Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #315387 in Books
• Published on: 2004-10-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 287 pages

Synopsis
A volunteer coordinator for the Defence of Britain Project presents an illustrated survey of the country's 20th century military structures located in rural and urban landscapes. Based on fieldwork and archival research, Osborne describes the purpose and form of structures including World War I and II airfields, munitions dumps, and Cold War bunker

Customer Reviews

Long overdue detailed history of Uk Defences
An excellent new publication and dare I say it a worthy successor to the Henry Wills classic "Pillboxes".

The book details both the form and purpose of a wide range of structures from pillboxes to naval installations and barracks. Detailed descriptions of the strategies and reasoning behind the defences accompany the many illustrations (120) including some very rare structures.

All are very well illustrated and the final section contains a comprehensive gazeteer of surviving examples to visit throughout Britain.

My only criticism would be the Gazeteer lists site by structure type, whereas by geographical area would be more useful.

A needed publication
Expertly written, this book covers all the aspects of the Defence of Britain. It has some good pictorial evidence and I would agree that we have found a Wills successor. My only critasism is that in a book this size it is indeed impossible to adequately demonstrate everything, the chapter on airfields demonstrates that. No matter it wets the appitite!

Interesting set of topics
Mike Osborne produces a refreshing set of defence structures in this book from Tempus. Sectioned into bit size chunks such as the RAF, navy etc it covers a multitude of areas. It is clear that Osbornes passion is the humble pillbox. A subject he covers nicely and the book also has a great section covering existing types. There are more in depth books out there but this one is especially well placed. Top Job.