| Paul B | 04 Mar 2014 10:56 a.m. PST |
If you liked Andrew Field's "Waterloo the French Perspective" – I know I did, then you might be interested to know he has got another book coming out in July
"Prelude to Waterloo Quatre Bras: a French Perspective" |
| Sparker | 04 Mar 2014 1:40 p.m. PST |
1. I do like although not finished yet!
2. On preorder! Andrew Field MBE is a serving British Army officer. |
| wrgmr1 | 04 Mar 2014 4:35 p.m. PST |
Thanks for the heads up, I'll have to check them both out. Sparker, can you tell me anything about the Waterloo book? |
| Sparker | 05 Mar 2014 12:17 a.m. PST |
Well as I said not long started it. It is broken down by the phases of the battle, and combines commentary by the author with his translated quotes of participants relevant to that particular phase. I would recommend it – lets face it, how many English language secondary works are there that give you da word from the French side of the field? |
Dave Jackson  | 05 Mar 2014 6:39 a.m. PST |
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 deadhead | 11 Mar 2014 12:48 p.m. PST |
I had no idea. Wonderful. Cannot help but think it will be far from easy. I imagine far less written about QB (even if it takes in Ligny as well) from French side. Let's face it, d'Erlon's entire corps spent the day marching backwards and forwards. Ney's lads had very little idea what they were facing and, I suspect, even less idea as to what was going on, on the Allied side of the field. But anything will be welcome and I for one did enjoy his Waterloo book. Little that was earth shatteringly new, but told from a different angle, so a great read |
| John Franklin | 12 Mar 2014 3:26 a.m. PST |
@deadhead Contrary to popular misconception, Comte Durutte and Jacquinot's troops were engaged at Ligny around six o'clock, and the 1st Brigade of the 1st Division (54e and 55e Régiments de Ligne) attacked the Hanoverians to the north of the Bois de l'Hutte at 9 p.m., allowing Reille's troops to retire, and were involved in actions on this wing during the evening and night of the 16th to 17th June. There were many French accounts written about Quatre Bras. I believe Andrew has sufficient to tell the story of the action. There is no coverage of Ligny in his book. Hope this helps. John |
| deadhead | 30 Mar 2014 12:19 p.m. PST |
Only just read this today…. about d'Erlon's Corps' contribution to the actions on 16th! A "popular misconception" that I shared and certainly had me fooled for years. I just imagined them marching backwards and forwards and achieving nothing beyond blisters. Many thanks indeed to John Franklin for clearing that up. Looking forward to the book then. |
| Allan F Mountford | 04 Apr 2014 8:22 a.m. PST |
Two officers of the 55e were wounded on the 16th June: Lieut André and Captain Dupuy des Boignes. I presume they must have received their wounds at Quatre Bras. Anyone have any further narrative on this? Also, if two officers were wounded, would this not indicate that the 55e could have suffered about 40 casualties in total? Allan |
| John Franklin | 05 Apr 2014 5:13 a.m. PST |
@deadhead
Thanks for your positive comments on the role of Comte d'Erlon's Corps at Quatre Bras which I outlined. I must add that none of this information is in Andrew Field's new book on Quatre Bras. I correspond with Andrew and have shared some material with him, but the interpretation of events he provides – both of Waterloo and Quatre Bras – is essentially ‘Sibornesque' (or British). Despite this fact, I'm sure there will be much to interest readers in his new book. @Allan F Mountford
Hi Allan, I hope you are well. The two officers you mention were undoubtedly wounded during the fighting in the evening at Quatre Bras, or in the early hours of the 17th June when the French attacked the Hanoverian and Brunswick troops to the north of the Bois de l'Hutte, as mentioned. Examination of the extant French returns with their losses on the 16th and 17th June (yes, these are extant) show that the 55e sustained many more killed and wounded than the 40 you suggest. Kind regards
John |
gets started with Flintloque.
