WELCOME

The date is August 1914. The British Expeditionary Force is in France and You're in the Royal Field Artillery. You're riding alongside one of the battery's gun limbers on its way to the assigned position on the east side of Mons, Belgium. This begins your journey into the Hell they called World War One. To purchase this historical memoir go to https://createspace.com/3649268

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Armistice Day November 2012


November 11th at 11am the world will pause to pay tribute to those that died during World War One. This recognition will gain additional significance within the next two years. August 2014 will mark the centennial of the Great War that devastated the economy of many countries along with consuming a cruel number of their men.
Historians have documented the causes of the war as well as the military strategies of how it was fought. Few books tell the story of the war from those that experienced it, The Great Promise is one of these books. Those that have experienced war somewhat understand what horrors the soldiers of this war suffered through, while the rest of us can only try to comprehend. However even those that have lived through war can fully realize the horrors faced by those that lived through this conflict.

Purchase, The Great Promise to help you pay tribute to those that served.


Tuesday, October 23, 2012

N9111 Short 184

According to Sturtivant and Page's 'Royal Navy Aircraft Serials and Units 1911-1919', Air-Britain 1992, page 298.  N9111 is a Short 184:  Delivered to 1(S)MAD at Hamble 9 Jan 1919, then at 210 TDS Calshot (Just a bit further south down Southampton Water from Hamble) from16 Jan 1919 to about 30 Jan 1919.  It was also tested at Westgate 10 July 1919.  So RAF just post-war. It looks a bit like Calshot.



Saturday, October 20, 2012

Book Trailer



Friday, October 12, 2012

British WWI Soldier Returns Home


I'm trying to come up with an acronym or a title for a new blog about Americans returning British soldiers World War One documents back to England in time for the WWI centennial in 2014.

After writing my book, "The    I pondered on what to do with my grandfather's British military documents. They are a family heirloom that I cherish, but who should I select to take care of them after me? I already experienced the lack of interest from my brother. My children don't seem interested, which causes me concern regarding their care after I'm gone.

Because of their historical importance in telling my grandfather's war experiences I decided to donate them to the Imperial War Museum in London. After all, he was a British soldier and his documents would be of greater interest in the UK than in the US. This decision also gave me peace in the knowledge that his documents will be forever cared for. I will not worry that at some point in time his journal and documents might end up in a garage sale or worse of all, thrown away. Most importantly I feel it would be something that my grandfather would want. He would like to rejoin his comrades, to be taken back home.

So I was thinking last night, "There are no doubt hundreds of families that have inherited pictures and documents that once belonged to an English relative that served in the British Army during World War One." "Perhaps they, like myself, would want to safeguard their precious documents and donate them to the Imperial War Museum."

Please consider this meaningful gesture and let me know if you are interested by adding your thoughts in the comment section of this blog.

Monday, October 8, 2012

Review - Echoes of Armageddon, 1914-1918


I just finished reading the book written by B. Cory Kilvert Jr., "Echoes of Armageddon, 1914-1918. I really liked the book on many levels, the first being the human side of war. The author tells the story of the lives and deaths of eight British soldiers. While writing each story he weaves in his own experiences while researching the lives of each man. I was amazed by his efforts to uncover the details of each man's life and those people that were part of it. Perhaps if I would have read this before writing my book I could have picked up some pointers on how to find more about the three soldiers I was researching. However, he had at least a first and last name which I didn't, in fact I wasn't sure if any of the names were actual.

The book gives the reader background of the battles each soldier was involved in, as well as some overall political happenings that impacted the war.

In summary, the book does an excellent job of describing the horrors of war experienced by soldiers, families and their community. I would give this book five stars.

Friday, October 5, 2012

Calling All Experts


My continuing search for a WWI expert to review my book continues. I just emailed Dr Ian F W Beckett, the author of several books including "Ypres". Currently he is on the staff of the Strategic Studies Institute, United States Army War College.

I'm torn between being up front and blunt by just requesting a book review, or supplying some background information to create interest. I suppose so combination would work best but I haven't discovered the magic sequence.

At times I feel that I wasted four years of my life and spent a money on loosing cause. The book has received great reviews by those that have read it. The problem is to find a way to motivate readers. I've thrown out a lot of seeds but few have germinated. Every day I search for new avenues to draw interest to the book but without success.

I'm writing this to inform new authors of the hardship of marketing of their books. I suppose there is equal frustration in all book types , but historical nonfiction takes so much time in detailed research before you even begin to write, it is disheartening that the author has to work so hard after they work so hard.

I've been told that I should be pleased and proud that I completed a book and one that has received good reviews. I am but I find myself saying, "No applause, just money".  The Great Promise

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Listen To The Story

I've tried to convey the compelling nature of my book The Great Promise so I've attached a link to an interview I had on the public radio program "The Story" Interview On The Story Take the time to listen and you'll enjoy the program.