Spotted this at Salute - definitely on my "get" list... 😀
At £31 though a mite expensive... but from what I can tell this was basically his PhD thesis which is available as a free download here (currently) [clicky]??
At £31 though a mite expensive... but from what I can tell this was basically his PhD thesis which is available as a free download here (currently) [clicky]??
If the link doesn't work, I saved a copy [clicky]..
"Abstract
Throughout the operations of the War of the Spanish Succession in the Low Countries and Germany, senior commanders such as John Churchill, duke of Marlborough, were aided, abetted and, on occasion, disrupted by a number of general and staff officers. These officers provided the mechanism by which supra-regimental command, military direction and management was effected. While these individuals possessed military dignity according to their rank and station, their real authority in the army was in no small part drawn from the powers and duties delegated to them by the commander-inchief, or assumed upon their own initiative; clear chains of command did not exist. Such officers functioned not only as vital elements in their own army, but within the broader context of the confederate warfare as a whole, in an army composed of English (later British), Dutch, Imperial, Danish and auxiliary German contingents. They came from diverse backgrounds and could possess constrasting (sic) political affiliations, aspirations and notions of duty. Their careers were governed as much by patronage and preference as any personal merit. A burgeoning sense of military duty was complicated by personal prejudice and the boundary between public and private endeavour was indistinct. Some officers gained wealth and financial security; others were ruined by the peculations of others".
"Abstract
Throughout the operations of the War of the Spanish Succession in the Low Countries and Germany, senior commanders such as John Churchill, duke of Marlborough, were aided, abetted and, on occasion, disrupted by a number of general and staff officers. These officers provided the mechanism by which supra-regimental command, military direction and management was effected. While these individuals possessed military dignity according to their rank and station, their real authority in the army was in no small part drawn from the powers and duties delegated to them by the commander-inchief, or assumed upon their own initiative; clear chains of command did not exist. Such officers functioned not only as vital elements in their own army, but within the broader context of the confederate warfare as a whole, in an army composed of English (later British), Dutch, Imperial, Danish and auxiliary German contingents. They came from diverse backgrounds and could possess constrasting (sic) political affiliations, aspirations and notions of duty. Their careers were governed as much by patronage and preference as any personal merit. A burgeoning sense of military duty was complicated by personal prejudice and the boundary between public and private endeavour was indistinct. Some officers gained wealth and financial security; others were ruined by the peculations of others".
Sounds interesting...
ReplyDeleteEdwin - it does indeed... thought the last chapter held promise...
DeleteWhat Edwin said???
ReplyDeleteRay... what I said to Edwin... :o)
DeleteMight have to check this book out
ReplyDeleteNeil - certainly worth downloading the thesis and seeing if it reads well and then buy the book if you like what you see?? The book blurb indicates that there is additional content over and above the original essay...
DeleteIt'smore than a bit of a temptation and, when you consider that it only costs the same as some really average rule books, it's not so expensive and certainly more useful.
ReplyDeleteGary - I find it quite surprising that there is so little original/new research these days... the new histories are few and far between, or I'm not getting the right marketing emails... even Osprey is more interested in science fiction and dragons than military history these days seemingly...
DeleteAgree with Gary here- WSS not really my thing but one day maybe it will be. Rather spend the loot on this than another empty headed rulebook that is full of pictures for the hard of thinking
ReplyDeleteAndy - agreed.... been there and done it to death but why do the rule books have to be hard backed and glossy paper, and packed with lots of pictures?? Give me a PDF download any time, by all means put in diagrams and helpful graphics to explain the rules, but I can get any number of pretty pictures all over the web and in the magazines..
DeletePromising!!!!! thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteOla Rafa... no problem!
Delete