1914

The British Ace #1

by Griff Hosker

The story of a young soldier who joins the cavalry to fight in France in 1914. After the horrors of a cavalry charge against machine guns he transfers to the R.F.C where he becomes a gunner and observer. Eventually he becomes a pilot and shows a flair for aerial combat. Set against the backdrop of England in 1914 it shows the contrast between life in England and the brutal war in Flanders.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

195 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

I was born in 1950 in Lancashire and attended a boy’s grammar school. After qualifying as an English and Drama teacher in 1972, I worked in the North East of England for the next 35 years. During that time I did write, mainly plays, pantos and musicals for the students at the three schools in which I worked.

When I stopped teaching I set up my own consultancy firm and worked as an adviser in schools and colleges in the North East of England. The new Conservative Government ended that avenue of work and in 2010 I found that I had time on my hands; having started work at the age of 15 I found the lack of work not to my liking and used the time to research the Roman invasion of Britain and begin to create a novel. The result was The Sword of Cartimandua.

My decision to begin writing was one of the best I have ever taken.

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Reviews

[Michael Alicastro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book

The book started prior to WW I and kept it suspenseful through the year. I enjoyed it and look forward to the next book.

[Samuel R · Rating 5 out of 5]

enjoyable

A Very good read; Believable characters, and a good story line. I am looking forward to continue reading the rest of the series.

[Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Historical Fiction, British Ace, series by this author. 1914 of course is the first year of World War I. The main character is Bill Harsker. His family lives on the Estate of Lord Burscough in Lancashire, England. Bill and his father care for the horses on the estate. Bill’s sisters have duties at the main house. So, the story starts out describing the tranquil home life of the Harsker family. Once WWI breaks out, Bill must join his regiment and quickly goes to Flanders to at least help halt the German advance if not push them back to Germany. Bill is in a calvary regiment, which is primarily used for reconnaissance. He encounters combat, destruction and hardships there as the Western Front settles into trench warfare. Bill is wounded and sent home to convalesce. While he is at home, the Lord’s son talks him into transferring to the Royal Air Corp. The rest of the book describes Bill experiences as an observer and gunner on a biplane; and then, as a pilot. The story has excellent descriptions of peacetime life in England, the calvary’s role in the war and then life in the Royal Air Corp. Very interesting reading about life in those early days of World War I. The characters are a little stiff, but I think the author was trying to make them realistic to the times. The British people had a very “stiff upper lick” and formal attitude about life back then. Each individual knew their role and their duty and did it without much emotional involvement. The combat scenes are well described and gives you insight into combat during the early months of World War I.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my second novel by Grif Hosker and as such I have an open mind in relation to this authors abilities. It has to be said he is prolific with a multitude of volumes, stories and writings on all facets of history. I am beginning to think, having completed this one, that perhaps he is not for me, writing carelessly without much description and a naive style that leaves the reader doing all the work. I have read many books on the horrors of the First World War and as such this is perhaps one of the weakest, with some very bad and shallow characterisation and little explanation as the story develops of the lives the times and the realities of the life that has been foisted on the main character and the people surrounding him. That said these books are short 25 pages'ish, and expensive in Kindle terms and therefore following a character through all their ups and downs can become very costly, especially when the story is weak and the prose is just on the acceptable side of OK.
I have committed to the second novel in the series , imaginatively entitled 1915, and I will take the time to read in the hope that now I know the characters better the story may have a little more substance. Should that prove not to be the case then I will not be considering myself as a fan of Mr Hosker....we will see!

[Charles Nordstrom · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was somewhat disappointed in this book for a couple of reasons. To begin with, I found the sentence structure awkward and more on a juvenile level than for the more mature reader. I am not too sure the author has a great deal of familiarity with flying, particularly with the type of flying and aircraft he writes about. While damage to the rudder would make flying this type of aircraft awkward, it wouldn't necessarily make turning impossible though the pilot would have to cope with adverse yaw. I'd be far more concerned with damage to the elevators. Finally, I was surprised that the author had his cavalrymen being issued gas masks in 1914 and a reference to grenades, both of which really came later in the war. Despite these issues, I still give the book 3 stars. For more detailed appreciation of the aircraft of the period there are better fictional books available.

[Studebhawk · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Hero in the Air
From very humble beginnings, Corporal Harsker starts as a lowly recruit in the French trenches during World War I. Through his bravery and determination, he is offered a position in the newly formed Royal Air Force.

The author excels in describing the desperate trench warfare of World War I in France. The depiction of air combat at this early stage of aviation effectively conveys the danger and sheer terror faced by these pioneering pilots.

There is also social commentary regarding the changes brought about by the war in Britain. While I noticed some grammatical errors, I did not mind them because the author crafts a compelling story with beautifully developed characters that you genuinely care about.

Overall, "1914" is an excellent read. It serves as a poignant commentary on the true cost of war.

[tony wallas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not many books written in past decade or two are as engaging and as accurately informative as this one. Not only describing the absolute horrific life and deaths of those who served in WW1 but also reflecting the social changes affecting the, up until then, rigid Class Structure that had governed England in the Edwardian Era. An almost perfect mix of personal experience and overlaying changing world experience.

[J. Griff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this book finding the story enjoyable & the characters engaging. The first part of the book broke by heart at, being a pet owner, the loss of his horse while in the cavalry. Horses & dogs are the most loyal of animals. Having been a retired Soldier myself I don’t know much about aviation as I wasn’t part of those units, but I did find it interesting especially during this particular time era.

I do recommend it.

[G Bancroft · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

This is one of the best of Mr. Hosker's that I have read. It started a bit slow but then it took off. Please excuse the pun. It is a very enjoyable read for military enthusiasts. I had a hard time putting it down and read it in a day. I look forward to the rest of the series.

[Dana Reeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting

This is the first book by Griff Hosker I have read and it was more than riveting. In fact it is addicting. I can't wait to start the next in the series. It tells a wonderful story surrounded by early aviation in the First World War.

[Gene Rosso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hooked on another series by Gifford Hosker😀

[Somerled · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Boy's Own stuff!

Bit simplistic with some questionable editing i.e. mother's & sister's last letters dated March and April 1914 respectively and we have a Boxing Day 1915!

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read. WWI - Bill survives a cavalry charge into machine guns, recovers at hospital in England, accepts an invitation to join the RFC and leave the ground war.

[Dennis Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great 1st book

Really enjoyed this first book in the series. Looking forward to book 2. Lots of action and is well written.

[John Blevins · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good fiction depicting real warfare.

The actual history of WW1 is connected to believable characters, and creates a tremendous effect of what these real people accomplished.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Griff Hosker alwaysprovidesa good history read.

Mr Hosker writes historical fiction that one enjoys, and gets a good feel for the era. He alwAys has a great main character, who lives the good in life, and the bad. I have yet to read a book from him that I didn't enjoy. The Saxon series was awesome, and the WWI British ace is almost as good. Only less because I enjoy the era of the Viking/Saxon/Norman historical era slightly more. Very affordable,and I plan to eventually read all of his books on kindle.

He is almost as good as Brenard Cornwell,to me.

Buy it if you like WWI books. This author will not disappoint.

[David Hughes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once again a great WWI story

Again DR H enjoyed andlearnedalarge amount of WWI military stuff. Beingafrustrated CartGrapher I really enjoyed them great maps (three) in t h e epiloguesection. When one can enlarge _number three map one can visualizes Claude Money's young son would lose his life
.They Hun were 25 miles outside the out skirts Paris! Truly DRH

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Nice Tale!

Well-written fictional account of the early days of warfare on the ground and in the air in the First World War.

[Matt Larson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very descriptive account of what it was like to be a British soldier in WWI