Rosie Serdiville's Books

Ode to Bully Beef

WWII Poetry They Didn't Let You Read

By: Rosie Serdiville,John Sadler

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Ode to Bully Beef

WWII Poetry They Didn't Let You Read

By: Rosie Serdiville,John Sadler

The Second World War (1939–45) was not greeted with the same lavish outpouring of patriotic fervour that had attended August 1914. Any rags of glory had long since been drowned in the mud of Flanders. The Great War had been heralded as ‘the war to end all wars’; veterans were promised ‘a land fit for heroes’. Both of these vain boasts soon began to sound hollow as depression, unemployment, poverty and a rash of new wars followed. The sons and daughters of those who had embarked upon their own patriotic Calvary did so again in an altogether more sombre spirit.One significant difference between the two conflicts is that, whilst both were industrial wars, the Second World War was far nearerthe concept of total war. The growth of strategic air power, in its infancy in 1918, had by 1939 become a reality. In this war, even more widespread and terrible than the last, there were to be no civilians. Death sought new victims everywhere; British citizens were now in the front line, there was to be no respite, no hiding place.This is the poetry and prose of those who were there, ordinary people caught in the terrible maelstrom of mass conflict on a scale hitherto unimagined; this is their testimony.

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Page Count

129

Publisher

The History Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0750954892

ISBN 13

9780750954891

Knights

Chivalry and Violence

By: Rosie Serdiville,John Sadler

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Knights

Chivalry and Violence

By: Rosie Serdiville,John Sadler

“A really informative book . . . It whets the appetite to learn more” of the medieval warriors, their training, armor, weapons, and chivalry (Army Rumour Service). Originally warriors mounted on horseback, knights became associated with the concept of chivalry as it was popularized in medieval European literature. Knights were expected to fight bravely and honorably and be loyal to their lord until death if necessary. Later, chivalry came to encompass activities, such as tournaments and hunting, and virtues including justice, charity, and faith. The Crusades were instrumental in the development of the code of chivalry, and some crusading orders of knighthood, such as the Knights Templar, have become legend. Boys would begin their knightly training at the age of seven, studying academics and learning to hunt before becoming assistants to older knights, training in combat and learning how to care for a knight’s essentials: arms, armor, and horses. After fourteen years of training, and when considered a master of all the skills of knighthood, a squire was eligible to be knighted. In peacetime, knights would take part in tournaments. Tournaments were a major spectator sport, but also an important way for knights to practice their skills—knights were often injured and sometimes killed in melees. Knights figured large in medieval warfare and literature. In the fifteenth century, knights became obsolete due to advances in warfare, but the title of “knight” has survived as an honorary title granted for services to a monarch or country, and knights remain a strong concept in popular culture.ular culture.

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161

Publisher

Casemate Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1612005187

ISBN 13

9781612005188

Cromwell's Convicts

The Death March from Dunbar 1650

By: John Sadler,Rosie Serdiville

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Cromwell's Convicts

The Death March from Dunbar 1650

By: John Sadler,Rosie Serdiville

Cromwell's Convicts not only describes the Battle of Dunbar but concentrates on the grim fate of the soldiers taken prisoner after the battle. On 3 September 1650 Oliver Cromwell won a decisive victory over the Scottish Covenanters at the Battle of Dunbar – a victory that is often regarded as his finest hour – but the aftermath, the forced march of 5,000 prisoners from the battlefield to Durham, was one of the cruellest episodes in his career. The march took them seven days, without food and with little water, no medical care, the property of a ruthless regime determined to eradicate any possibility of further threat. Those who survived long enough to reach Durham found no refuge, only pestilence and despair. Exhausted, starving and dreadfully weakened, perhaps as many as 1,700 died from typhus and dysentery. Those who survived were condemned to hard labour and enforced exile in conditions of virtual slavery in a harsh new world across the Atlantic. Cromwell's Convicts describes their ordeal in detail and, by using archaeological evidence, brings the story right up to date. John Sadler and Rosie Serdiville describe the battle at Dunbar, but their main focus is on the lethal week-long march of the captives that followed. They make extensive use of archive material, retrace the route taken by the prisoners and describe the recent archaeological excavations in Durham which have identified some of the victims and given us a graphic reminder of their fate.

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Page Count

260

Publisher

Pen and Sword Military

Published Date

ISBN 10

152673821X

ISBN 13

9781526738219

The Little Book of Newcastle

By: John Sadler,Rose Serdiville

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The Little Book of Newcastle

By: John Sadler,Rose Serdiville

The Little Book of Newcastle is a funny, fast-paced, fact-packed compendium of the sort of frivolous, fantastic or simply strange information which no-one will want to be without. Here we find out about the most unusual crimes and punishments, eccentric inhabitants, famous sons and daughters and literally hundreds of wacky facts (plus some authentically bizarre bits of historic trivia). John Sadler's new book gathers together a myriad of data on Newcastle. There are lots of factual chapters but also plenty of frivolous details which will amuse and surprise. A reference book and a quirky guide, this can be dipped in to time and time again to reveal something new about the people, the heritage, the secrets and the enduring fascination of the city. A remarkably engaging little book, this is essential reading for visitors and locals alike.

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238

Publisher

The History Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0750954000

ISBN 13

9780750954006

The Battle of Flodden 1513

By: John Sadler,Rosie Serdiville

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The Battle of Flodden 1513

By: John Sadler,Rosie Serdiville

The Battle of Flodden in 1513 was the largest battle ever to take place between England and Scotland. James IV himself led an army of 30,000 men over the border into England, ostensibly in revenge for the murder of a Scotsman, but in reality to assist their ally the French by diverting the forces of Henry VIII. Yet the Scots were hampered by old-fashioned weapons and tactics, whereas the English deployed more accurate artillery and their vaunted longbowmen. When King James IV was killed while leading a charge, and many of their officers died, the Scots were left in disarray and the English victory was decisive. As the first new history of the battle in a decade, this authoritative and eye-opening account marks the 500th anniversary and brings our knowledge of the conflict up to date. Expert knowledge and detailed maps look at the key events, the 1135 campaign and the minor battles of Millfield and Norham, and a full profile of the respective forces and deployments, and convey the battle's course concisely and clearly. A key read for those interested in military history or the period in general.

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Page Count

360

Publisher

The History Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

075247913X

ISBN 13

9780752479132

Fighter Aces

Knights of the Skies

By: John Sadler,Rosie Serdiville

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Fighter Aces

Knights of the Skies

By: John Sadler,Rosie Serdiville

A readable and entertaining introduction to aerial combat in the series that “would be excellent for someone with an early interest in military history” (Army Rumour Service). Just over a decade after the first successful powered flight, fearless pioneers were flying over the battlefields of France in flimsy biplanes. Though the infantry in their muddy trenches might see aerial combat as glorious and chivalric, the reality was very different and undeniably deadly: new Royal Flying Corps subalterns in 1917 had a life expectancy of eleven days. In 1915 the term “ace” was coined to denote a pilot adept at downing enemy aircraft, and top aces like the Red Baron, René Fonck, and Billy Bishop became household names. The idea of the ace continued after the 1918 Armistice, but as the size of air forces increased, the prominence of the ace diminished. But still, the pilots who swirled and danced in Hurricanes and Spitfires over southern England in 1940 were, and remain, feted as “the Few” who stood between Britain and invasion. Flying aircraft advanced beyond the wildest dreams of Great War pilots, the “top” fighter aces of World War II would accrue hundreds of kills, though their life expectancy was still measured in weeks, not years. World War II cemented the vital role of air power, and postwar innovation gave fighter pilots jet-powered fighters, enabling them to pursue duels over huge areas above modern battlefields. This entertaining introduction explores the history and cult of the fighter ace from the first pilots through late twentieth-century conflicts, which leads to discussion of whether the era of the fighter ace is at an end.

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Page Count

161

Publisher

Casemate

Published Date

ISBN 10

1612004830

ISBN 13

9781612004839

Caesar's Greatest Victory

The Battle of Alesia, Gaul 52 BC

By: John Sadler,Rosie Serdiville

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Caesar's Greatest Victory

The Battle of Alesia, Gaul 52 BC

By: John Sadler,Rosie Serdiville

“A good account of one of the most decisive battles of the ancient world. Who knows how world history would have proceeded had Caesar been defeated?” (New York Journal of Books). Julius Caesar’s campaign of 52 BC frequently hung in the balance. Celtic chieftain Vercingetorix was a far more formidable opponent than any he’d encountered in Gaul. The Romans were caught totally off-guard, and it seemed all too likely that their grip on Gaul, which Caesar had imagined secure, would be pried free. Failure would have been a total defeat for Caesar, not just in Gaul but in the Senate. Rome would not have become an empire beyond the Mediterranean. It was a decisive moment in world history . . . The Siege of Alesia itself was one of the most astonishing military undertakings of all time. Caesar’s interior siege lines stretched for eighteen kilometers and were surrounded by an outward-facing line three kilometers longer, complete with palisades, towers, ditches, minefields, and outposts. This work was completed in less than three weeks. Vercingetorix’s refuge proved a trap, and, despite an energetic defense and the arrival of a huge relief army, there was to be no escape. Using new archaeological evidence, the authors reveal both sides of the conflict and construct a fresh account of not just the siege, but also the Alesia campaign, placing it into the wider context of the history of warfare. This is Roman history at its most exciting, featuring events still talked about today. “Those seeking a primer on Alesia need look no further than this excellent book.” —HistoryNet

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142

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Casemate

Published Date

ISBN 10

1612004636

ISBN 13

9781612004631

As Good as Any Man

Scotland's Black Tommy

By: John Sadler,Rosie Serdville,Morag Miller,Joseph Laycock

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As Good as Any Man

Scotland's Black Tommy

By: John Sadler,Rosie Serdville,Morag Miller,Joseph Laycock

When the harrowing Great War diaries of one of Britain’s first black soldiers were unearthed in a dusty Scottish attic nearly 100 years after they were written, they posed a bit of a mystery. The diary entries – ranging from May 1917 to March 1918 – were written by one Arthur Roberts while he served initially with the King’s Own Scottish Borderers before being transferred to Royal Scots Fusiliers in 1917. He details what life was like for him during the First World War, how he survived the Battle of Passchendaele, and how he escaped unscathed when a German shell killed a dozen men round him. Yet Arthur was an otherwise unknown man – what was the rest of his life like?Now, Morag Miller and Roy Laycock have painstakingly researched Roberts’ life history, filling in the gaps. From his birth in Bristol, to his life in Glasgow and time at the front, they provide here much more than just a war memoir. This is a unique history of one man’s remarkable life.Beautifully illustrated with Roberts’ own accomplished photographs and artwork, As Good As Any Man is the remarkable biography of one of Britain’s black Tommies.

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202

Publisher

The History Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0750957581

ISBN 13

9780750957588

Everybody's Business

The Unlikely Story of How Big Business Can Fix the World

By: John Miller,Lucy Parker,John Sadler,Rosie Serdiville

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Everybody's Business

The Unlikely Story of How Big Business Can Fix the World

By: John Miller,Lucy Parker,John Sadler,Rosie Serdiville

2014 marks the centenary of the outbreak of the Great War, arguably the definitive conflict in the history of Europe. Never before or since has such a great swell of popular sentiment produced such a patriotic rush to arms. In the trenches and on the battlefield, British soldiers united with their allies to fight valiantly for the cause. At very great cost, they delivered Western Europe from a new Dark Age. Providing a vital insight into this pivotal period, historians John Sadler and Rosie Serdiville disclose the poignant and emotive experiences of war, in the front line and behind, from men and women of every class and background. Combining rich anecdote and unique testimony, the stories of those that passed through the ordeal of war reveal remarkable tales of horror and suffering, but also the comradeship, exhilaration and adventure of the Western Front. This is the human story of the Great War, told by those who lived through it.

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Page Count

460

Publisher

Robson Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

1849546088

ISBN 13

9781849546089

CaesarÕs Greatest Victory

The Battle of Alesia, Gaul 52 BC

By: John Sadler,Rosie Serdiville

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CaesarÕs Greatest Victory

The Battle of Alesia, Gaul 52 BC

By: John Sadler,Rosie Serdiville

The Battle for Alesia was a decisive moment in world history. It determined whether Rome would finally conquer Gaul or whether Celtic chieftain Vercingetorix would throw off the yoke and consequently whether a number of independent Celtic tribal kingdoms could resist the might of Rome. Failure would have been a total defeat for Julius Caesar, not just in Gaul but in the Senate. His career would have been over, his enemies would have pulled him down, civil war would have ensued, no dictatorship, no liaison with Cleopatra. Rome would not have become an empire beyond the Mediterranean. European, and therefore world history might have been a very different story. CaesarÕs campaign of 52 BC frequently hung in the balance. Vercingetorix was a far more formidable opponent than any heÕd encountered in Gaul; bold charismatic and imbued with strategic insight of the highest order. The Romans were caught totally off-guard and it seemed all too likely their grip on Gaul, which Caesar had imagined secure, would be pried free. The Siege of Alesia itself was one of the most astonishing military undertakings of all times. CaesarÕs interior siege lines stretched for 18 kilometers and were surrounded by an outward facing line three kilometres longer, complete with palisades, towers, ditches, minefields and outposts. This work was completed in less than three weeks. VercingetorixÕs refuge proved a trap and, despite an energetic defense and the arrival of a huge relief army, there was to be no escape. CaesarÕs Greatest Victory fully reveals both sides of the conflict, to explore in depth the personalities involved and to examine the legacy of the campaign which still resonates today. The arms, equipment, tactics and fighting styles of Roman and Celtic armies are explained, as well as the charisma and leadership of Caesar and Vercingetorix and the command and control structures of both sides. Using new evidence from archaeology, the authors construct a fresh account of not just the siege itself but also the Alesia campaign and place it into the wider context of the history of warfare. This is Roman history at its most exciting, featuring events still talked about today.

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142

Publisher

Casemate

Published Date

ISBN 10

1612004059

ISBN 13

9781612004051

Cromwell's Convicts

The Death March from Dunbar 1650

By: John Sadler,Rosie Serdiville

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Cromwell's Convicts

The Death March from Dunbar 1650

By: John Sadler,Rosie Serdiville

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260

Publisher

Pen and Sword Military

Published Date

ISBN 10

152673821X

ISBN 13

9781526738219

Flying Aces

By: John Sadler,Rosie Serdiville

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Flying Aces

By: John Sadler,Rosie Serdiville

The ace in the air was once a celebrity figure, a glamorous warrior of the skies. But this was daunting and dangerous work in the midst of brutal and bloody wars. An action-packed narrative keeps the reader riveted to the tales of real-life awesome aces, and cuts through the glitz to get to the nitty-gritty of these fights and flights. Readers will learn about the top aces from around the world, all kinds of planes, the wars in which they flew, and victories, emphasizing record holders. Topical quotes, songs, and poems will engage readers as well.

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162

Publisher

The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc

Published Date

ISBN 10

1725340380

ISBN 13

9781725340381

Knights

By: Rosie Serdiville,John Sadler

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Knights

By: Rosie Serdiville,John Sadler

The notion of a chivalrous knight has been the subject of much romanticizing and myth-making. That said, warriors on horseback were key players in the warfare and political fabric of Europe in the Middle Ages. This informative volume highlights key events in the world on the knight, such as the Battle of Agincourt and the Fourth Crusade. A timeline clarifies how and when figures and events fit into the historical record, sidebars supply interesting facts or define key terms, and profiles introduce interesting figures, such as Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd, Sir Henry Percy, and Joan of Arc. Maps, illustrated manuscript details, sculpture, and more illustrate this lively tome.

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162

Publisher

The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc

Published Date

ISBN 10

1499467699

ISBN 13

9781499467697

Tommy Rot

WWI Poetry They Didn't Let You Read

By: John Sadler,Rosie Serdiville

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Tommy Rot

WWI Poetry They Didn't Let You Read

By: John Sadler,Rosie Serdiville

The Great War 1914-1918 was dubbed the ‘war to end all wars’ and introduced the full flowering of industrial warfare to the world. The huge enthusiasm which had greeted the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914 soon gave way to a grim resignation and, as the Western Front became a long, agonising battle of dire attrition, revulsion. Never before had England’s sons and daughters poured out their lifeblood in such prolonged and seemingly incessant slaughter.The conflict produced a large corpus of war poetry, though focus to date has rested with the ‘big’ names - Brooke, Sassoon, Graves, Owen, Rosenberg and Blunden et al – with their descent from youthful enthusiasm to black cynicism held as a mirror of the nation’s journey. Their fame is richly merited, but there are others that, until now, you would not expect to find in any Great War anthology. This is ‘Tommy’ verse, mainly written by other ranks and not, as is generally the case with the more famous war poets, by officers. It is, much of it, doggerel, loaded with lavatorial humour. Much of the earlier material is as patriotic and sentimental as the times, jingoistic and occasionally mawkish. However, the majority of the poems in this collection have never appeared in print before; they have been unearthed in archives, private collections and papers. Their authors had few pretences, did not see themselves as poets, nor were writing for fame and posterity. Nonetheless, these lost voices of the Great War have a raw immediacy, and an instant connection that the reader will find compelling.

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Page Count

169

Publisher

The History Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0752497405

ISBN 13

9780752497402

Tommy at War, 1914-1918

By: John Sadler,Rosie Serdiville

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Tommy at War, 1914-1918

By: John Sadler,Rosie Serdiville

In 2014 we mark the centenary of the outbreak of the Great War, arguably the definitive conflict in the history of Europe. Future generations will not be able to hear the voices of those who served in this titanic struggle. John Sadler and Rosie Serdiville have unlocked personal memories and reflections from those who passed through the ordeal, voices that speak eloquently and poignantly of the horror and suffering but also of the comradeship, exhilaration and adventure of the Western Front.

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