At Close Range

by Peter Hart

The best way to understand what it was like to fight in the Second World War is to see it through the eyes of the soldiers who fought it. The South Notts Hussars fought at almost every major battle of the Second World War, from the Siege of Tobruk to the Battle of El Alamein and the D-Day Landings.

Here, Peter Hart draws on detailed interviews conducted with members of the regiment, to provide both a comprehensive account of the conflict and reconstruct its most thrilling moments in the words of the men who experienced it.

This is military history at its best: outlining the path from despair to victory, and allowing us to share in soldiers' hopes and fears; the deafening explosions of the shells, the scream of the diving Stukas and the wounded; the pleasures of good comrades and the devastating despair at lost friends.

Genres: World War II, History, Military History

576 pages, Hardcover

Published January 7, 2021

About the author

Peter Hart is a British military historian.

He has been an oral historian at Sound Archive of Imperial War Museum in London since 1981.

He has written mainly on British participation in the First World War. His books include; The Somme, Jutland 1916, Bloody April on the air war in 1917, Passchendaele, Aces Falling (on the air war in 1918), 1918 A Very British Victory and Gallipoli.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Ben Vos · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's a balance to be struck between high-level context and just concentrating on the voices of the men. I think Peter Hart has found that balance very well and knows when to let the personal detail take over to powerful effect. The social background of the regiment in question was detailed early on which helped too. This isn't done enough.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating account of a TA Regiment 107 South Notts Hussars Royal Horse Artillery.
This is an oral history of the regiment written from interviews of the men who served.
The regiment served throughout the war suffering horrendous losses in the North Africa campaign.
A must read for anyone interested in the artillery at war or indeed wanting to know what life was like warts and all.

[Goody · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating account of an Artillery Regiment througout the second world war. Well written with numerous personal accounts, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Jonah Gagnon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written oral history of the South Nottinghamshire Hussars, a pre-war cavalry unit turned into an Artillery Regiment. The author does a great job of making the workings of an artillery regiment accessible to the average reader, while still holding the attention of Gunners, or those more invested in the artillery.

The opening few chapters are a bit slow, but work to let you learn more about the brave men of this regiment, and the backgrounds they came from. The book primarily focuses on the Eighth Army's campaigns in North Africa and Sicily. The latter part of the book touches briefly on the campaigns in Normandy, North-West Europe, and uniquely the demobilization after the war.

The only thing that kind of strikes me as odd, or stands out as a negative, would be anytime the author mentions Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Any mention of the Prime Minister, and the author would not hesitate to add some negative connotation, but with no further explanation/investigation. It sort of feels like a negative personal bias coming through in the writing, but ultimately doesn't detract from the rest of the book.

All in all, excellent read.

[Steve822 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author has achieved the contributing veterans' aim to tell future generations what it was like and to remember their hardship and the sacrifice of those killed. Appears to be a truthful, honest but also highly readable. It should be more widely read and valued but suffers from not having Max Hastings name on the front for the drone readers.

[Jared · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting an personalised insight into life in an artillery regiment, from forming to demobilisation. Such units are probably less written about so it was great to get a feel for what life was like in such units. The personal stories, mixed with a feel for the overall war situation made this a very readable and accessible story.

[jim bowen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bloody All Right, Matey!

Interesting, but tedious at times. What these men suffered through for 6 long years , and thereafter in civilian life is heartbreaking. Very informative and a glimpse at life as it was at home, and in war..

[Malcolm Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fascinating book goes you an idea of what it was like to fight in the artillery during the second world war.The author has the good sense to leave most of the talking to the actual gunners.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting history of one artillery regiment during Hitler’s war based on taped interviews with veterans. Some visceral history.