Pillars of Fire: the Battle of Messines Ridge 1917

Description

Cover; Title; Dedication; Acknowledgements; Contents; List of Photographs and Plates; Maps/Diagrams; Glossary and Introductory Notes; Foreword; Preface; Chapter One Prelude; Chapter Two An Orchestra of War; Chapter Three Instruments of War; Chapter Four Across the Wire: Towards 'Soldatendämmerung'; Chapter Five Overture: 1-6 June; Chapter Six The Messines Symphony -- First Movement and Phase One: Soldatendämmerung, a.m. 7 June; Chapter Seven Second Movement and Phase Two: 'Strike the Chord', p.m. 7 June; Chapter Eight Third Movement: 'Not a retreat, merely a withdrawal', 8-14 June.;Gentlemen, we may not make history tomorrow, but we shall certainly change the geography.' So said General Plumer the day before 600 tons of explosives were detonated under the German position on Messines Ridge. The explosion was heard by Lloyd George in Downing Street, and as far away as Dublin. Until 1918, Messines was the only clear cut Allied victory on the Western Front, coming at a time when Britain and her allies needed it most: boosting Allied morale and shattering that of the Germans. Precisely orchestrated, Messines was the first true all-arms modern battle which brought together art.