Featured battle : Mantua, second siege of

Part of The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars

Date : 24 August 1796 - 02 February 1797

The Austrian Garrison suffered enormous privations and many died of sickness rather than by the actions of the enemy. The relief column of the 15th September 1796, lead by Würmser, had failed to relieve but had been forced into the fortress. On the 16th January 1797 a relief column under Provera supported by a strong sally from the fortress again failed to relieve Mantua and the surrender came on the 2nd February. Würmser, his staff and 700 men were allowed to march out free with six guns. The remainder of the Garrison about 20,000 men marched out with honours of war paroled not to fight again until exchanged. The French took 325 Austrian guns and recaptured 179 of their own guns.

Battle for the Bocage 1944

Tim Saunders
This is the story of one small campaign of a whole world war. This is the crucial action which turned a toe hold into a hand hold. The desperate struggle which was pushed forward by the 50th Division aided by 7th and 8th Armoured divisions, Royal Artillery and all other support arms. The text is very clear and there are numerous photographs, almost one per page, of the people and the equipment. There are maps of different kinds which cover every planned advance and the general area of operations. Unfortunately not a single one has the scale which leaves the reader to work hard with the text to understand the distances involved.
The narrative works at the level of divisions, battalions, batteries, companies, platoons, squadrons, troops, sections and individuals. The ‘voices’ of the officers and men plus their various citations for bravery tell a vivid tale. Also the German side is not neglected from the reporting of actions and feelings. I would like to have seen a full body count at the end for this campaign, it must have been very high and would have served as a sobering reminder of the real cost of this ‘hand hold’.
This book is not easy to put down, it’s a real page turner. You may of course reflect that when you finish it the campaign will be much clearer to you than it was at the time to any of those involved from Army commander to Tommy Atkins. The fog of war has been blown away by Tim Saunders.
We highly recommend this great read.

Pen & Sword Military, 2021