=1-1&keywords=rupert+matthews+atlas+war

Napoleon in Italy 1798/99

Napoleon in Italy 1798/99

In 1798 Napoleon Bonaparte left France to invade Egypt, a campaign that would prove to be abortive. Those countries that had lost territory to France in earlier wars decided to take advantage of the absence of the republic’s best general by forming a Second Coalition and declaring war on France.

Napoleon hurried back to France to organize a military coup that effectively made him dictator. Having failed to make peace, he spent the following year reforming the French army. He sent General Moreau to the Rhine, beyond which an Austrian army was massing. In spring 1800, Napoleon marched over the Alps into northern Italy where the French General Massena was heavily outnumbered by an Austrian army under Baron Melas. Napoleon captured Milan, thus threatening the Austrian supply lines. Late on the afternoon of 13 June Melas with 31,000 men and 100 cannon came across Napoleon’s army of 28,000 men and 15 cannon near Marengo.

The battle began at dawn next day.


from "The Historical Atlas of the World at War" by Rupert Matthews.
Get your copy HERE

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Historical-Atlas-World-War/dp/0785827455/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1405428100&sr=1-1&keywords=rupert+matthews+atlas+war 

Matthew Webb in Dover

Matthew Webb in Dover

3) From the Dover Marina, walk  along the seafront.

As you walk you will pass a statue of Matthew Webb, who on 24 August 1875 became the first man to swim the English Channel. He took a total of 21 hours and 45 minutes to get to France, after being stung by a jellyfish and caught in cross currents at Cap Gris Nez. There is also a statue of Charles Rolls (of Rolls-Royce fame) who in 1910 was the first man to fly across the Channel and back again without stopping.

Norman Churches in Kent

Norman Churches in Kent

14)    The Church Route
Start: Royal Oak, Holt Street, Nonington, Dover, CT15 4HT 01304 841012

Finish: Peggoty's Tea Room, 122 High Street, Tenterden, TN30 6HT

The little village of Nonington lies east of the A2 and west of the A256 about ten miles northwest of Dover. The village is a straggling affair, so finding the Royal Oak without a satnav is a bit of a challenge. It is probably easiest to find the church first, then head south along the lane to a T-junction with a second lane. The pub is off to your right.

Leaving the pub head south to follow the signs along some tortuous narrow lanes to Barfrestone. The Norman church here has magnificent stone carving work - some of it bizarrely grotesque

Leave Barfrestone along lanes signposted at first to Barham and then to Adisham. You will pass through Elvington and Nonington to Ratling and Adisham. The church at Adisham here is another Norman construction. It lacks the rich ornamentation found at Barfrestone, but does have a sturdy tower topped by a highly unusual pyramid roof. The church also boasts some fine windows of 13th century date. Note that Church Lane is a very narrow cul-de-sac with nowhere to park your car. You should park on the village green and then walk to the church.

From Adisham head north again to Bekesbourne, then bear left to Patrixbourne. This is the third church within this small area to boast fine Norman work. The doorway here is similar to that at Barfrestone in that its main feature is a carving of Christ. The rest of the ornamentation is not as richly finished as at Barfrestone, but it is worth a look nonetheless.

From Pub & Teashop Drives in Kent by Rupert Matthews.
Get your copy HERE

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Teashop-Drives-Kent-Rupert-Matthews/dp/8750209876/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1404972904&sr=1-2&keywords=rupert+matthews+kent