Product Description

The year of 1914 had been a difficult one for the British Expeditionary Force, the war that had started in August had not been over by the expected time of Christmas. Additionally many of its original members had become casualties and replacements were difficult to find. 1915 did not go much better, the BEF was still a minor player with only a relatively small number of divisions compared to the many in the French Army. The culmination of several attacks by the BEF in 1915 was the attack in the Loos sector in September where in a mining area north of Arras, the largest British offensive of the war thus far took place. Forced into an offensive in an area which as one senior commander put it was on 'most unfavourable ground', the BEF suffered heavy casualties and little material gain. Probably for these reasons the 1915 battles have been largely ignored and there has been a dearth of decent publications on Loos. Helion and Co Ltd are therefore pleased to announce the publication of a major new work Most Unfavourable Ground. The Battle of Loos 1915 by Niall Cherry. Most Unfavourable Ground offers a detailed look at the planning, execution and aftermath of the fighting. As well as using official records and reports, numerous personal stories have been woven into the account. The author's grandfather was present at Loos as a Chemical Corporal with the Royal Engineers gas units and this major new work reflects the author's passion for the subject.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #977796 in Books
• Published on: 2005-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 384 pages

Customer Reviews

Excellent
As most books on the First World War seem to be written about the battles in the latter part of the war- namely the Somme, Arras and Passchendaele, it was most refreshing to read a book written about an almost forgotten battle namely that of Loos in 1915. Put quite simply this is the best book I have ever read about the offensive in 1915 when we used poison gas for the first time. Loads of detail and personal accounts with around 100 photographs and maps it is a wonderful and clear concise account of a battle which had been in my mind difficult to understand. After reading Warner's book on Loos I had trouble working out what had happened, but Most Unfavourable Ground certainly clears up any misunderstandings.
If you are looking for an excellent book on the Great War get this one. A five star effort and worth a score of 11 out of 10.