The Western Front Association: furthering interest in the Great War 1914-18 | explore | learn | share

ISBN: 0750930047  HB 258pp
Published by Sutton Publishing. 

These battlefronts are “Forgotten” only in terms of their relative unpopularity compared with the mainstream areas of the British front line on the Western Front. There is ample existing copy available for each of them, as the bibliography makes clear, but this book brings together the basic story in a readily readable and condensed format. That said, Evans takes us to nine lesser known battlefields and gives an outline of the topography, archaeology and a narrative battle history of the areas. The use of photographs showing the modern day context is excellent and adds to the isolation of the battlefronts, both in time as well as consciousness.
As well as examining three Belgian actions that generally do not get much exposure he concentrates on Italy, Salonika and the Voges. In each case he identifies archaeological evidence of the war, some obvious some less so, and invites us to reflect on how the sometimes maligned participants from Austria, Italy and Bulgaria did a fine job in defending or attacking positions. It is also sobering that some of the pistes on today’s ski resorts were once battlefields. Compare the pictures of the Italian Alpini, skis slung over shoulders, with your holiday snaps.
As an introduction to these lesser exposed battlefields this book is excellent. It provokes further reading because it stimulates interest. One wonders if the forgotten battlefront of Mesopotamia will be able to be added to similar examination sometime soon?

Reviewer: Mike McCarthy