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في السحب فوق بغداد: مذكرات قائد جوي
يكون قد مر - وأنا أسطّر هذا الكتاب ما يقرب من عامين حتَّى هذا اليوم، منذ أن توارى نخيل الفاو وراء خط الأفق، واستوت السفينة البخارية على مسارها أسفل الخليج، واستبدلت عذاب الصحراء البيضاء بمنظر ساحة لندن في الربيع، حيث الحياة المحترمة والمربحة والآمنة إنَّ الغالبية منا ممن نجوا من الحرب محكوم علينا من دون شك أن نموت على أسرّتنا. وعندما تحين تلك اللحظة فإنَّنا سنحسد تلك الثلة المرحة من الرجال الذين سبقونا إلى الموت، والسيف في أيديهم، ووجوههم شاخصة نحو العدو... جيل كامل سيُنسى تدريجياً مع مرور الوقت... إلا أننا نحن رفاقهم القدامى لن ننساهم؛ فنحن نعمل ونلهو، ونكون صداقات جديدة، لكننا لا ننسى هؤلاء السادة الإنكليز
ويبدو أنه مضى وقت طويل منذ أن قاتلنا من أجل الوجود ذاته، ومن أجل الحفاظ على ذكرياتي للحملة في بلاد ما بين النهرين، فقد سطّرتُ هذه السجلات القليلة من أجلي واهتمامي وهو ليس عملاً عسكرياً ولا طموحاً أدبياً، ولكن قد يعيد ذكريات لحظات مثيرة لأولئك الذين خدموا معي. يشرفني أي قارئ يطّلع على هذه الصفحات وهو موضع تقديري؛ أما عن أسلوب الكتابة فإنَّني أعتذر لسوء كتابتي
ويبدو أنه مضى وقت طويل منذ أن قاتلنا من أجل الوجود ذاته، ومن أجل الحفاظ على ذكرياتي للحملة في بلاد ما بين النهرين، فقد سطّرتُ هذه السجلات القليلة من أجلي واهتمامي وهو ليس عملاً عسكرياً ولا طموحاً أدبياً، ولكن قد يعيد ذكريات لحظات مثيرة لأولئك الذين خدموا معي. يشرفني أي قارئ يطّلع على هذه الصفحات وهو موضع تقديري؛ أما عن أسلوب الكتابة فإنَّني أعتذر لسوء كتابتي
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First published May 1, 2013
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October 8, 2020
In the Clouds Above Baghdad, Being the Records of an Air Commander by John Edward Tennant is the memoirs of a WWI British pilot in Mesopotamia. Tennant was educated at Royal Naval College, Osborne and Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. He served in France from 1914-1916 and in Mesopotamia from 1916-1918.
When Americans think of WWI most think of the Western Front. A few can name details of the Eastern Front, even though this is where the war started. Not many know that the war was also fought in the Middle East. The battles on this front were between the British Empire and the Ottoman Empire (with German support). The Ottoman Empire was in steep decline at the start of the war and its weakness allowed less than full support of the native populations. The British were seen as liberators to many people. It was also known that the British would not attack the women and wantonly murder the population. The British were seen as safe compared to the Ottoman.
Tennant gives a very British, matter of fact, telling of his time in modern day Iraq. One item he makes a point of repeating many times over is that it was hot. Heat seemed to be a bigger threat than the Ottoman army. The men were not the only ones to suffer. The planes had a rough time in the desert the sun destroyed the dope on the fabric and the infrequent rains would soak in and destroy the wood. Engine seizures were common on both English and German planes. Most missions were pushed back to cooler times in the day or night. The open desert made bombing missions more common than in the European theater. Tennant writes of dropping bombs on troops and pack animals. The carnage is described in unsensational terms.
The day to day coverage of the war and the taking of Baghdad by the British is very well done. Tennant gives a personal touch to the writing. He admits that he is not much of a writer, but the telling of the events seems almost conversational. The book was written only two years after the war and the events were still fresh in Tennant’s mind. One of the best memoirs from World War I that I have read.
When Americans think of WWI most think of the Western Front. A few can name details of the Eastern Front, even though this is where the war started. Not many know that the war was also fought in the Middle East. The battles on this front were between the British Empire and the Ottoman Empire (with German support). The Ottoman Empire was in steep decline at the start of the war and its weakness allowed less than full support of the native populations. The British were seen as liberators to many people. It was also known that the British would not attack the women and wantonly murder the population. The British were seen as safe compared to the Ottoman.
Tennant gives a very British, matter of fact, telling of his time in modern day Iraq. One item he makes a point of repeating many times over is that it was hot. Heat seemed to be a bigger threat than the Ottoman army. The men were not the only ones to suffer. The planes had a rough time in the desert the sun destroyed the dope on the fabric and the infrequent rains would soak in and destroy the wood. Engine seizures were common on both English and German planes. Most missions were pushed back to cooler times in the day or night. The open desert made bombing missions more common than in the European theater. Tennant writes of dropping bombs on troops and pack animals. The carnage is described in unsensational terms.
The day to day coverage of the war and the taking of Baghdad by the British is very well done. Tennant gives a personal touch to the writing. He admits that he is not much of a writer, but the telling of the events seems almost conversational. The book was written only two years after the war and the events were still fresh in Tennant’s mind. One of the best memoirs from World War I that I have read.
Displaying 1 of 1 review