This is a narrative history of England and France during the
Hundred Years War, from the triumphs of Henry V to the
defeat of England and the loss of Gascony and Bordeaux. The
story develops after the death in 1422 of two kings: Henry V
of England, soon after his military triumphs, and Charles VI
of France. Both had historic claims to the French crown.
Henry V was succeeded by Henry VI, still an infant, and
Charles VI by Charles VII. The contrast could hardly have
been greater between Henry VI, a scholarly and religious
figure, often suffering from mental illness, in an age when
kings were expected to be aggressive leaders and effective
military commanders, and Charles VII, an increasingly able
politician and soldier. Intermittent but constant warfare
continued until the English defeat at Castillon and the
complete loss of Gascony after the siege of Bordeaux, both
in 1453. The Peace of Picquigny in 1476 between the next
kings, Edward IV and Louis XI, brought an end to this
decisive episode in the Hundred Years War.
AIR POWER AT THE BATTLEFRONT:
ALLIED CLOSE AIR SUPPORT IN EUROPE 1943-45
by Ian Gooderson
This book examines the role and effectiveness of aviation
in direct support of ground operations in North-West Europe
during WWII. The author addresses fundamental questions of
whether air resources in the close support role provided
sufficient advantage at the battlefront to justify the
effort and risk to pilots and aircraft. Did air support
prove to be of more value and more cost effective, when
directed upon interdiction targets behind the lines, such as
German communications, transport and supplies?
New in card cover - 304pp, 11 b/w
photos, 28 tables& diagrams
In a timely and eye-opening
book, Rodric Braithwaite examines the Russian experience
during the Soviet war in Afghanistan. Basing his account on
Russian sources and interviews, he shows the war through the
eyes of the Russians themselves - politicians, officers,
soldiers, advisers, journalists, the women who served there,
and the women of Afghanistan.
New in card cover
- 417pp, numerous illustrations, maps
Life in a Cold War Canberra Squadron - 'A Bucket of
Sunshine' was the term used for the use of a nuclear bomb.
This is a firsthand insight into life in the mid-1960s on a
RAF Canberra nuclear-armed squadron in West Germany. Mike
Brookes describes not only the technical aspect of the
aircraft and its nuclear and conventional roles and weapons,
but also the low-level flying that went with the job of
being ready to go to war at less than three minutes notice.
Brooke tells his story warts and all, with many amusing
overtones, in what was an extremely serious business when
the world was standing on the brink of nuclear conflict.
New in card cover
- 223pp, 40 b/w photos & illustrations
The Tabaris Highlanders were a
group of volunteers from the Anglo-Argentine community who
arrived in Port Stanley shortly after the beginning of World
War II, intending to assist in the defence of the Falkland
Islands. They had responded to worrying comment in the
Argentine press on the possibility of German warships
blockading transit through Cape Horn to Australia, New
Zealand, and the Far East. They arrived in Port Stanley
aboard the Lafonia escorted by a destroyer. Their role was
to prepare defences of the islands in the event of a German
Raid.
New in card cover
- A5 format, 40pp, numerous, b/w photos/illustrations
