Poelcappelle 9 Oct 17

[Terry Duncan]

What you are saying seems reasonable enough, I know getting troops forward and keeping them there and supplied was always a problem, but my knowledge of the land war in this period of the war is not really good enough to make a proper judgement. The PRO is often the best source of info but for more people it is not possible to spend too long there digging through the files. Do they offer anything that allows you to request details over the internet? I know in the distant past it was possible to get the odd friendly staff member at the NMM and IWM to help people out if you knew exactly what you were after?

[Attrition]

Since the Germans retained observation over the British until the last moment, the sequel to Third Ypres wasn't played out until September 1918. Having made an effort over Poelcappelle and 1st Ypres, the lack of British sources is quite frustrating, never mind the anonymity of the Germans. Sheldon's a godsend but bet's hope that the anniversaries due prompt publishers to spend some cash on translations. Rupprecht and Kuhl's writings would be nice. The Canadian effort to translate Der Weltkrieg is promising but 1917 is a long way off.

To my surprise the local bandits have McCarthy's "Day-by-Day" in the library but it only surveys the divisional histories already published.
It's been helpful with Langemarck but I would like something that covers IX and X Corps in October.


I smarmed a functionary who worked at the BR but I fear that beyond being given advice about which files to request I'm on my own. Any punter who lives near Twickenham take note.;O)

[Attrition]

I'm pleased to say that the 3rd Ypres Wiki-pages have been assessed at B-class (except for Messines and 2nd Paschendaele which are GAs). There's still an Anglocentric bias because of the sources but a lot of myths have been punctured. Messines, Polygon Wood and Broodseinde still need a good seeing to and I've a mind to see if there is enough material for a comparison of medium-sized operations like 10 August and 25 September.

Having compared the conclusion in the OH with the facts in it about Pilckem Ridge I want to try to measure the difference between Gough and Plumer's methods next.

[Attrition]

http://uk.mg40.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launc ... page/inbox

(Not Suitable For Aesthetes) Best watched with the sound off....

[Attrition]

Having been diverted by the ivy and rose bush in the back garden (and finding a buried rockery) I'm looking forward ro getting stuck in again this week.

[Attrition]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Messines

Revised edition done. Hmmmm, GA status, that's rather encouraging.

[Attrition]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Polygon_Wood

Revised version done (albeit partially) in time for the anniversary. Broodseinde to go then I can start again to get them to A class.

[Attrition]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Broodseinde

[Attrition]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of ... %281917%29

Messines is wending its way through the A-class review and to while away the time I've pottered around with the latter part of the Somme 1916.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Thiepval_Ridge

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Ancre

Ancre Heights and Morval next.

[Attrition]

The copyedit of the Messines page continues but nursing a poorly cat has slowed it somewhat (not the Xmas wine stash, honest).
(442)

[Attrition]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Morval

Did this one last week but found it rather hard because of the dearth of French sources, it's a bit rougher than some of the others.

Kira the cat is much better and says Miaow.

[Attrition]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Morval

Did this one last week but found it rather hard because of the dearth of French sources, it's a bit rougher than some of the others.

Kira the cat is much better and says Miaow.

[Attrition]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Morval

Did this one last week but found it rather hard because of the dearth of French sources, it's a bit rougher than some of the others.

Kira the cat is much better and says Miaow.

Rough as maybe, it's B-class now.

[Baltasar]

5000 vs 135000 losses? O_o

[Attrition]

I don't have a source for the German army so I put the month total in.