Product Description

'Gentlemen, we may not make history tomorrow, but we shall certainly change the geography.' So said General Plumer the day before 600 tons of explosives were detonated under the German positions on Messines Ridge. The explosion was heard by Lloyd George in Downing Street, and as far away as Dublin. Until 1918, Messines was the only clear cut Allied victory on the Western Front, coming at a time when Britain and her allies needed it most: boosting Allied morale and shattering that of the Germans. Precisely orchestrated, Messines was the first true all-arms modern battle which brought together artillery, engineers, infantry, tanks, aircraft and administrative units from a commonwealth of nations to defeat the common enemy. So why is its name not as familiar as the Somme, Passchendaele or Verdun? General Sir Herbert Plumer, perhaps the most meticulous, resourceful and respected British general of WW1, is also unfamiliar to many. This book examines the battle for the Messines-Wytschaete Ridge from the British, ANZAC and German perspectives. It reassesses the reasons for Plumer's success on that day, the implications of Haig's failure to exploit that success, and finally, the legacy of the battle for the maturing of the BEF in 1918. Illustrated with archive photographs and maps, it is a major contribution to our understanding of one of the seminal battles of WW1.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #22086 in Books
• Published on: 2004-04-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Customer Reviews

A detailed account of one of WW1's most sucessfull battles
Ian Passingham's account of the battel of Messens is with out doubt of of the best works covering this highly sucessfull battelyet published. Involving troops from both Britian and the Comonwealth Messens showed what was possible within the confines of WW1 infantry tactics and was a glimps of what may have been possible latter in 1917 given the continuation of the leadership shown at Messens. Vital reading for all interested in WW1,Pillars of Fire would also be of interest to those from Britian and the Comonwealth whos faimly menbers took part with the ANZAC Divisions.

A masterly account of the start of the 3rd Battle of Ypres
Few people outside military historians will have heard of the 3rd Battle of Ypres, however few anglophones will not have heard the name Passchendaele.

Ian Passingham's work details the first and highly successful phase of the battle, the taking of the southern range of ridges around the Belgian town of Ypres.

He explores in detail the actions of all arms engaged, including those of the Australians, New Zealander and Canadians who played such a great part. The real beauty of Passingham's book though is its shear readabilty, especially for those who would not normally consider themselves students of warfare.

What emerges in Passingham's book is a story of what could have been had the success of the opening of the battle been continued. That the battle bogged down in the mud of the Flanders Plain with all the attendant horror that the name Passchendaele conjures up is one of the greatest tragedies of the Great War.