Featured battle : Schewardino

Part of The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars

Date : 05 September 1812

The Russians built a small weak redoubt in the village of Schewardino which was too far from their main position to be supported. Its tactical value was zero. Napoleon committed troops headlong at its destruction. The village and its redoubt fell at great cost to both sides. The French 61e Line Regiment was all but destroyed. For both sides this was a pointless exercise.

The Second World War Through Soldiers Eyes

James Goulty
A great variety of soldiers speak through these pages and their experiences from Call-Up to post discharge is covered. There is mention of all theatres and all branches. Although, understandably, the bulk of the experiences are of active service I found the chapters on being a POW and the casualty/medical chapters fascinating as it is rare to find them dealt with in this way. James Goulty has done an excellent job in selecting quotations as his research must have led him to a very large pool. His text causes one to feel that ‘this is how it really was’.
It is not a large book, 179 pages, and therefore gives only an overview but the bibliography is very extensive. There is also a set of well annotated photographs.
Having read many books on detailed aspects of WW2 this book has a value in that it causes one to stand back and perhaps find a new focus. If you start this book you won’t put it down and we recommend you start it.

Pen & Sword Military, 2021