Bøker av Ian Sumner

Photographic history of the French air force in the First World War

An illustrated listing of all the regimental colours and standards used by the British Army between 1747 and 1881. The first in a two-part mini-series, it covers the regular Cavalry and Foot Guards, exploring the history and significance of each flag.

"ANZAC Infantryman, 1914-15: From New Guinea to Gallipoli".

In 1914 the Germans launched an offensive that swept through Belgium and into France, threatening to crush French resistance in one fell swoop. However, through careful maneuvering and stubborn resistance, the French Army, aided by the BEF, blunted the assault, winning an important strategic victory that kept France in the war.

During World War One the French Army was in a state of disarray, plagued by indiscipline, mutinies and desertion. The ordinary French citizens that were called upon to defend their motherland - the Poilu - were disrespected and demoralized. This title charts the history of the Poilu.

This work takes a look at the Royal Navy during World War II. It covers the organization of the fleet, the duties and conditions of shipboard life, and the uniforms and gear worn in all theatres of war. It also traces the development of the Royal Navy from 1939 to the end of the war.

Osprey's examination of German air forces of World War I (1914-1918). The Imperial German Army Air Service of World War I grew from just 500 men in 1914 to 80,000 in 1918, inventing in the process a wholly new form of warfare. The exploits of the first fighter 'aces' have been widely celebrated, and have tended to overshadow the other, equally important branches of the fighting air forces - the reconnaissance and ground attack units, the airships and strategic bombers. This concise but fact-packed guide to both the Army and Naval Air Services - their command, organization, strength, training, support services andoperations - offers a morebalanced picture, while giving the heroes of the Jagdstaffeln their full due. Uniforms and flying clothing are described in detail, and illustrated with rare photographs and meticulous colour plates.

This second volume details the uniforms and equipment of the Free French forces which fought alongside the Allies to defeat Germany and liberate Western Europe.

The largest army in the British Empire is detailed here, describing the developing organization, uniforms and equipment of the Imperial and other regiments during the 30 years which saw the Indian army at the peak of their numbers and combat service.

This volume looks at the uniforms, equipment and organization of France's military forces during the first two years of World War II. On paper, the French army was the most powerful in the world in 1939, but it's officers were unprepared for Germany's "Blitskrieg" tactics of 1940.

Many British commanders of World War II were veterans of the Great War and their attitudes to war were influenced by this and pre-war training and doctrine. This work examines these influences and the commanders' differing relationships with Churchill.

Initially the strongest of all the Allied armies, France''s metropolitan and colonial units bore the greatest burden during the first two years of the Great War, and made a great contribution to the final victory. In common with most European countries, the pre-war French Army was based on a system of national military service providing conscripts who could be subject to recall as reservists for several years after. However, the advent of war, the crisis in manpower, and the development of new tactics and weapons brought radical changes. The influence of these factors on the organisation, equipment, uniforms and tactics of the French Army during World War I is examined in detail in this title.