Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #499311 in Books
• Published on: 2001-08-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

Synopsis
Bourlon Wood is situated some three miles to the west of Cambrai, and formed part of the left of the attack by the British which started on 20th November 1917 - most notable for the first mass use of tanks. The wood itself is the prominent feature in the area, and after the attack died down to the south, became the centre for fierce fighting. By the end of the battle the wood was firmly in German hands. Bourlon again came into prominence in September 1918 as the Canadian Corps continued its onslaught on the Germans. The Corps Commander (Currie) rated the performance of his men in crossing the Canal du Nord and taking the wooded prominence so highly that he expressed the view that the main Canadian memorial should be placed at Bourlon rather than at Vimy. The countryside is rolling and open, little changed over the decades, and provides excellent battlefield touring conditions.

Customer Reviews

Another great addition to the sparce Cambrai Bookshelf
Cave and Horsfall have again provided a fascinating guide for both the armchair reader and the battlefield tourist.

This is a seldom visited area of the Western Front and unjustly so, however the authors provide some great contemporary images and modern day.

My only criticism would the reproduction of some of the images on my copy were a bit faint.

Bourlon Wood - a trip back in time
The book give a very large amount of useful and informative detail and much of what is written allows the reader to gain a sense of the conditions surrounding the battle of Bourlon Wood. it is possible to gain a real sense of what it must have been like to take part in the action and fighting in the Cambrai area and the depressing aftermath.
The background has obviously been expertly researched.At times,however, there is perhaps too much detail to take in for the casual reader, or too much that is not relevant for the person who just wishses to follow the fortunes of one particular battalion. Some the best parts are the guided walks and tours as they give a good idea of the chronology- and the photgraphs and maps are excellent in helping the reader to follow the sequence of events.