Vanished Armies: A Record of Military Uniform Observed And Drawn in Various European Countries During the Years 1907 to 1914 (Shire General) [Hardcover]

AE Haswell Miller (Author), John Mollo (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Shire General | Publication Date: November 17, 2009

In the years immediately before the First World War Archibald Haswell Miller, a young artist, traveled Europe to study painting. While he was there he indulged his other great interest - military matters. On his travels he observed first-hand the soldiers of the European Armies in the last days of the colourful and elaborate uniforms that were giving way to grey and khaki across the continent. Realizing that this was a great military heritage that was slipping away, he set out to record these splendid uniforms.

In the uncertain days before the assassination of the Archduke Ferdinand in Sarajevo, Haswell Miller sketched and painted hundreds of figures, each wearing a different uniform from the armies of Britain, Germany, France, Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Holland, Italy, Portugal, Russia, Spain and Sweden. Just before the First World War the paintings were exhibited in Leipzig, and it seemed they might be published. But when war broke out they returned home and lay forgotten for nearly one hundred years.

Now, published together at last, they represent a unique record of the uniforms of the last great age of military dress. Accompanied by, in Haswell Miller's own words, 'notes and memories of the days before "the lights went out in Europe" in the year 1914', this is a book of great historical importance.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Vanished Armies: A Record of Military Uniform Observed and Drawn in Various European Countries During the Years 1907 to 1914, is, with its realistic figure drawings, vivid colour and artist’s notes, a fascinating, handsome volume. It was published at the behest of the Army Museum’s Ogilby Trust, to which many of the paintings were bequeathed by the artist’s daughter." -The Times (January 2010)

"Vanished Armes offers a collection painted in the early 1900s by author AE Haswell Miller, a Scottish artist and army officer fascinated by military dress. It appears in print for the first time and provides a collection of watercolors and notes, key to any military history collection." -The Midwest Book Review (February 2010)

"As a student of military history, uniforms, toy soldier and military miniatures, I have found this book to be a highly valuable reference source... Enthusiasts also have three kind of books in their collections: The ones that seemed like a good idea at the time, the good books and the really great books. Vanished Armies is a very special book. I am sure that it will be put in readers' really great book category." -Joe DeMarco, Toy Soldier & Model Figure

"Miller's hand is talented, and he is able to capture the essence of dignity, pride, and tradition in these soldiers' uniforms just before, as the title suggests, they vanished.  The vast majority of Vanished Armies is dedicated to displaying the color plates Miller created. Beyond a couple of paragraphs introducing the recent history of the uniforms, the text mostly closely resembles footnotes in the back of a book, or perhaps foreshadowed numbered bullet points, as we would call them today. Military history buffs will also enjoy Vanished Armies.  It covers a time period often overlooked in wargaming, but perhaps has no equal in terms of visual appeal of the soldiers.  I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in the topic." -Jim Zabek, The Wargamer / www.wargamer.com (March 2010)

"This is truly an outstanding work and is one that should be in the collection of enthusiasts of this particuilar time period. A real jewel of a book and one that I can easily recommend to you." - Scott Van Aken, Modeling Madness

About the Author

Archibald Ernest Haswell Miller was a Scottish soldier, painter and historian. He studied at the Glasgow School of Art between 1906 and 1909, becoming a probationary Professor and traveling to study in Paris, Vienna, Munich and Berlin. It was during these travels that he painted the majority of the figures in this book. He served with the 7th (Blytheswood) Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry in Gallipoli, Palestine and France, during which service he was awarded the Military Cross, attained the rank of Captain, and continued to sketch and paint as opportunities arose. He became a prolific painter of military portraits and his work was exhibited at the Royal Academy, the Royal Scottish Academy and elsewhere.

For the last 25 years of his life Haswell Miller was an advisor to the Army Museums Ogilby Trust. He died in 1979 aged 92

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Shire (November 17, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0747807396
• ISBN-13: 978-0747807391
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 0.6 x 9.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #194,952 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #11 in Books > History > Military > Uniforms
  • #34 in Books > History > Military > Pictorials

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hidden Treasure, January 4, 2010

By 

Robert A., Shoaf (PITTSBURGH,PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Vanished Armies: A Record of Military Uniform Observed And Drawn in Various European Countries During the Years 1907 to 1914 (Shire General) (Hardcover)

Many thanks to Crowood Press for publishing this book. I was somewhat familiar with Haswell-Miller's work, in a few books on the British Army, and some post card reproductions, but I was unaware of the scope of his work regarding other European armies, pre-1914.
Thw author's style is appealing to me, and the illustrations were all done from life, during his travels over the years. The British Army, as to be expected, and the German Army are covered in depth, with the French Army a close third, as well as the Austro-Hungarian forces. There are also decent sections on the Belgian, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, and Swedish Armies. My only real diaappointment was the small section on the Russian Imperial Army, only two plates.
For those with a serious interest in the full dress of European armies at it's peak, or for any military uniform enthusiast, I recommend this book highly.
My only complaint is that two plates in the British section were repeated, thus one plate is missing. A publisher's error that is inexcusable.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unique, fresh, contemporary material, from a good artist, January 23, 2010

By 

Mark Conrad (Maryland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Vanished Armies: A Record of Military Uniform Observed And Drawn in Various European Countries During the Years 1907 to 1914 (Shire General) (Hardcover)

Solid eyewitness full-color watercolors of European soldiers as seen in public in pre-World War One Europe (some a little later). Many of the uniforms are thus some variation of social or walking-out dress. No close ups of badges or insignia. Also by the nature of things, bandsmen are well represented, as are some cloaks, capes, and overcoats as worn in colder weather. Great Britain and Germany have the most numerous examples, but smaller countries such as Italy, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands can be seen as well. The range of subjects makes no attempt at being comprehensive, but rather is just what chance presented to the traveling artist during this time. Since color photography was rare back then, this is the next best thing. Recommended.

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Blast from the Past, December 22, 2011

By 

Thortrains - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vanished Armies: A Record of Military Uniform Observed And Drawn in Various European Countries During the Years 1907 to 1914 (Shire General) (Hardcover)

The value of Haswell Miller's work is immense because these images were made on the spot. First-person artisty depicting the armies in the few years prior to the Great War is a treasure, indeed. The book replicates Haswell-Miller's sketches as they are. A great look at the ceremonial uniforms, dress uniforms and stepping-out attire of the age when uniforms were ornate and colorful. Get this one while the getting is good, because it will become collectible.

One notable error - plate 14 had been duplicated as plate 15. The paste-up artist goofed. Even at that, it still rates 5 stars.