The Fighting Padre: Pat Leonard’s Letters from the Trenches 1915-1918 edited byJohn Leonard & Philip Leonard-Johnson

IN March 1916 Revd Pat Leonard stepped into the great cathedral of Ypres through its east window and stood by the mound of rubbish burying the high altar – so had Europe’s war treated one of her Christian monuments. This wonderful account of a padre’s work in war, told through his letters home, shows a true sportsman and comrade: courageous, modest, with an irrepressible humour and a muscular faith.  Anyone interested in the Western Front should read this labour of love by his family.  A specialist editor could have provided useful background though: one chapter is headed “The Battle of Loos 1916” [which all you historians out there will know took place in 1915].

Dr Rodney Atwood, military historian

Dragon Rampant by Donald Graves




THE Royal Welch Fusiliers, the 23rd Regiment of Foot, have a long and splendid history dating back to 1689. Generations of the same family have worn the cap badge with pride. This book brings together 22 years of the regiment’s history – the story of the titanic struggle with Napoleonic France, which ended with the battle of Waterloo in 1815. War is described largely in the words of the men fighting the battles.
Donald Graves has an entertaining and engaging style of writing and has penned a diligently researched title that will be of interest to the military historian and those who served in the regiment.

Lt Col (Retd) Dawson Pratt, R Signals

Red Crown and Dragon by Patrick Delaforce




THE 53rd Division was the British Army’s only totally Welsh formation in the Second World War. Patrick Delaforce has compiled a concise history that tracks the Welsh division from its role in the Normandy breakout battles right through to the final days of the war in Hamburg. Each of the chapters provides a snap shot of the major operations and significant actions involving the Welshmen. This is a good introduction to one of Monty’s six “Green Divisions” and one which was ultimately described by the British General as “one of his best Divisions”.     

Forgotten Voice of Dunkirk by Joshua Levine

THE Forgotten Voices series of books are a well-tried formula and this latest addition to the set is particularly good. The-first hand accounts are not confined to the events surrounding the evacuation alone, with the chaos and confusion of the rearguard actions told from a tri-Service and multi-cap badge perspective. The reality of an Army overwhelmed by Blitzkrieg is brought to life with selected photographs and a wealth of witness accounts. An ideal source of material to support a battlefield study, this title is worth reading.   

Maj Mike Peters, AAC    

Jake Wardrop’s Diary: A Tank Regiment Sergeant’s Story by George Forty

BASED on the personal diary of Jake Wardrop’s war from France in 1940 through North Africa, Italy, D-Day, Belgium, Holland and Germany, this is the story of the man, the crew, the tank, the troop, the squadron and of 5 RTR and the battles fought. The diary, written nearly every day of the war, was sent back to his mother in Glasgow for safe keeping. Wardrop was killed in battle on April 10, 1945 at Retham, Germany, a few days before the end of the war. George Forty brings the diary entries together to proffer an inspiring book that vividly captures the human side of war.

Lt Col (Retd) Dawson Pratt, R Signals

The Rhine Endeavour by Patrick Delaforce

THE strategic complexities of the British and Canadian campaign in North West Europe are already well documented. Patrick Delaforce has applied his tried and tested template to the subject, producing a concise volume that gives the reader an insight into the events of the key month of September 1944 from a divisional and brigade level. A well-balanced mix of maps, photographs, war diary entries and anecdotal accounts support each of the chapters. This book is a very useful addition to any library but should not be considered a comprehensive, stand-alone source.

Maj Mike Peters, AAC