Bought myself "Knights of Agincourt", by Steve Archibald. Very thin volume which shows some 480 coast of arms from Agincourt. 

Not a lot in the way of words, but lots of pretty, pretty pictures.



https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1999667735/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 

Armoured Units of the Russian Civil War (Red army). Quite a list of what was used where, but with some useful insights into how the Red Army used their trains, armoured cars and tanks.

Finished a great book, "The German War Of 1866: The Bohemian and Moravian Campaign" by Theodore Fontane, translated by Frederick Steinhardt and edited by Gerard W. Henry.

Fontane was born 30 December 1819 and of necessity became a newspaper journalist.  This book first cam out in 1870 and the amount of detail is amazing.  Tactical descriptions, OB's, personal reminisces official statements and good illustrations and limited maps (no scale or heights).  Writings by officers and enlisted were immediate and presented the views of the time.

Highly recommended for those interested in 1866.  As a teaser, Fontane also wrote a book about 1870, but as far as I know this has not been translated.

Sicily '43 by James Holland. About a third of the way through and so far an excellent read, with lots of info I had not come across before. Highly recommended.

Reread "The Quest for Annihilation: The Role & Mechanics of Battle in the American Civil War" by Christopher Percello.
 
This is a good book, getting into the details as noted in the title.  Similar to Paddy Griffith's "Battle Tactics of the Civil War"  Nitty gritty nuts and bolts of armies, combat, campaigns, infantry, cavalry, artillery and much more.  Also illustrated by the movements and campaigns of the war.

Hi

Just finished 'Stopping the Panzers' by Marc Milner, detailed account of the 3rd Canadian Division during the days immediately after D Day. Excellent account of how the division battled with 12 SS Hitler Jugand Division and parts of 21st Panzer and Panzer Lehr divisions.

The author does seem to have a chip on his shoulder about how the Canadians have been treated in the historiography of the early days of the Normandy campaign, unfairly and derogatory in his view. I must admit I'm at a bit of a loss with this view, as in my reading of the campaign (over some 50 years now) I can't remember any particular criticism of the Canadian efforts (quite the contrary if anything) above the normal criticism of the British/Canadian efforts by some authors.

Recommended.

Cheers Paul

Not a period I know a huge amount about but the accounts I've read do tend to cover the Brits and treat the Canadians, Poles, etc as an afterthought, at best.

From D-Day to the Scheldt the Canadians seem to have been pushed to the back of the stage when it came to handing out plaudits.

The Milner book is very good and puts the Canadian landings in perspective re: the amount of Panzer Divisions they were expected to face. Well worth getting IMHO.

Practical Wargaming by Charles Wesencraft.

QuoteNot a period I know a huge amount about but the accounts I've read do tend to cover the Brits and treat the Canadians, Poles, etc as an afterthought, at best.

From D-Day to the Scheldt the Canadians seem to have been pushed to the back of the stage when it came to handing out plaudits.

Maybe my experience visiting so many sites in the Netherlands has clouded my view.


The Canadians are recognised as first in liberation and the famine relief that followed.

From a German perspective post D-Day.
 * The Canadians are the "British" troops you least want to be fighting against (Casualties caused per battalion committed).
 * The Canadians are the allied troops you most want to surrender to (Odds of survival and humane treatment).

I was thinking more of the reaction of the British establishment rather than the gratitude of the liberated peoples and the respect of their enemies, Steve.

A lot of British accounts are complimentary to the Canadians. That may differ from the views expressed by particular individuals however e.g. I don't know what Montgomery's memoirs say.

Looking at the index of Ellis' Victory in the West vol I (i.e. the British Official History) there are a lot of references to Canadian formations e.g. 3rd Division p.179-218, 228, 252 in assault, Caen 311-17; Goodwood 333-347, 378; Totalize/Tractable 420-432, 447, 467.

Edward

As I say, not currently something I know much about, though that may change if I ever get my 3mm NWE Brits and Germans to the painting table, What I've read has tended to be potted histories for the general reader or personal accounts where Canadians feature rarely. They are largely subsumed into "British" along with the Australians, New Zealanders, South Africans, Indians, etc.

Hi

Coincidentally Marc Milner is on James Holland and Al Murray's 'We have ways of making you talk' podcast today talking about the Canadians after D Day;

https://play.acast.com/s/wehaveways/from-normandy-to-the-scheldt

I have not had a chance to listen to it yet.

Cheers Paul

Thanks for the 'heads up' .