The Black Watch: A Record in Action

The Black Watch: A Record in Action

From Mons to the Marne lies the bloodiest trail of sacrifice in history. In all the records of war, there stands forth no more magnificent and no more melancholy achievement than that of the British regular army, which bled its heroic way in ever-diminishing numbers from the challenge to the check of the initial German sweep upon Paris. It could not hope for decisive victory; it could only clog the wheels of the Juggernaut with lives and lives and lives, sold bravely and dearly. Before a countless superiority of numbers and an incalculable advantage in enemy preparedness, it could only stand, and falland stand again, and falluntil the end; when the cause of the Allies was saved for the hour, and of Frenchs hundred thousand there remained barely a little leaven of trained men for the British forces then assembling to learn the trade of warfare. [Pg vi]The ablest pens writing of the Great War have paid tribute to this splendid deed which changed the course of its beginning. Frenchs retreat from Mons has been a topic to inspire the highest eloquence of the patriotic historian and the most profound admiration of the militarist. Everything, from the point of the onlooker, has been said of it. And everything that has been said retires into the perspective of the academic, when one reads, in this volume, the words of a trained British soldier who experienced and survived it. For stark and simple strength, for realism of detail, for a complete picturization of the desperate and heroic resistance of the sacrificial army, this soldiers tale is, and will remain, unequalled and unique. This prefatory emphasis is not vain or extravagant. It need not fear the fact that there is but the turning of a page between promise and performance. Here is a writing which is of the war, and therefore differs from all writings which can only be about the war. It conveys to the reader an almost paralyzing sense of wonder at the steadfastness of Britains military traditions,[Pg vii] put to an unexampled test. It shows how marvellously well a soldier may learn his business in advancewhen his business is to die. Concerning one of the most noteworthy accomplishments of the arms of Britain, there will survive in print no more compelling and convincing narrative than this, the utterance of one whose trade was fighting and not writing. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 33278
Author: Cassells, Joe
Release Date: Jul 28, 2010
Format: eBook
Language: English