At breakfast on the morning of the Battle of Waterloo Napoleon
declared that Wellington was a bad general and that France could
not fail to be victorious. Wellington, in contrast, lauded
Napoleon saying that his presence was worth 40,000 men!
Very good in d/w - xxxii + 350pp,
6 color plates, 21 b/w ills
Musing on the history of his family, the author came to focus
on his grandfather, Willie Patterson. Born in 1883, Willie grew up
in a notorious slum district of Glasgow. After leaving school he
worked for a time as a labourer and then joined the British army.
He served in Ireland and India until 1910 and saw distinguished
service in the East African campaign of the First World War.
Willie won the Military Medal for 'conspicuous gallantry in action
and devotion to duty'. His return to a 'land fit for heroes' saw
Clydebank plunged into economic depression. Willie joined the
Independent Labour Party and participated in the turbulent
politics of 'Red Clydeside'
New in card cover - 159pp, numerous
b/w illustrations
A study of aerial reconnnaissance from the first use of the
balloon to the end of WWII. After tracing developments between
1785 and 1914, the author goes on to discuss the role and
increasing sophistication of aerial reconnnaissance, and
introduces the reader to a largely forgotten body of brave men,
the pilots and observers of the Royal Flying Corps, RAF, and Air
Observation Post Squadrons.
Good in d/w - xiv + 274pp, 81 photos, maps, notes, biblio, index
The life and letters of Sir Ralph Verney. Includes his
experiences with the Rifle Brigade in the Boer War and his period
as Military ADC to Lord Chelmsford, Governor of Queensland, whom
he later re-joined in India. He served in France in WWI and was
wounded in action.
