Customer Reviews

Sniping in France

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Despite some imperfections of style and editing, which may be accounted for by the fact that the author was more concerned about doing a job effectively rather than with the finer points of authorship and literary presentation - this is a key work on the emergence of sniping among the British and their allies in the first world war, in response to highly effective German sniper units, and on the contribution that was made by men (enlisted and officers) who had a background in hunting and rifle shooting for precision accuracy. As a historical record it is essential, along with McBride's "A Rifleman Went to War". It may also be seen in context if read alongside Capt. Clifford Shore's "With British Snipers to the Reich", which continues the history of sniping through the second world war, and shows its second resurgence in this century. A book of great importance and practical value to military historians, modern soldiers, target shooters and those who hunt wild game animals.

In the 1990s people have no reason to know much about war. Sniping is the very essence of war - one man deliberately killing another, in cold blood. Hesketh Prichard was a British soldier in the Great War (WW1) who was largely responsible for the much needed renaissance of sniping in the British Army. This book is about how he established the sniper school and raised the standard of sniping in Flanders. It also offers insights into the beurocratic mentality that would rather see less change and more casualties in an army than more change and fewer casualties. Not, perhaps, a phenomenon restricted to that army or that time - ask anyone who survived the fall of Singapore, the Vietnam war, or the Atlantic before the convoy system was reintroduced. Further, it offers insight into the peculiar mentality required of a sniper. Any infantry officer should read this book, as should any feminist who feels that as a matter of principle women should serve in all combat arms. It may help the former avoid costly mistakes; it might open the eyes of the latter to the grim realities of war, and show why, perhaps. potential mothers should not be in the front line.

Sometimes this book can be a little tedious...It can have a very stuffy "Archies travelogue of the Great War" sound to it. But if you can get that out of your ear and are interested in sniping or the history of sniping,or the Great War this is an interesting read. If not this will be dry as dust for you...of specialist interest only.