Featured battle : Loos (or 3rd Artois)

Part of First World War

Date : 25 September 1915 - 08 October 1915

To coordinate with Marshal Joffre's offensive in Champagne, Haig's British 1st Army and the French 10th Army under Gen. Dubail attacked von Falkenhayn's positions in Artois. The British moved against positions around La Bassée Canal and the town of Loos while the French assaulted Vimy Ridge. Both attacks made progress, biting deep into the German 2nd and 3rd trench lines until lack of reserves slowed progress and effective counter-attacks drove them back. This was the first use of poison gas by the British.

A Spy in the Sky

Kenneth B Johnson
Subtitled "A Photographic Reconnaissance Spitfire Pilot in WWII", this is as it seems, a memoir of a PR pilot. But it's more than just that. Johnson was a young airman volunteer, who knew only that he didn't want to be drafted into the army to face terror and death on the battlefield. So as soon as he was old enough he volunteered for the RAF thinking he'd spend the war sweeping out hangars. Somehow he ended up being chosen for NCO aircrew, showed an aptitude and volunteered for Spitfires, albeit unarmed ones! This led to him being in almost suicidal situations flying from North African airfields over the Med in unarmed, barely serviceable aircraft deep into enemy territory. It is a touching book, written in his own words, about how poorly he was treated as an 'other rank' in an officer's world. Even after he received his commission, he felt no acceptance and his health suffered as a result. This book fills in a valuable gap, exploring a very different viewpoint of Spitfire flying and is to be recommended.
Pen & Sword Air World, Yorkshire, 2019