First-class work. 10/10

The Great War magazine, November 2017 – reviewed by Mark Marsay

The whole book is incredibly detailed and absolutely packed full of interesting tidbits of information, alongside the necessary facts and figures. Still, this never detracts from the ultimately human stories at the centre of the book – there are so many layers to unpick. By focusing on the men themselves and yet still retaining an astonishing level of detail, the book manages to really bring things to life, being atmospheric and at times almost exciting. It’s so easy to become swept up in the descriptions of flight, the camaraderie between men and the daring escapes (complete with tunnels, trapdoors and all manner of deceptions). Their daring can be encapsulated by a remark made by Hermann Tholens – “where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

Bowman’s book also captures glimpses of life within the camps; how they operated and also how prisoners spent their time. He describes one Welsh camp for German prisoners wherein they were allowed to play cricket, and by some accounts they were also given cooked breakfasts, wine and cigars (though not all at once I expect!) understandably the locals were rather peeved at this idea!

I heartily recommend this book for an extremely detailed, nuanced look at the prisoner of war experience, for both British and German captives and too, for some extraordinary tales of ingenuity and cunning!

Read the complete review here.

The Haunting Flares, Laura Varley

Such stories are endlessly developed in this engrossing book. The stunning coloured photograph on the front of the book brings to the fore soldiers and visually reminds the reader of the numbers who were in captivity. The book is comprehensively indexed, which is very useful if you are searching for a particular aspect of a story.

Jon Sandison, Freelance

I think this book would be enjoyed by a relatively wide audience, although convincing the wider audience of that would be a challenge. If you're not interested in military history then nothing on the cover suggests that a person that only reads biographies would also enjoy it. The book's focus is on individuals and their personal stories in which they are, to me at least, doing amazing things. It's not a historic retelling of the tactics or strategies of WWI but focuses right down at the lowest, human level. In our time, these gentlemen would be celebrities in their own right and lauded for their courage, tenacity and skill. The reader is free to draw their own conclusions to how the majority of today's 'stars' stack up in comparison.

Read the complete review here.

A Wargamers Needful things

The author is well-known for his aviation histories and this book is an interesting departure from his main work, albeit not far from it. As usual, this is a well-researched study of a subject that has received far less than its deserved attention. The two photo-plate sections are well selected – Most Highly Recommended.

Read the complete review here.

Firetrench