For the Austrian Max Reisch, pioneer international motorist and writer of the 1930s, World War II offered yet more opportunities for adventure. Here is his lively account of his time with a vehicle maintenance unit of the Afrikakorps in Libya, Egypt, and Tunisia. On forays into the desert at the wheel of a captured Jeep, searching out wrecked vehicles for spare parts, he visited the fabulous oasis of Siwa and dug his way out of the sinister minefield of Minqar Qaim. Seeing German defeat as inevitable, he hatched several escape plans and finally, with no experience of the sea, acquired a dilapidated fishing boat and some rudimentary navigation skills. He avoided capture at Tunis and, despite damage to the boat, set sail for Sicily together with seven comrades (and one small dog). Running the blockade of Allied warships and weathering a sudden storm, his motley crew succeeded against the odds.

The Second World War was the final global conflict of the twentieth century. It involved more combatants, and a wider range of battlefield terrain than any other conflict in history, from the frozen plains of Russia to the Libyan desert, and from the depths of the Atlantic to the skies over Britain. Turning the Tide examines the progress of the war, from the British evacuation of Dunkirk, an operation unparalleled in history, to the final battle amid the ruins of Berlin. Types of battle considered include airborne assault (Crete), amphibious assault (Iwo Jima), armoured (The Battle of the Bulge), aerial (Battle of Britain), and the battles for two cities (Stalingrad and Berlin

“An anthology of the writings of buffalo hunters who were engaged in the hide business between 1870 and 1882.” A collection of 18 personal experiences filled with excitement, humour, danger and drudgery. “Diary of a Dodge City Buffalo Hunter, 1872-1873,”. Henry R. Raymond kept a daily record from November 1872 through September 1873. Liberally footnoted which makes the entry all the more interesting.

The period covered by this book begins with the British infantryman entering the Peninsular War (1808-1814) wearing the lethal knapsack equipment of the day, and ends with the introduction of the first equipment set made entirely of woven cotton webbing [the 1908 pattern described in the accompanying Men-at-Arms 108: British Infantry Equipments 1908-80]. Mike Chappel's detailed text presents an in-depth study of British infantry equipments from 1808-1908, in a volume complemented by plenty of illustrations and photographs, including eight full page color plates by the author himself

The complete guide to turning a truck or SUV into the perfect Hunting and Fishing Machine

Contents include: Muntjac - Description, distribution map, ageing, communication, photographs, fighting, predators, disease, death, habitat, weather, illustrations, food, social behaviour breeding, locomotion, fraying, gouging and scraping, the muntjac year, the future, bibliography.

Almost a century has passed since the signing of the armistice on 11 November 1918. Of all the soldiers who went through that hell on earth, photographs, letters, stories and old uniforms kept in attics are all that is left. Thanks to a collection of more than ten thousand documents, the author allows us to follow these young men with previously unseen photographs. All these faces, sometimes smiling, sometimes serious, have a story to tell. Many collectors have also allowed us access to their most precious objects, the fruit of their relentless research that helps save these objects that went through four terrible years of oblivion and destruction. Finally, being in the era of Internet, many links allow you to retrace the history of your ancestors and their regiments. Following their baptism of fire at Gallipoli in 1915, the Australians arrived on the Western Front in spring 1916. A few months later came the Somme with 24,000 casualties and the tragic events of Fromelles. Then, these tough men, who had travelled so far, continued fighting in France in 1917 and 1918. Since then, the bond of friendship between France and Australia is still going strong.

The story of the Riel led rebellion in the Canadian Red River country. Louis Riel, the Canadian religious figure and prophet of a new order in the West who was plagued with bouts of insanity, was a once enigmatic man who has become one of the most closely scrutinized figures in Canadian history, leading to a century-long debate about whether Riel was a great political leader or a madman..... Louis Riel died on the gallows in 1885, and his nation died with him.

Even after two centuries interest in Nelson shows no signs of abating. Indeed, new research continues to reveal previously unsuspected aspects of his life and career; while at the same time hoary old myths, like his wearing a piratical style eye-patch, doggedly persist. In this book an author who is a master of the subject sets out to answer any question about Nelson likely to be raised, either by a casual reference or in a more detailed study of the navy, the wars, or the social history of the period. Entries cover people, ships, places and events associated with the man, and extend to contemporary issues like changing interpretations of his actions and motivation. Arranged alphabetically and fully cross-referenced, every subject is accorded enough length for proper discussion, and each is followed by a suggested reading list for those wanting to pursue the topic further. The book concludes with appendices devoted to a full bibliography, a chronology of Nelson's life and times, and a selection of significant documents, some previously unpublished. Not only an unrivalled companion to every aspect of his career, The Nelson Encyclopedia is also an ideal introduction to the world of the Royal Navy at the pinnacle of its success. Already a success in hardback, this new paperback edition will coincide with the well-publicized events to celebrate the Trafalgar bicentenary.

In 1803, at the age of 14, Robert Hay ran away from home to join the Royal Navy, and for the next eight years experienced the trials and tribulations of a sailors life.Intelligent, agile and willing, he became a boy servant to a series of officers, all of whom helped advance his education as was the practice of the day. But the taxing conditions of life onboard he found detestable and he was, after an action off the French coast, sorely tempted to desert but the well known and ruthless treatment of deserters, if caught, deterred him this time.He was then posted to the East Indies where he was badly wounded and nearly lost a leg before returning home after five years with 14 and fourteen days leave to look forward to. His next ship ran aground off Plymouth and, this time, he took the opportunity to desert but was then quickly taken by a press gang. Terrified of being identified, he managed to escape and reach the Scotland and home.As well as a wonderful yarn, the book is also an impressive description of early nineteenth-century naval life, and his ability as a writer was considerable. His descriptions of his remarkable experiences in the East Indies are full of the flavour of the region, while the sailors natural inclination to drink and debauchery is told with verve. But also running through the narrative are many fine observations on nature and on the human condition. A true and vivid account of the sailors life of this era.

Lovely book about Japanese culture., including traditions, technology, Bonsai, Noh, Imperial family etc. Illustrated in colour.

Outlines and interprets the rules pertaining to vessels in United States and international waters, and shows how they apply in actual situations.

Called the greatest angling explorer of his generation ( Independent on Sunday ), Jeremy Wade takes viewers where no wildlife program has gone before. Now Wade goes truly beneath the surface, disclosing full details of how he catches each species and recounting the off-camera highlights of his extraordinary life. From his arrest as a suspected spy in Southeast Asia to a plane crash in the rainforest, every page of the Wall Street Journal bestseller River Monsters is packed with adventure. From the heart of the Congo to the depths of the Amazon, Wade reels in fish of staggering proportions and terrifying demeanor for an unforgettable read.