Posts Tagged ‘Second World War’
Maps are the forgotten weapons of war
The basis of A History of the Second World War In 100 Maps is that maps are ‘indispensable instruments of war’. If anyone can convince us of this it is world-leading military and cartographic historian Jeremy Black, who has studied a huge range of maps from the Second World War in minute detail. In this…
Read MoreBid to uncover Churchill’s untold Scots connections
THE International Churchill Society (ICS) wants to hear untold stories about Sir Winston Churchill’s connections with Scotland. The society has highlighted many of the Second World War leader’s well-known links to Scotland in the latest issue of its journal, Finest Hour. Those connections include his service in the 6th Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers on…
Read MoreHow Scotland fared during the Cold War
A detailed examination of Scotland’s role during the period of the Cold War and the probable outcomes facing our nation had WWIII broken out. Trevor Royle’s use of recently declassified official information and interviews with many of the key players at the time, make this a fascinating while occasionally unsettling journey into history. Between the…
Read MoreA passionate affair in The Sound of the Hours
Occupation during the Second World War in Barga, Tuscany, turns plans for the future of 17-year-old Vita on their head, in The Sound of the Hours by Karen Campbell. The arrival of Frank Chapel, a young black US soldier, finds the Scottish-Italian heroine falling deeply in love. The vividly portrayed characters embark on a passionate…
Read MoreRemembering the lives of brave military Scots
The Daily Telegraph’s collection of 100 military obituaries from the past 16 years, edited by David Twiston Davies, is both informative and moving. The obituaries have been featured in the broadsheet newspaper over the years, and include those celebrated for their great heroism and their involvement in major operations. Others have extraordinary stories to tell,…
Read MoreThe capital’s courage and life during wartime
Edinburgh at War 1939-45 gives an in-depth glance into wartime Edinburgh, depicting the Second World War year by year. No one could escape war in Edinburgh and this book commemorates the workers and families torn apart and the people who survived the countless horrors the war yielded. This book is packed full of historical images…
Read MorePlans for defending the nation are mapped out
Two map experts explore the extraordinarily rich legacy of Scottish military mapping over the course of the last five centuries in Scotland: Defending the Nation. Carolyn Anderson and Christopher Fleet’s research includes fortification plans, reconnaissance mapping, battle plans, tactical maps and plans of mines. The book also explores a number of unrealised proposals and projected schemes.…
Read MoreBook review – We Fought for Ardnish by Angus MacDonald
The sequel to Ardnish Was Home, this latest work from Angus MacDonald is an intense and bittersweet love story set during the Second World War. Donald Angus is an undercover agent parachuted into the Italian Alps, where he falls for Françoise, a French-Canadian agent. The troubles that face the couple behind enemy lines portray a…
Read MoreBook review – The 21 Escapes of Lt Alastair Cram
David M Guss has written the barely believable story of Alastair Cram, a Scottish prisoner of war who attempted a record 21 prison escapes during the Second World War. And it is as gripping as it is inspiring. Described by his widow Isobel as a private and reserved man, Cram wrote about his experiences in…
Read MoreClosing date set for sale of nuclear-proof Inverness emergency bunker
A property with a difference is currently on the market – a unique subterranean property in the Raigmore area of the city of Inverness. Owners Highland Council have set a closing date for the sale of the Inverness emergency bunker of 2pm on Wednesday, 6 December. The property includes a tarmacadam surfaced car park and…
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