No Place to Run: The Canadian Corps and Gas Warfare in the First World War

by Tim Cook

Historians of the First World War have often dismissed the important role of poison gas in the battles of the Western Front. Tim Cook shows that the serious threat of gas did not disappear with the introduction of gas masks. By 1918, gas shells were used by all armies to deluge the battlefield, and those not instructed with a sound anti-gas doctrine left themselves exposed to this new chemical plague.This book provides a challenging re-examination of the function of gas warfare in the First World War, including its important role in delivering victory in the campaign of 1918 and its curious postwar legacy.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Canada, World War I, War, Military History, Adult

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Tim Cook (1971 in Kingston - October 26, 2025) was a Canadian military historian and author.
Dr. Tim Cook was the Chief Historian & Director of Research at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, and a part-time history professor at Carleton University. He has also published several books about the military history of Canada during World War I.

Dr. Cook is a member of the Order of Canada.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Cook...

Reviews

[Lorne Dmitruk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another well written book by Tim Cook. I found the details of how the Canadian Corps learned how to deal with and use gas during the First World War very interesting. The fact gas was used extensively by both sides during war was a bit of a shock to me. I think is something not a lot of people are very aware of and has changed my perspective on the amount of suffering the combatants endured during the course of the war. In addition the details in how the Canadian Corps developed an effective gas protocol that probably saved many lives was also very interesting to learn about.

[Caer Glas · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most interesting books on the Great War I've read recently. Cook's research into a hitherto neglected area of the First World War will open your eyes to both the extent and horror of chemical warfare and the amazing efforts made to minimize the effects. Usually mentioned merely in passing in many well regarded histories of WWI, the in depth treatment of gas warfare in all of its aspects brings a whole different view of the First World War battlefield.

Five stars for actually providing something new and original!

[Peter Traplin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an excellent history of the Canadians experience of the gas war during World War 1. This aspect of the war is often minimized or completely overlooked in histories of the war. However in No Where To Run it goes into great detail shinning a light on this important aspect of the war.

This was the first book by Tim Cook I read and I got totally hooked. I really like his style of writing with facts accompanied by anecdotes and contemporaneous material. Since reading this book I've become a super fan and have ready every single book Tim Cook has written and always wait with great anticipation for his new releases.

I highly recommend this shocking, bleak and extremely fascinating book.

[Trish Forbes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for school, read again for 'fun'.