Into the Jaws of Death: British Military Blunders 1879 - 1900 - Hardcover

Colonel Mike Snook

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1844157067 ISBN 13: 9781844157068

Publisher: Frontline Books, 2008

Synopsis

Between the Crimean War and the dawn of the 20th century, the British Army was almost continuously engaged in one corner of the globe or another, in military operations famously characterized by Kipling as the 'savage wars of peace'. In his new work on the most dramatic Victorian campaigns Mike Snook bring's the most dramatic clashes of the age of empire back to life. Here focuses closely on defeat and disaster - the occasions when things went badly awry for the British. The names of these great battles - Isandlwana, Maiwand, Majuba Hill, Khartoum, Colenso, Spion Kop and Magersfontein still resonate down through the ages. In a meticulously researched military history, the author exposes the true and sometimes embarrassing causes of defeat. Overstretch, political meddling, military incompetence and petty jealousy all played their part. Above all else, however, these are dramatic and perceptive accounts of mere mortal men struggling to deal with the often overpowering dynamics and horrors of 19th-century warfare on the fringes of Empire.

About this title

Synopsis

Between the Crimean War and the dawn of the 20th century, the British Army was almost continuously engaged in one corner of the globe or another, in military operations famously characterized by Kipling as the 'savage wars of peace'. From Cairo to Cape Town, hard-pressed handfuls of British soldiers flogged across often impossible terrain, and overcame a raft of logistic difficulties, to bring a succession of resourceful enemies to battle. When at length the protagonists met at close quarters, there were often startling, unexpected and violent outcomes. In his new work on the most dramatic Victorian campaigns Colonel Mike Snook deploys his professional expertise as a soldier, in concert with his life-long study of British military history, to bring the most dramatic clashes of the age of empire back to life.In the first of two volumes on the subject, he focuses closely on defeat and disaster - the occasions when things when badly awry for the British. The names of these great battles - Isandlwana, Maiwand, Majuba Hill, Khartoum, Colenso, Spion Kop and Magers fontein still resonate down through the ages.

In a wide-ranging and meticulously researched military history, the author exposes the true and sometimes embarrassing causes of defeat. Overstretch, political meddling, military incompetence and petty jealousy all played their part. Above all else, however, these are dramatic and perceptive accounts of mere mortal men struggling to deal with the often overpowering dynamics and horrors of 19th-century warfare on the fringes of Empire.

About the Author

Born in Monmouthshire, Lieutenant Colonel Mike Snook is a lifelong professional soldier. After graduating successively from Leicester University and Sandhurst, he was commissioned into the Royal Regiment of Wales in 1984. Since then he has served all around the world, including active service in regimental and staff appointments in Afghanistan, Bosnia, South Armagh and Belfast. In recent years he has worked as a British military adviser in South Africa and as the Chief Instructor of the Tactical Intelligence Branch at the Defence College of Intelligence. Presently on the HQ staff at the Defence Academy, he is utilizing his spare time to read for a PhD.

Edition details

• Publisher: Frontline Books
• Publication date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1844157067
• ISBN 13: 9781844157068
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 432