A WELL-KNOWN EXCELLENCE: British Artillery and an Artilleryman in World War Two [Hardcover]

Denis Falvey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2003

So, even Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, Germany's most accomplished battlefield general and scourge of the British soldier, recognized the British artillery as masters of their craft and it is apt that his words are used in the title of this absorbing military autobiography. The author, now 87, fought in all European theaters and took part in the Normandy landings; the book follows his war from enlistment to demobilization and offers very much more than a simple account of life in various battle zones. Uniquely it includes a critical assessment of Claude Auchinleck, Commander-in-Chief Middle East and often referred to as the 'soldier's soldier' and describes the role and function of the artillery in World War Two. The result is a descriptive memoir offering a treasured insight into the workings of an artilleryman at war, including equipment, tactics, and the dramas of the battlefield. Denis Falvey is a member of the British Commission for Military History and will give a lecture on his war experiences at that organizations Spring 2002 conference; he has previously given a lecture on the subject at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. His candid views about Field Marshal Auchinleck are certain to cause much debate.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"- Erwin Rommel said, 'The British artillery demonstrated....its well-known excellence.'

About the Author

Denis Falvey is a member of the British Commission for Military History and will give a lecture on his war experiences at that organisations Summer 2002 conference; he has previously given a lecture on the subject at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. His candid views about Field Marshal Auchinleck are certain to cause much debate.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 232 pages
• Publisher: Brassey's UK (March 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1857533127
• ISBN-13: 978-1857533125
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,884,295 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Misses the target, March 9, 2006

By 

JI Sowden (Wellington, New Zealand) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A WELL-KNOWN EXCELLENCE: British Artillery and an Artilleryman in World War Two (Hardcover)

Falvey seems to fall between two stools with this book.

On the one hand he tries to write narratives describing the causes and courses of the war and in particular the campaigns he was involved in. Other writers - generally those not so closely involved in the events themselves - have done this many times before, usually in more detail and with more balance.

On the other hand, Falvey tries to describe life within his unit. In this he is a bit more successful, but unfortunately he doesn't spend much time or ink developing this theme. This is a shame, since this is really what I bought this book for. I can read histories and analyses of campaigns anywhere, but personal recollections written by participants are much scarcer. The standard in this field, especially for artillery, has been set by George Blackburn with his 'Guns' trilogy, which concentrate almost in their entirety on his own - sometimes very personal - experiences, and the minutiae of how he carried out his various roles. Falvey seems reluctant to open up and describe his experiences, which is understandable, but the book is much the poorer for him not describing the life of his unit in more detail, and the hows and whys of various roles.

Having said that, the book is still an interesting read, and follows the fortunes of the British Army from the days of punery in 1939, the defeats of the early years, and on to the years of plenty and victory. Falveys descriptions of his time on Crete are especially interesting, and well outside the norm for that campaign.