What do you think?
Rate this book
The Monocled Mutineer
In 1917, as British troops were preparing for the Battle of Passchendaele, a mutiny broke out among the 100,000 soldiers at the Etaples training camp in Northern France. This mutiny was one of the most guarded secrets of WW1. Private Percy Toplis, a survivor of the Battle of Loos, had deserted from the Army Medical Corps before re-enlisting and he was accused as the ringleader of the mutiny. By this time he was back in England where he was living in disguise and was the most wanted man in England (suspected of murder and fraud) before being killed by a policeman in 1920. Drawing on extensive interviews with survivors of the mutiny as well as with friends and relatives of Percy Toplis, this updated edition includes a new introduction and epilogue that expand on newly discovered information about the events of the mutiny and the government's response to it.
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
6 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 10, 2016
I got this book as a review copy from Souvenir Press in exchange for an honest review. A video review should also be released, for this was intended for the Literary Gladiators channel. I appreciate that they reached out to me.
Percy Toplis, the Monocled Mutineer mentioned in this book, was a British soldier during World War I that would go AWOL and fight against authorities during his fighting career. What we learn here, though, is that a few years before, Toplis was involved in a mutiny called the Etaples Mutiny, where he and a few fellow soldiers revolted against the authorities, due to their poor, inhumane conditions regarding lack of food and immense mistreatment. This book presents the question about whether or not Percy Toplis can be viewed as a rebel fighting for his cause or a rebel looking to cause trouble. While he possessed legitimate reasons to his actions, the way the law acted was just as legitimate in the possible danger Toplis presented to those around him. It just so happens that the documents involving this mutiny are slated to be released into public domain next year, in 2017, giving up a greater idea of one of the greatest mysteries during the First World War.
This piece of history sounded so fascinating and it talks about a topic that I really want to get into further. I took a First World War class to fulfill my minor in history, but I do not remember touching on this particular topic. It was nice that I got to it now, but unfortunately, this book did not do the subject so much justice. I got snippets of what happened, but it read very much like a long, dense article that one would find on a database and doing a research project. It also read like an article in the way that I felt very disconnected as a reader. I feel that great history pieces engage the reader by giving you a great glimpse into the topic at hand. For instance, instead of getting a nice idea of Toplis' childhood, it jumped right into explaining the Larceny Act and how Toplis was caned (or spanked) due to his bad behavior. We get brief details about his mother, sister, illegitimate daughter, and the daughter's mother, but it felt like it was not enough. It seemed like we were only given as much information as the writers felt was necessary.
I felt lost and unattached as I was reading this to the point that the story was becoming quite confusing. I believe that I could probably get more out of something in the newspaper or through an online piece. I wish I got much more out of this, but unfortunately did not.
You can find my video review of this book here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbOlL...
Percy Toplis, the Monocled Mutineer mentioned in this book, was a British soldier during World War I that would go AWOL and fight against authorities during his fighting career. What we learn here, though, is that a few years before, Toplis was involved in a mutiny called the Etaples Mutiny, where he and a few fellow soldiers revolted against the authorities, due to their poor, inhumane conditions regarding lack of food and immense mistreatment. This book presents the question about whether or not Percy Toplis can be viewed as a rebel fighting for his cause or a rebel looking to cause trouble. While he possessed legitimate reasons to his actions, the way the law acted was just as legitimate in the possible danger Toplis presented to those around him. It just so happens that the documents involving this mutiny are slated to be released into public domain next year, in 2017, giving up a greater idea of one of the greatest mysteries during the First World War.
This piece of history sounded so fascinating and it talks about a topic that I really want to get into further. I took a First World War class to fulfill my minor in history, but I do not remember touching on this particular topic. It was nice that I got to it now, but unfortunately, this book did not do the subject so much justice. I got snippets of what happened, but it read very much like a long, dense article that one would find on a database and doing a research project. It also read like an article in the way that I felt very disconnected as a reader. I feel that great history pieces engage the reader by giving you a great glimpse into the topic at hand. For instance, instead of getting a nice idea of Toplis' childhood, it jumped right into explaining the Larceny Act and how Toplis was caned (or spanked) due to his bad behavior. We get brief details about his mother, sister, illegitimate daughter, and the daughter's mother, but it felt like it was not enough. It seemed like we were only given as much information as the writers felt was necessary.
I felt lost and unattached as I was reading this to the point that the story was becoming quite confusing. I believe that I could probably get more out of something in the newspaper or through an online piece. I wish I got much more out of this, but unfortunately did not.
You can find my video review of this book here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbOlL...
September 3, 2014
This book brought to my attention the mutiny at Etaples, an event of which I was completely ignorant. In a few years time (2017, according to the authors) documents may be released that shed even more light on this brutal military regime during WWI. Unless they have been consumed by an 'accidental' fire or some such as so many government documents seem to.
In fact, this was the most interesting aspect of the book for me, though Mr Toplis' adventures ran in parallel with the mutiny in which he played a pivotal role.
I found myself undecided on whether I felt sympathy for the 'hero' of this book, he was after all a petty criminal out for himself but it seems fairly obvious he didn't have the most advantageous start in life and he was also a patsy for the British military and the faults within that organisation. It is without doubt he was made into Public Enemy No 1 to divert the gaze away from the horrors and mutiny of Etaples but he was also quite capable of shooting innocent people with the slightest provocation. Whether he was a murderer - he was never convicted in a court of law, nor was it proved with any satisfaction at the coroner's inquest - is another matter.
Percy Toplis had balls without doubt, but he was no Robin Hood, and though remembered fondly by the men he was with in Etaples I'm not sure he wouldn't have been just the same war or no.
Everyone interested in the First World War should read this, apparently it wasn't all needless sacrifice and poetry, and it appears that poor old Tommy had enemies on both sides of the wire.
In fact, this was the most interesting aspect of the book for me, though Mr Toplis' adventures ran in parallel with the mutiny in which he played a pivotal role.
I found myself undecided on whether I felt sympathy for the 'hero' of this book, he was after all a petty criminal out for himself but it seems fairly obvious he didn't have the most advantageous start in life and he was also a patsy for the British military and the faults within that organisation. It is without doubt he was made into Public Enemy No 1 to divert the gaze away from the horrors and mutiny of Etaples but he was also quite capable of shooting innocent people with the slightest provocation. Whether he was a murderer - he was never convicted in a court of law, nor was it proved with any satisfaction at the coroner's inquest - is another matter.
Percy Toplis had balls without doubt, but he was no Robin Hood, and though remembered fondly by the men he was with in Etaples I'm not sure he wouldn't have been just the same war or no.
Everyone interested in the First World War should read this, apparently it wasn't all needless sacrifice and poetry, and it appears that poor old Tommy had enemies on both sides of the wire.
December 18, 2015
Brought to my attention by Bleasdale's excellent series.
Leaving aside such issues as veracity of the story or credibility of the sources (I mean, the book doesn't offer much in terms of notes or citations - for that reason alone it should all be taken with a grain of salt) - it's a highly enjoyable read and an interesting (even if somewhat unreliable) insight into WWI history.
And while Toplis was - even by Allison & Fairley's relatively favourable account - a rather shady individual, he's an absolute joy to read about - as all tricksters are.
Leaving aside such issues as veracity of the story or credibility of the sources (I mean, the book doesn't offer much in terms of notes or citations - for that reason alone it should all be taken with a grain of salt) - it's a highly enjoyable read and an interesting (even if somewhat unreliable) insight into WWI history.
And while Toplis was - even by Allison & Fairley's relatively favourable account - a rather shady individual, he's an absolute joy to read about - as all tricksters are.
April 14, 2025
In 1986, when I viewed Alan Bleasdale's BBC television adaptation of The Monocled Mutineer, I had limited awareness of rogue, mutineer, and racketeer Private Percy Toplis as well as events that contributed to the Etaples mutiny that occurred on the eve of Passchendaele in 1917.
The BBC faced significant criticism from the UK government at the time, and a prominent researcher distanced themselves from the series due to alleged 'serious inaccuracies'. This trend of critique has continued in subsequent reviews of the book. Nevertheless, the negative press did not prevent The Monocled Mutineer from becoming a widely acclaimed drama series, nor prevent further interest in Percy Toplis or education of the horrific treatment to soldiers from their superiors in Etaples.
A significant concern expressed by audiences about The Monocled Mutineer dramatization is the ambiguity surrounding Toplis' role in the Etaples mutiny. His involvement is only briefly referenced in several chapters detailing Etaples, while eyewitness testimonies vary in their clarity regarding his presence. Although I contend that the book fails to provide definitive evidence of Toplis' participation in the mutiny—considering the sheer number of mutineers involved, which was in the thousands, and Toplis' established reputation as a cunning deceiver—it also does not categorically dismiss the possibility of his involvement.
The narrative effectively emphasizes Toplis' remarkable ability to impersonate army officers, often donning a monocle and gaining the trust of various individuals while evading capture and moving between locations, even re-enlisting when pursued by military police. The lack of documentary evidence from this era, believed to have been either withheld by the government or destroyed, forced the authors to depend on firsthand accounts from those who interacted with or were acquainted with Percy Toplis. Nearly fifty years after the book's initial publication, many of these individuals have passed away, rendering this title particularly noteworthy.
I found Toplis connections to Wales during the six weeks he spent evading the police after being accused of murder especially fascinating, as some of the mentioned areas are near my home. The subsequent shootout in Penrith between Toplis and police, following a lengthy manhunt, raises more questions than it resolves, as does the inquiry into why the Military Police were so focused on Toplis if he was not implicated in the Etaples Mutiny.
I found the book to be quite enjoyable and even took the opportunity to revisit Alan Bleasdale’s outstanding drama featuring Paul McGann. I recognized that adapting the storyline from this book must have been a challenging endeavour, yet it was delightful to identify the various elements that played a role in its creation. Nevertheless, I still believe that the tale of Percy Toplis remains incomplete, leaving one to ponder if further insights will emerge regarding The Monocled Mutineer, whether related to Etaples or not.
The BBC faced significant criticism from the UK government at the time, and a prominent researcher distanced themselves from the series due to alleged 'serious inaccuracies'. This trend of critique has continued in subsequent reviews of the book. Nevertheless, the negative press did not prevent The Monocled Mutineer from becoming a widely acclaimed drama series, nor prevent further interest in Percy Toplis or education of the horrific treatment to soldiers from their superiors in Etaples.
A significant concern expressed by audiences about The Monocled Mutineer dramatization is the ambiguity surrounding Toplis' role in the Etaples mutiny. His involvement is only briefly referenced in several chapters detailing Etaples, while eyewitness testimonies vary in their clarity regarding his presence. Although I contend that the book fails to provide definitive evidence of Toplis' participation in the mutiny—considering the sheer number of mutineers involved, which was in the thousands, and Toplis' established reputation as a cunning deceiver—it also does not categorically dismiss the possibility of his involvement.
The narrative effectively emphasizes Toplis' remarkable ability to impersonate army officers, often donning a monocle and gaining the trust of various individuals while evading capture and moving between locations, even re-enlisting when pursued by military police. The lack of documentary evidence from this era, believed to have been either withheld by the government or destroyed, forced the authors to depend on firsthand accounts from those who interacted with or were acquainted with Percy Toplis. Nearly fifty years after the book's initial publication, many of these individuals have passed away, rendering this title particularly noteworthy.
I found Toplis connections to Wales during the six weeks he spent evading the police after being accused of murder especially fascinating, as some of the mentioned areas are near my home. The subsequent shootout in Penrith between Toplis and police, following a lengthy manhunt, raises more questions than it resolves, as does the inquiry into why the Military Police were so focused on Toplis if he was not implicated in the Etaples Mutiny.
I found the book to be quite enjoyable and even took the opportunity to revisit Alan Bleasdale’s outstanding drama featuring Paul McGann. I recognized that adapting the storyline from this book must have been a challenging endeavour, yet it was delightful to identify the various elements that played a role in its creation. Nevertheless, I still believe that the tale of Percy Toplis remains incomplete, leaving one to ponder if further insights will emerge regarding The Monocled Mutineer, whether related to Etaples or not.
Read
March 28, 2025I don't award stars to non-fiction - IMHO the subject matter is its own rating. Just as well in the case of this book.
This book details two things: the British Army mutiny of 1917 and the life and gunning down of criminal, deserter and suspected murder Percy Toplis.
I was unaware of the 1917 mutiny and this book made interesting reading on that topic. But it seems unlikely - especially in retrospect - that Percy Toplis had any involvement in the mutiny, as his regiment was off in the east somewhere. Even within the text, the two subjects seem like independent narratives, with the 50 page chunk that details the events of the mutiny scarcely mentioning Toplis.
The uncertainty and military cover up make this ripe material for a dramatization that places the outlaw Toplis within the mutiny - and that is indeed what happened, although sadly the BBC bowed to government pressure and have not made the series available anywhere.
This book is good to find out about the mutiny, especially as many of the participants were still available for interview when this book was written. The Toplis stuff is tenuous and irrelevant.
This book details two things: the British Army mutiny of 1917 and the life and gunning down of criminal, deserter and suspected murder Percy Toplis.
I was unaware of the 1917 mutiny and this book made interesting reading on that topic. But it seems unlikely - especially in retrospect - that Percy Toplis had any involvement in the mutiny, as his regiment was off in the east somewhere. Even within the text, the two subjects seem like independent narratives, with the 50 page chunk that details the events of the mutiny scarcely mentioning Toplis.
The uncertainty and military cover up make this ripe material for a dramatization that places the outlaw Toplis within the mutiny - and that is indeed what happened, although sadly the BBC bowed to government pressure and have not made the series available anywhere.
This book is good to find out about the mutiny, especially as many of the participants were still available for interview when this book was written. The Toplis stuff is tenuous and irrelevant.
October 19, 2022
I remember the TV series that was based on this book though I've not seen it since it's origina airing.
I'm not sure how much I trust this book, the research seems flimsy at best and much of it focuses on the mutiny over Toplis. The biographical details are sparse but then I suppose he was young when he died and lived much of his short life in the shadows.
I'm not sure how much I trust this book, the research seems flimsy at best and much of it focuses on the mutiny over Toplis. The biographical details are sparse but then I suppose he was young when he died and lived much of his short life in the shadows.
July 9, 2022
An interesting book about a dark episode of an even darker chapter of our history. Considering that the events were suppressed at the time much of what is retold here is sketchy at best. I’m already looking for further books to go deeper into the events, but this is a worthy starting point
February 12, 2020
Interesting if somewhat superficial in parts
August 16, 2022
fascinating.
Well worth reading about this interesting if flawed character. Shows up the incompetence of some of the senior officers in WW 1.
Well worth reading about this interesting if flawed character. Shows up the incompetence of some of the senior officers in WW 1.
March 3, 2023
This was a well-kept secret from WWI, interesting man, story that could never happen with modern technology.
February 25, 2011
This is the story of petty criminal Percy Toplis and his involvement in the British army mutiny at Etaples in 1917 during World War I. The event was covered up for almost 60 years when the book was written in 1978. Toplis eventually met a violent death in a shoot out in Scotland in 1920. I read this around the time that the BBC adaptation starring Paul McGann was shown on television, which I enjoyed more than the book.
November 5, 2016
Had this been issued as a novel, I would have rated it a great read, as history, it's invention.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews