Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Willson Scott Publishing (1 Nov 2010)
ISBN-10: 1877427306
ISBN-13: 978-1877427305
All too often in Great War History when we refer to the ANZACs it is very easy to forget the New Zealand element of this famous fight force. John H Gray in his book, ‘From the Uttermost Ends of the Earth: The New Zealand Division on the Western Front 1916-1918' has looked at this period of New Zealand's history in a clear and concise manner, it covers all the actions of the New Zealanders in the Great War.
This book is both a comprehensive history and a travel guide very cleverly rolled into one volume. It is refreshing to see that Gray has combined both areas so successfully. At no time is the reader left with unanswered questions.
The reader/battlefield tourist is guided in intimate detail through the major events involving the New Zealanders in the Great War. The text is clear and concise with first class maps and pictures. Again it is refreshing to see new pictures; all too often authors use the same few commonly seen photographs to illustrate their books. The use of Trench Maps is very good; again the reader/battlefield tourist is left in no doubt as to where the events took place. More importantly the battlefield tourist is given all the GPS co-ordinates for each day tour. With the ever increasing sophistication of satnavs this is a very welcome addition to battlefield guides.
John H Gray has with this volume raised the bar in relation to the very best of battlefield guidebooks. It is a deeply researched book. It is without doubt the very best battlefield guidebook on the market today. One can only hope that today's Great War battlefield historians use this wonderful book as the new benchmark.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is at the very pinnacle of Great War guide books. Whether you are visiting the battlefields or reading about the New Zealand Armies involvement in the Great War you should own this magnificent work.
Reviewed by Martin Hornby, WFA Deputy Chairman.
