The book contains the usual helpful maps. An absorbing read.

Medal News, October 2018 – reviewed by Allan Stanistreet

... This is a well-researched book, around a relatively little know action in the fight of France. It is well laid out and the tour descriptions are interspersed with lots of relevant historic and modern photos. The overview of the three British Corps involved in the fighting is very well done, and the Order of Battle provided for them are amongst the more comprehensive I have seen. These Orbats are especially surprising given the small size of the book, which should fit easily into most pockets on walking trousers. Murland's writing style is both pleasant and effective, making for an easy read, and he has chosen his excerpts well. The author seems to have taken an objective view of what happened, which is always good to see...

... Overall, this was an interesting little read which would make for the basis of an interesting touring break away with like-minded friends, and beer!

Wargames Illustrated, August 2017 – reviewed by Dom Sore

The Battle for the Escaut 1940 provides both excellent history, and is a superb guidebook to some of the important battlefields of the 1940 campaign. Highly recommended.

Read the full review here.

World War 2 Revisited

A quaint little book, this publication is part of the series Battleground Dunkirk. They are intended as guides for people wishing to explore the battlefield of the 1940 campaign involving the British Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders.

Chapter One is an twelve page introduction called ‘The First Steps to War’. It is brief, and states wrongly that the Munich Agreement was in 1936, when it was in fact in 1938. There is a brief overview of the higher formations and their commanders. Chapters Two, Three and Four cover the actions of the three corps level formations on the Escaut Line, with Chapter Five about the role of artillery. Chapter Six provides details of four car tours and two walking tours of the area. The four chapters on the historical actions in May 1940 are interesting and informative, and obviously focus on just the actions on the Escaut Line.

The car tours and walking routes are very useful if you intend to visit the area. They provide much detailed information, which should make visiting the area relaxing and logical. Directions are included, and places to stop for a specific event or reason. The book contains several useful, interesting and relevant photographs, which assist in understanding the nature of the area and what a visitor will see some seventy-six years after the event.

In conclusion, if you are considering visiting this area to view the battlefields of May 1940, I consider this book to be essential reading. If not, the details of this battle are valuable, although readers may find other accounts more comprehensive. My last observation is whether this format of publication is better on the internet, as changes may affect the tours that cannot be reflected in the book, and the internet is more dynamic.

British Military History, Rob Palmer

This is a welcome addition to Pen & Swords ever expanding battleground series of Guide Books.

This useful new guide widens the readers scope and highlights some of the less well known BEF actions fought along the lines of the Escaut.
Certainly worth investing in a copy if you are new to the campaign and fancy broadening your 1940 horizons.

Guild of Battlefield Guides

This is a welcome addition to Pen & Sword’s ever-expanding Battleground Series of Guide
Books. Many members are of course familiar with the well-trodden Retreat to Dunkirk itineraries that conveniently run from Ypres back to Bray Dunes and on to cross-channel terminals at
Calais. This useful new guide widens the readers scope and highlights some of the less well known BEF actions fought along the line of the Escaut. The standard battleground template has been enhanced by the author, the balance of maps, pictures and anecdotal accounts is above average. Certainly, worth investing in a copy if you
are new to the campaign and fancy broadening your
1940 horizons.

Despatches, Winter 2016

This book is part of the Pen & Sword Battleground series of which there are over 100 books in the series. If you want to learn of the BEF in the days prior to Dunkirk then this is an excellent start for that with explanations for why certain actions took place. Well worth getting g a copy if you are thinking of going over that ground.


A good, easy read which would hopefully entertain as well as inform the reader – it did for me.

Read the full review here.

ARRSE

A valuable addition to the popular Battleground series that
provides a lavishly illustrated guide to a European battleground.
This new guide covers the France and Flanders Campaign of 1940.
The primary target readership will again be those intending to
visit the battleground, but the range of information is also very
applicable to any reader with an interest in WWII and the Battle
of France. Much Recommended.

Read the full review here.

Firetrench

It was a short but important period in the story of the Blitzkrieg in France in 1940 and this little guide will be an excellent little reference to have with you in the car if you visit the area and have any particular interest in the story of the BEF.

Read the full review here.

Military Modelling, Robin Buckland