Canadian military books

[rolandstrong]

I am looking for a couple of good paperbacks to take on course. I wont get a lot of time to read, and would like something inspirational. Anyone got some suggestions? Any books that can get you fired up and still fit in an already packed duffel?

 

[rolandstrong]

I am also having a hard time finding Mowat‘s "The Regiment". Any suggestions? Chapters has not been so helpful on this...

 

[greeves]

Another good one to consider (and I think it may be available in soft-cover now) is Pierre Berton‘ "Marching as to War: Canada‘s Turbulent Years, 1899-1953". This book details all of Canada‘s major wars of the 20th century and through his typical anecdotal style, you really get to know the leaders, as well as the troops involved in those campaigns.
Also, John Keegan‘s "The Face of Battle" is one of the finest books ever written about warfare. In it he details the physical experience of combat as well as what motivates soldiers in the face of war‘s horrors by examining, in great depth the battles of Agincourt, Waterloo, and the Somme. Not Canadian, our participation on the Somme notwithstanding, but well worth the cover price.

 

[Danjanou]

Marching As to War is available in paperback, but it‘s one of those larger sized ones, so it may not make the cut in a packed kit bag.

I agree Face of Battle is an excellent read. Now if I could just remember who it was that borrowed my copy so I could ask for it back.

Roland there is (was?) a small book store in the mall in Ormocto with an excellent selection of military books so reading material shouldn‘t be a problem. The last time I was there was for 5 months and I had built up a respectable little library that I had to ship home.

Can anyone in Gagetown or been there recently confirm if this bookstore is still there?

 

[rolandstrong]

Hmm..thats good to know Danjanou. I have read Marching as to War, but haven‘t gotten to the Keegan books yet. I am reading Band of Brothers now, and just finished Granatstein‘s comprehensive book on the Canadian Army. I think I am looking for a Band of Brothers-like book to take with. i am sure I won‘t be seeing the light of day for a few weeks.

 

[GGHG_Cadet]

I just finished reading Bravo Two Zero and Pegasus Bridge both very good books and I recommend them to anyone who hasn‘t read them. I just started to read Peacekeeper: The Road to Sarajevo and Citizen Soldiers they look like good reads. I have also reserved a copy of Unknown Warriors Canadians in Vietnam.

 

[Michael Dorosh]

I‘ll second Face of Battle - perhaps one of the most important books on warfare ever written.

 

[rolandstrong]

I have heard quite a bit on "The Face of Battle". I have also wanted to get into Keegan‘s work...this and the First World War.

Thanks all..I think its my course book. If I get much time to read.

 

[Danjanou]

I actually took Band of Brothers on my honeymoon (yeah she wasn‘t impressed but I had to have something to do while lazing around the pool and, ahem resting up)

Bravo Two Zero and McNabbs other books both autobiographical and the Nick Stone fiction ones are good reads too. I just finished the latest account of that patrol which calls into question everything both McNabb and Ryan stated in their accounts.

Just started rereading an interesting and hard to find book called Fire Force by Chris Cocks. He was a Rhodesian conscript who served in the bish war there in the late 1970‘s. Not overtly well written but very interesting. There‘s even a Canadian connection.

 

[greeves]

I just finished the latest account of that patrol which calls into question everything both McNabb and Ryan stated in their accounts.

I was at my local Chapters yesterday and saw that book. Having read both McNabb‘s and Ryan‘s books I‘ll be interested to see what the author has to say. The author, incidentally, is Michael Asher, who is quite well known in his own right. He and his wife were the first non-Bedouin people to traverse the width of the Sahara by camel and wrote about it in "Impossible Journey: Two Against the Sahara". If you enjoy adventure/travel non-fiction it‘s an excellent book. On the military side, Asher‘s first book is called "Shoot to Kill". I read it a few years ago and it‘s an excellent first effort. He talks about his experiences in the British Army - from his first day at the Parachute Regiment depot in Aldershot, through to his tours of Northern Ireland with 2 Para, and eventually his time with 23 SAS (Territorial). His credentials are fairly good - so it makes me wonder where the truth about Bravo Two Zero really lies.
Anyway, speaking of John Keegan, while at Chapters yesterday I bought "Six Armies in Normandy" - and, of course, started reading the Canadian chapter as soon as I got home. I have a question for everyone out there: in his section on Dieppe, he mentions that the Royal Regiment of Canada were "...one of the three permanent battalions the dominion maintained in peacetime...". Later he refers to them as the "Royal Canadians". Is Keegan confusing the Royal Regiment of Canada (who were at Dieppe) with the Royal Canadian Regiment (who were not)?

 

[Danjanou]

Thanks, I‘m at work and couldn‘t recall the authors name. Asher‘s book is well done and does call a lot into question. I‘m now hunting for some of the books he used in his research including the one written by the former SAS RSM, and Soldier 5 written by another of the Bravo Two Survivors, "Mark" the New Zealander. The British Government tried to have publication of his account blocked so says a lot there.

 

[Danjanou]

Martin,

If you‘re having problems locating Unknown Warriors let me know. I‘m presuming by the capbadge avatar that you‘re in the Toronto area, and I‘d have no problems loaning you my copy. I know it‘s a rare book to find. I can‘t even remember where i picked mine up.