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

Published by Sutton Publishing. 

The evolution of the British Army from 1914 to the November 1918 armistice is one of the remarkable and often understated elements that led to victory in the Great War. By 1918 it was the single most effective army in the field (those of France and Russia having mutinied, Germany being to all intents and purposes defeated, and USA not having reached its operational potential and still learning the harsh lessons of industrial warfare).
This book shows how the British Army embraced change, technology and new thinking and all the organisational demands that followed. It expands on the many administrational and logistical structures necessary to keep the front line soldier fed, equipped and fighting. There is no doubt that failure to give these elements due attention contrived to contribute to the French and Russian problems.
This book gives a very good overview of the aspects that contributed to victory. It is not a mass of facts and figures but structured introductions to each subject that invite you to discover more. Therefore for the researcher it is a good launching pad to check, and for the general reader a good overview of the Army and its development.
A small criticism is the indexation could have been more detailed, so enabling the finding of information easier. For example a search for Fodder or Petrol consumption yields nothing, but the information is found under Rations.
Otherwise a recommended book and a useful addition to any great War collection.

Reviewer: Mike McCarthy