For the Somme offensive British Fourth Army headquarters was situated in a chateau at Querrieu on the Albert-Amiens road. In the build up months to Haig's Great Push a steady flow of intelligence was being compiled; captured German documents, intercepted messages, prisoners' letters, diaries and information gleaned from prisoner interviews were entered into foolscap-size ledgers where they could be perused by the planners. The hand-written journal of intelligence reports upon which this work is formed was originally ...
Read More
For the Somme offensive British Fourth Army headquarters was situated in a chateau at Querrieu on the Albert-Amiens road. In the build up months to Haig's Great Push a steady flow of intelligence was being compiled; captured German documents, intercepted messages, prisoners' letters, diaries and information gleaned from prisoner interviews were entered into foolscap-size ledgers where they could be perused by the planners. The hand-written journal of intelligence reports upon which this work is formed was originally compiled by a former soldier of the 11th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment, (Accrington Pals), Harry Platt of Burnley. In 1916 he was a sergeant working on intelligence duties at Fourth Army GHQ. He was later commissioned in the Royal Engineers. Harry also served in the Second World War in the Royal Artillery reaching the rank of Major. He was Mentioned in Despatches in both conflicts. Harry died in August 1951 aged 56. In 2002 the handwritten journal was lodged with the Imperial War Museum at the instigation of historian William Turner, military historian and author of books on the Accrington Pals. As the reader goes through these reports it would be helpful to keep in mind that members of the British staff at Querrieu chateau, including Generals Haig and Rawlinson, would have had their impressions coloured by the words you are reading and doubtless their optimism for a successful outcome to the Somme offensive greatly enhanced. They would have noted the effect the British bombardment was having; dominance of the Royal Flying Corps as its machines seemingly operated unmolested over the trenches; growing unrest in German cities as food shortages drove the populace to riot; and the relentless call-up to the colours of ever-younger youths as that nation's manhood bled in the great battles taking place.
Read Less
Add this copy of Somme Intelligence: Fourth Army Hq 1916 to cart. $8.00, like new condition, Sold by Powell's Books Chicago rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Chicago, IL, UNITED STATES, published 2013 by Pen & Sword Military.
Add this copy of Somme Intelligence: Fourth Army Hq 1916 to cart. $8.25, new condition, Sold by Powell's Books Chicago rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Chicago, IL, UNITED STATES, published 2013 by Pen & Sword Military.
Add this copy of Somme Intelligence: Fourth Army Hq 1916 to cart. $14.94, like new condition, Sold by Books From California rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Simi Valley, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2013 by Pen and Sword Military.
Add this copy of Somme Intelligence: Fourth Army Hq 1916 to cart. $19.00, new condition, Sold by Gold Country Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Sacramento, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2013 by Pen and Sword Military.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
New in New jacket. 1st Printing. 7 x 0.8 x 9.8 inches. pp. 160. Pristine, unmarked. Profusely illustrated. // Shipped carefully packed in a sturdy box.
