The Oxford Book of Military AnecdotesMax Hastings Oxford University Press, 1985 - 514 Seiten If anecdotes are marginal notes on the pages of history, these will delight any reader who has ever been moved or entertained by the condition of the soldier. Few fields of human endeavor have inspired so many memorable anecdotes as warfare, from the Bible and Livy through Gibbon and Froissart, to the imperial wars of the nineteenth century and the world conflicts of the twentieth. This collection of is principally concerned with American and British conflicts, with, as the author says, "occasional forays among the ranks of foreign armies"--notably the Greeks, the Romans, and Napoleon's veterans. Hastings has sought stories that illustrate the military condition through the ages, both on the battlefield and in barracks: comic, eccentric, heroic, tragic. Here are Caesar at the Rubicon and the revolt of the Praetorian Guard; Alexander's horse and Prince Rupert's dog; the legendary Mother Ross enlisting in search of her lost husband in 1693; Evelyn Waugh as the least plausible of commandos; General George S. Patton's good luck charm "Charlie," a lump of lava rock carved into a Hawaiian warrior; and much more. Some of the stories will be familiar to students of military history while others are less well known, but all provide fascinating sidelights to history. Great war stories by Max Hastings, a leading military historian and war correspondent About the Author: Max Hastings is a well-known author specializing in military history. His most recent books include Bomber Command, Battle for the Falklands, and Overlord. |
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Seite 46
... field , hurling javelins ; and the terror inspired by the horses and the noise of the wheels is usually enough to throw the enemy ranks into disorder . Then they work their way between their own cavalry units , where the warriors jump ...
... field , hurling javelins ; and the terror inspired by the horses and the noise of the wheels is usually enough to throw the enemy ranks into disorder . Then they work their way between their own cavalry units , where the warriors jump ...
Seite 118
... field . Rupert , with more military judgment than social tact , pro- tested that the battle could not be planned piecemeal and further insisted that pikemen and musketeers be interspersed with each other in the modern Swedish fashion ...
... field . Rupert , with more military judgment than social tact , pro- tested that the battle could not be planned piecemeal and further insisted that pikemen and musketeers be interspersed with each other in the modern Swedish fashion ...
Seite 164
... field - days ; and in the general reviews the South Hampshire were rather a credit than a disgrace to the line . In our subsequent quarters of the Devizes and Blandford , we advanced with a quick step in our military studies ; the ...
... field - days ; and in the general reviews the South Hampshire were rather a credit than a disgrace to the line . In our subsequent quarters of the Devizes and Blandford , we advanced with a quick step in our military studies ; the ...
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appeared arms army arrived asked attack battle began body British brought called camp Captain carried cavalry charge close Colonel command course death enemy English eyes face fall fell field fight fire followed force four French friends front gave German give given Guards hand head heard horse hour hundred Italy John killed King knew later leave letter lived London looked Lord Major military morning moved never night officer once passed Persians present Prince ranks reached received regiment remained replied Reprinted by permission returned road round seemed sent shot shouted side soldiers soon staff stand stood sword taken thing thought told took town troops turned wall whole wounded young