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Title-At Her Majesty's Secret Service- The Chiefs of Britain's Intelligence Agency MI6
Author- Nigel West
Publisher- Greenhill Books
ISBN- 1853677021
Binding- hardback
Pages- 304
Price-£20
If like myself you are interested in the secret service that has since 1909 been on watch to protect the UK from attack or espionage in its various guises then this latest title is something you should check out. It aspires to bring to light the stories of the heads of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, fourteen in fact, beginning with Mansfield Smith-Cumming who became the first chief, otherwise known as "C" in august 1909. The book then takes the reader through the succeeding list of "C" incumbents such as Hugh Sinclair, Stewart Menzies, John Sinclair, Dick White, John Rennie, Maurice Oldfield, Dickie Franks, Colin Figures, Christopher Curwen, Colin McColl, David Spedding, Richard Dearlove and John Scarlet. Of especial interest however are the last two on this list because these are the men who facilitated the move to an unprovoked war with Iraq, as the text will demonstrate.
But one has to be careful because they like all the powerful figures in the UK are protected by such as libel etc but suffice it to say that I wonder how some of the key personnel involved in this debacle sleep at night, though no doubt this is made easier by the prospect of career progression and eventual honours. The book overall makes for some fascinating discoveries one of which concerned the Butler Report, that of course with the Hutton Report were masterpieces of Whitehall pragmatism. I had quite forgotten that Lord Butler was involved in the Scott Inquiry when he had referred to the widespread Whitehall practice of supplying incomplete answers to potentially embarrassingly parliamentary questions. I also remember other aspects from fellow colleagues at the time such as "the truth can be a difficult concept" etc. It would seem that far from exposing bad practice by the Scott Report it was probably business as usual. But I digress.
My only real criticism of the book is the minimal amount of space given over to Scarlet because he is at the helm of the secret services now. But what is included makes for depressing reading, having already demonstrated, allegedly, a willingness to supply whatever his political masters want, maybe even more dodgy dossiers. As to whether this had any bearing on his promotion I leave to the individual to judge. What however comes as a surprise is the fact that I and many others were surprised by such strategies given the arrogance of this government and the establishment, the complete distain for the electorate of this country, the elected dictatorship at its most effective.
All told a fascinating glimpse into the shadowy world of Britain's Secret Services but one I am certain barely scratches the surface and doesn't reveal the full truth of what actually happens in smoke filled rooms.
Title- Stewart Blacker
Author- Barnaby Blacker
Publisher- Pen and Sword
ISBN-1844154319
Binding- Hardback
Pages- 206
Price- £19.99
Few are the individuals who live life to the full but one such lucky soul seems to have been one Stewart Blacker, soldier, aviator and weapons inventor to name but a few of his hits worn. Much to be commended was his hatred of "the abominable no-men of Whitehall" in keeping with his hatred of officialdom which is surprising perhaps given his education background as a classical scholar, marrying well to the daughter of Lord Peel, who then turned his hand to soldiering and practical uses of engineering skills gained it would seem pragmatically. Before WWI he gained one of the earliest pilots licences and flew as an aerial gunner spotter being shot down several times resulting in a beak to his neck from which he was lucky to recover. Following the end of the war he went to India where he found himself engaged in active service with Queen Victoria's Own Corps of Guides, fighting the armed rabbles of the Bolshevik army in Central Asia, Persia Afghanistan and Kurdistan where he earned such respect from his erstwhile foe that he was offered a commission in their army. Blacker travelled over 9,000 miles across Transcaspia by horse, called Marushka, and even more removed in terms of endurance was a flight over Mount Everest. During the interwar years his knowledge of such areas was put to good use by working for MI5.
Clearly a man of action but his story doesn't end there because he then went on, as Britain's only private armaments inventor, to explore the application of anti tank weapons leading to the Blacker Bombard and the successor to this, the PIAT whose use he promoted against the accepted wisdom of the "Whitehall no-men". This was resisted and it was, only with the intervention of one Winston Churchill, that the PIAT was eventually adopted by the British Army. Too late alas for the German invasion of Poland and the fall of France but given the status of German tanks during these campaigns it is likely that the presence of the PIAT could had made a great contribution and perhaps changed the course of events.
Fortunately for us Blacker kept notes and memoirs of his adventures and these have been compiled into this his biography using these in conjunction with letters and artefacts from the family archives, edited by his grandson Barnaby Blacker and bringing the incredible story of this turn of the 20th century, eccentric for the times, life to a wider audience. A task much to be applauded adding a marvellous chapter to the oft untold history of Britain....an excellent read and one to dip into time and again,
Title- Uniforms of the German Soldier
Author- Alejandro M. D. Quesada
Publisher-Greenhill
ISBN- 1853676799
Binding- Hardback
Pages- 223
Price-£
Definitely one for the military historian, figure modeller, or re-enactor seeking accuracy in uniforms of the German army from WW I to the present day taking full advantage of contemporary photographs in both black ansd white plus colour. However many of these are in fact portraits, as you would expect, and despite this the information they contain is very useful being of course close ups of insignia and decorations. The chapters covber four periods divided up thus. First in line is the Revolution of the Weimar Republic 1919-33; Third Reich and WW II 1933-45; Nationalen Volksarmee 1946-91; and Der Bundessheer 1946-2005.Complementing this are appendices that further highlight details of the above supported by 16 full colour pages providing a broad over view including some unusual and interesting developments. One of the more unusal images is of the post WW II German army equipped with US style M1A1 steel helmets and pistol belts intermixed with more traditional fittings opening the way for some fascinating figure work for the modeller. All told it represents a very useful reference resource for historians, re-enactors and scale modellers to whom it is recommended.
 Title- Battlefields Annual Review
Edited- Jon Cooksey
Publisher- Pen & Sword
ISBN- 1844152812
Price- £16.99
Pages- 135
Binding- Softback
For four years Battlefield Review has brought together some of the worlds leading authorities on military history bringing battlefields to life for its readers. This years edition switches the spotlight onto battlefield archaeology with leading edge research getting below, quite literally, the surface of an eclectic array of battlefields some maybe quite unknown to many as well as others more familiar. First of interest was a recent survey of finds and artefacts resulting from a road widening scheme for better access to the Little Bighorn or the Greasy Grass site. This produced 82 cartridge finds of differing calibres and case too which just goes to show how much might still remain to be recovered to enable a better understanding of the events that that unfolded that fateful day.
Other features cover Scottish Battlefields with a data base analysis and assessment, which is more interesting than it sounds, followed by several articles that roughly divide into two main eras, English Civil War and WWI. The former goes back to Edgehill and the lesser-known skirmishes in Yorkshire (Tankersley Moor) and the latter underground tunnels and bunkers on the Western Front. This is then rounded off by an account of the 1649 battle between Cossacks and Polish Lithuanians and a couple of reviews of books, and Gamebox items
 Title- How to Stage a Military Coup
Author- David Hebditch and Ken Connor
Publisher- Greenhill Books
ISBN- 1853676403
Price- £18.99
Pages-224
Binding-Hardback
Every now and again a book comes your way and its title draws you irresistibly towards it and this superb volume is just one such, although for those security services reading this even as I type, I don't for the record seek a regime change in the UK. Well not strictly true having seen that with but 22% of all electors voting for it the Government claims a mandate to rule. But after reading this book you may well give up in despair as the tale of tragedy, corruption and mayhem pass before your eyes, a witness to the depths of depravity to which some humans have sunk in the quest for power. Unfortunately added to the list are countries whose self interest over rides those of indigenous populations, and areas like Central and South America are well represented here, as too the many despots in Africa.
However not to despair or put you off the contents because those who learn nothing from history etc, and what you have here is a cornucopia of various facts and figures presented in a very accessible format interwoven with hints and tips to help you get your very own coup on its way. Ken Conner one of the authors was the longest serving member of the SAS so he should know a thing or two and following the leads given you too could very soon be moving into much larger or very much smaller residence in due course, depending of course upon how it pans out. In fact the authors even suggest one African country ripe for such a take over, this being Equatorial Guinea. Though it definitely is not a place to go on holiday, doubly so if you were related to any ex UK premiers it would seem. And just to prove how unstable a world it really is, check out the appendices listing military coups and you may be quite surprised to see how regular an occurance it seems to be. All told a brilliant read, and for those at that American base in Yorkshire, that is all I intend to do about it, and one to be recommended.... or not depending on who is in charge this week..
 Title- Special Operations in Iraq
Author- Mike Ryan
Publisher- Pen & Sword
ISBN- 1844153274
Price-£12.99
Pages- 174
Binding-Softback
The first Gulf War found the Special, Forces of the Allies very much of a minority partner in the conflict and yet despite this they delivered a potent anti SCUD missile teams. The next time the Gulf was set alight the Special Forces were well to the front in fact in place long before open hostilities unfolded, and it was the amazing contribution made by these numerically small but very potent forces that made a telling effect on the out come of the war. Just a shame they were Lions led by Donkeys.
Anyway that's another story, and this one focuses upon these Special Forces from the coalition brought together by Mike Ryan albeit with a caveat that certain technical, tactical and procedural details have been omitted to protect lives. Which is, as it should be given they are putting their lives on the line to serve their countries. Thus you will discover an over view of the role of the special forces in the conflict, overviews of specific operations, composition of units and all backed up by some very interesting photography. Of especial note is Operation Red Dawn, otherwise known as the capture of Saddam Hussein, rescue of Private Jessica Lynch, and of greater interest personal first hand accounts by those involved on the ground. Each Unit is detailed complete with history and weaponry etc, thus you find 101st Airborne Division, US Navy Seals, Delta Force, Green Berets, 75th Ranger Regiment, CIA Special Operations Group, Grey Fox, Australian SAS, Caesarea Israel, GROM Poland, UK Parachute Regiment, UK Pathfinder Platoon, SAS, Royal Marines.
Many of these possess fascinating histories in their own right but two are more mysterious than the rest and these are the CIA SOG and the US Army's Grey Fox unit this latter in effect a death squad, though how such teams are squared up with defending democracy is problematic. The list of Special Forces groups represents some of the finest around but the very limited number of countries involved in the coalition is clear. However the book is a corker, and a veritable reference resource for the armchair historian and modeller both so definitely one to check out
 Title- Shadow Warriors- A History of the US Army Rangers
Author- Mir Bahmanyar
Publisher- Osprey
ISBN- 184176860X
Price-£20
Pages- 336
Binding- Hardback
Rangers have led the way for over 300 years hailing from the Colonial Rangers commanded by Robert Rogers in 1759 who established a rugged tough standard and codes of discipline that still hold true today. The 75th Rangers held the line during the American Civil War, but it was during the Second World War that the rangers came into their own especially for such actions as their assault on such strongpoint as the Pont Du Hoc etc during the Normandy Landings in 1944. It was on the beachhead that General Cota called out to the Rangers on the beach to "lead the way" a rally cry that became the unit's motto (although it was elements of the 116th first off the beach). Thus No other American military unit can claim as colourful and volatile a history as the Rangers who have led the way in American wars from the initial formation in the 18th century through to modern conflict like Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
As befits an elite unit they are deployed to the most war ravaged parts of the globe with a consequently high casualty rate often above 80%. Which means the Ranger lifestyle is fraught with mental and physical hardships and it is these in the modern unit that this book seeks to explore. The author, himself an ex Ranger, demonstrates how the units rugged individualism and elite group work ethos bring them together a s close knit team providing numerous examples of operations in Panama (Just Cause), Granada (Urgent Fury), Somalia (Gothic Serpent), Kosovo, Afghanistan (Enduring Freedom, Rhino, Anaconda, Takur) and Iraq (Desert Storm). Basic tactical information is supplemented by contemporary photograph, colour maps and some brilliant first hand accounts bringing these actions to life.
The book is presented as a hard bound copy which makes it seem that more substantial anyway but overall it is a very impressive package and one that provides the reader with an informed insight to one of the US Army's elite units, so clearly one for the military historian or maybe the modeller looking for a new project idea.
 Title- US Strategic and Defensive Missile Systems 1950-2004
Author- Mark A Berhow illustrated by Chris Taylor
Publisher- Osprey Fortress 36
ISBN-1841768383
Price-
Binding- Softback
Pages- 64
The development of the atomic bomb drastically changed the military situation doubly so when the soviets finally achieved parity in destructive might. This created a need for planning post war to provide a defence against potential total destruction, which was a change from the previous fears of invasion. However the costs incurred to deliver such offensive and defensive systems were prohibitive both economically and militarily using extensive part of both internal and national politics and external global policy. This addition to the Fortress series draws together factors of this missile race with an overview of fixed land based missile assets for both safeguarding and deterrence.
It does this by an analysis of historical antecedents, the ground based defensive systems 1945- 74, the ground based strategic missiles 1950-93 (ICBM) and the Missile system organisation and life at missile site. Clearly in such a small volume there is much reduced, not a lot about the Pinetree, Mid Canada or the DEW line or the defence system that went operation for but one day before it became obsolete, but what s here is both informative and very interesting. Thus you come across the Nike Ajax (MIM-3), Hercules (MIM-14A/B), Zeus, Spartan, Sprint, BOMARC, and the Minuteman, Peacekeeper, Titan, Atlas, tan ICBM's. The text is very well supported by visual cutaways depicting a Nike Hercules base, Nike missile magazine, McGuire AFB BOMARC site 1963, Grand Forks with silo's, Atlas Fairchild AFB 1963, and a Titan I site in 1963.
Interestingly there is a list of preserved missile sites that can be visited making a trip compulsory if you are in the area. These are respectively a Nike site SF-88L at Marin Headlands Unit Golden Gate National Recreation Area CA; Titan site 571-7The Titan Missile Museum Sahuarita AZ; and a Minuteman site Delta 01/09 Minuteman National Heritage Site Wall SD. Overall, for the huge subject matter and the limitations of the page numbers, a fantastic book that really brings this oft overlooked aspect of the cold war to life and certainly one worthy of closer inspection for both the armchair historian or the scale modeller.
Title - Vietnam Tracks (Revise Edition) Armour in Battle 1945-75
Publisher- Osprey
Series- General Military
ISBN- 1 84176 833 2
Price- £14.99
Format- 267 x 198mm
Extent- 196 pages
Binding- Paperback
Illustrations - 196 b/w; 17 colour.
The Vietnam War was not one normally associated with the use of Armoured Fighting Vehicles the main impression being one of impenetrable jungle in which the Viet Cong plied their deadly trade of resistance. In order to correct this skewed perspective is this very useful book from Osprey in which it seeks to explore the use, by various armed forces, to bring over whelming firepower to bear on the elusive enemy. Thus it is divided into six sections that cover the French involvement, Armour of the South Vietnamese Army, Armour of the North Vietnamese Army and the contributions made by the US Army, Marines, and Australian armed forces. Each of these made increasingly imaginative and effective use of AFV’s adopting ingenious improvisations often inspired by necessity and the difficulties of the operational environment, a feature of the conflict that has too often been over looked. As such this edition of Vietnam Tracks offers an informed historical overview combined with original black and white images and 7 pages of colour to make this a useful reference resource for either the arm chair military historian or, more likely, the Vietnam model builder. It is the latter, which may want to create accurate models or dioramas, for whom it is well worthy of closer inspection for inspiration from within the well illustrated 196 pages.
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