Cheerful Sacrifice: The Battle of Arras 1917 (Paperback)

Jonathan Nicholls

ISBN 10: 1844153266 / ISBN 13: 9781844153268

Published by Pen & Sword Books Ltd, Barnsley, 2005

About this Item

Paperback. Cheerful Sacrifice tells the story of the spring offensive of April - May 1917, otherwise known as the Battle of Arras. Probably because the noise had hardly died down before it started up again with the explosions at Messines, shortly to be followed by the even more horrible Third Ypres - remembered as Passchendaele - the Battle of Arras has not received the attention it deserves. Yet, as the author points out, on the basis of the daily casualty rate it was the most lethal and costly British offensive battle of the First World War. In the thirty-nine days that the battle lasted the average casualty rate was far higher than at either the Somme or Passchendaele.Jonathan Nicholls, in this his first book, gives the Battle of Arras its proper place in the annals of military history, enhancing his text with a wealth of eye-witness accounts. One is left in no doubt that the survivor who described it as 'the most savage infantry battle of the war', did not exaggerate. Nor can there be much doubt that the author is destined to rise high in the firmament of military historians. Tells the story of the spring offensive of April - May 1917, otherwise known as the Battle of Arras. The author gives the Battle of Arras its proper place in the annals of military history, enhancing his text with a wealth of eye-witness accounts. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781844153268

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Cheerful Sacrifice: The Battle of Arras 1917 (Paperback)
• Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd, Barnsley
• Publication Date: 2005
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1844153266
• ISBN 13: 9781844153268
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

Cheerful Sacrifice tells the story of the spring offensive of April - May 1917, otherwise known as the Battle of Arras. Probably because the noise had hardly died down before it started up again with the explosions at Messines, shortly to be followed by the even more horrible Third Ypres - remembered as Passchendaele - the Battle of Arras has not received the attention it deserves. Yet, as the author points out, on the basis of the daily casualty rate it was the most lethal and costly British offensive battle of the First World War. In the thirty-nine days that the battle lasted the average casualty rate was far higher than at either the Somme or Passchendaele. Jonathan Nicholls, in this his first book, gives the Battle of Arras its proper place in the annals of military history, enhancing his text with a wealth of eye-witness accounts. One is left in no doubt that the survivor who described it as 'the most savage infantry battle of the war', did not exaggerate. Nor can there be much doubt that the author is destined to rise high in the firmament of military historians.

About the Author

Jonathan Nicholls was born in 1948. He went to Towcester Grammar School, Northants. In 1968 he joined the Metropolitan Police where he is currently serving at Hampstead Police Station. In his capacity as a Police Officer, he met many of the old soldiers who encouraged him to write this book. He has held a lifelong interest in the 1914-18 war and has for many years been organising tours to the old Western Front. His other interests include Music and Rugby Football. He now lives in Hemel Hempstead with his wife and son.