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Pro Patria Mori
On Saturday, 1st July 1916, the men of the 56th Division, went 'over the top' to storm Gommecourt - a village recognised as the strongest position in the German lines. It was the opening day of the 141-day Battle of the Somme when 57,470 British soldiers were killed, wounded or taken prisoner. 'Pro Patria Mori' recounts the experiences of the men who fought and died at Gommecourt. Using the personal recollections of those involved, many previously unpublished, the book is a day by day account of the planning and preparation of the attack. The battle itself is covered minute by minute, with many situation maps to explain the action. Unlike many WWI histories, the fighting is seen from both sides of No Man's Land with accounts drawn from many German unit histories. Includes 40 photographs and over 20 maps and plans.
720 pages, Paperback
First published July 28, 2008
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October 23, 2020
Another excellent tour de force by Alan MacDonald in writing what has to be the definitive history of the British VII Corps attack on Gommecourt on 1 July 1916. This attack was conceived as a diversion to soak off extra German artillery and infantry away from the main assault occurring just to the south. Suffice it to say this attack was an unmitigated disaster.
Mr. MacDonald’s detailed day by day and minute by minute account of this disaster is a very enriching read. While full of pathos and lament for the involved men, the detail of the planning and execution of all the preparations provides insights into aspects of a battle that no other book I have read has ever approached. Naming every man killed and most of the wounded, including biographical details and place of burial or the location of their names on the magnificent Thiepval Memorial does excellent justice to these men’s sacrifice. And he does the same for German dead and wounded as well.
This book, and his companion work on the 46th North Midland Division that also participated in the attack are the best accounts I’ve ever read concerning the detailed planning and execution of a western front assault. This isn’t dry reading either, I have to say it was a page turner, for me at least. No stone was left unturned by Mr. MacDonald, he seemed to have a passion for this topic that few others have had.
I highly recommend this work for anyone interested in World War I military history, and the Somme in particular.
Mr. MacDonald’s detailed day by day and minute by minute account of this disaster is a very enriching read. While full of pathos and lament for the involved men, the detail of the planning and execution of all the preparations provides insights into aspects of a battle that no other book I have read has ever approached. Naming every man killed and most of the wounded, including biographical details and place of burial or the location of their names on the magnificent Thiepval Memorial does excellent justice to these men’s sacrifice. And he does the same for German dead and wounded as well.
This book, and his companion work on the 46th North Midland Division that also participated in the attack are the best accounts I’ve ever read concerning the detailed planning and execution of a western front assault. This isn’t dry reading either, I have to say it was a page turner, for me at least. No stone was left unturned by Mr. MacDonald, he seemed to have a passion for this topic that few others have had.
I highly recommend this work for anyone interested in World War I military history, and the Somme in particular.
Displaying 1 of 1 review