Canadian Army Reading List- 11+ Years Of Suggestions and Ideas

[enfield]

Be warned, Ortona is pretty slow and VERY detailed.
I personally didn‘t like B20.

Other books - "Legionnaire" by Simon Murray, I‘ve recently seen it re-released in paperback.
Black Water and First Into Action are interetsing bcause they show another side of the SAS - the SBS guys describe a lot of the SAS‘s screw ups...

 

[cagomez]

Enfield

What about Liri Valley. Is that more of a grunt book or a historical insight of proper deployment of divisions and logistics pertaining to the current poltical and strategic view point of the theater as it corresponds to .... blah blah blah blahh. Would you recommend it to a fusilier or is it more of historical artsy type affair.

 

[byuill]

Lrir Valley covers everything from the politics of the day [Ottawa] down to grunt level, and has insight from all the combat arms. It goes into "big picture" planning, but goes into how that all goes to rat**** when the enemy has plans of his own.
Though it drags along in parts, I think every Canadian soldier should read this book. There is a lot of good lessons learned in it, especially when you read about privates and corporals taking control of their platoons when their leaders get the chop.
Some of the history is coloured by the author‘s perspective, but much of the events are backed up by not only after action reports but also eyewitness accounts and interviews with surviving veterans. Speaking of which, talk to the veterans of your regiment when there is a chance to talk to them. They are getting fewer as time goes on.
Books like Bravo Two Zero are good, but remember that line soldiers rarely get the chance to tell their stories. For an extremely good perspective of the Canadian private solider‘s lot in life, read the Long Road Home. I believe the author is Frederick Cederberg (sp?). He does a fine job of describing the terror and confusion of combat.

 

[herr_scooter]

Cuople of Books here that I havent seen mentioned

From a general perspective

Six Armies in Normandy by John Keegan

Gives the history of the Allied Invasion of Normandy. Written on a more operational than tactical level though

Achtung Panzer! by Hans Guderian

Interesting read as it is where many of the concepts of mechanized warfare came from.

On Psychology of Military Incompetence by Norman Dixon

Very detailed but very interesting not for everybody but i would recommend it to anyone who asks why military adventures on an operational level sometimes fail.

The War the Infantry Knew 1914-1919 - Capt. JC Dunn

Great Book it is basically the a Regimental History of the 2nd Battalion the Royal Welch Fusiliers. An interesting sidebar on this book, Dunn‘s impetus to write this book was a disagreement with the Regimental Senate of 2WRF after WWI as to how the regimental history should be told.

Going to the Wars - Max Hastings

Interesting book as war correspondance tends to frame much of societies views of a particular armed conflict. Hastings talks about his experiences in Biafra, Vietnam, the Yom Kippur War and the Falklands. He also accounts his lackluster career as a Territoral Army Parachute Regiment Officer Cadet.

The Last Battle - In my view the best book Cornelius Ryan wrote. Describes the battle between the Red Army and the German Military for Berlin in April-May of 45.

Inside the Red Army/The Liberators - Victor Suvorov

Inside the Red Army is an extesive yet facinating look at the structure of the Soviet Army from the high command to the concript.

The Liberators is a sardonic recounting of Suvarov‘s experiences in the Soviet Army from the time he was an officer cadet to the invasion of Czechoslovakia

Stalingrad - Anthony Beevor

Title should be self-explanatory. For my money a better read than Enemy at the Gates

From a British Perspective I would reccomed:

Britain‘s Army in the 20th Century by Field Marshal Lord Carver

This book is a detailed history of the operations conducted by the British Army from 1900 to late 1999.

War Behind Enemy Lines - Jeremy Moore

A detailed history of the development, training and use of Special Operations Forces by Britain during WWII

Hope this helps

 

[Jungle]

Rat,
More than likely, although I am not sure where he went after service with the Regiment. But it would make sense when you look at the time frame. Anyway, he was a very impressive man.

 

[Gunner]

Gents, CWO Collier was indeed the first RSM for LFWA. I believe he left around 93, replaced by Georg Arndt‘s long tenure.

Of note, Mr Collier joined the 4 CRPG and (as of mid 98) was happily teaching skills to young Rangers.

 

[echo]

for books on "life as a soldier"

"6 War Years" is a collaboration of writings by many differant Canadians from differant perspectives.

"and no birds sang..." and "My Father‘s Son" by Farley Mowat are good as well.

 

[Marauder]

What, no plug for "The Sharp End" by James R. Davis? You guys dissappoint me. LOL
Davis is ex-RCR Recce PL and a CAR vet who walked the walk in Bosnia and Rwanda. Good read of one Bloggins putting up with the usual cock and the occasional evolutionary cul-de-sac O, as well as a good look at the kind of braindead, numpty horse**** that the CF puts up with on UN ops. Also a bit of a narrative of the last days of the CAR. Mr. Davis feels the same way about politicians as I do.

On a side note, I got to check out the ABN coin of the CPL in our Regiment who got a chance to go to jump school with his previous (Toronto-area) Regiment. I was suprised at how thin it was (compared to the Ranger BN coins I have had a chance to look at). Still pretty damn cool. Why he isn‘t a MCPL yet is beyond me.

 

[cagomez]

I actually own the Sharp End, as it was a gift I received when I first joined up. Found it was a great read and I could relate to a few of his stories but the more I read it, (I must have read it front to back 4 times) the more I picked up on his high opinion of himself. Still, its one of the best books of what life is like in the forces and would recommend it.

 

[hhour48]

http://www.lib.ru/MEMUARY/CHECHNYA/chechen_war.txt
Vyacheslav Mironov. Assault on Grozny Downtown - Chechen Campaign ‘95. V. Mironov was an infantry captain involved in heavy battles of the first days of the war.

Also, some more Russian readings:
http://www.artofwar.ru/index_e.html

 

[spacemarine]

If you read All Necessary Measures by Cameron Spence (who also wrote Sabre Squadron) he mentions the LCol who‘s now in charge of 3PPCLI, back then he was a captain acting as a UN observer. The SAS left him in the city under seige with no weapons. Its all about the SAS sneaking into Bosnia posing as Royal Signals.

If you‘re into the FFL [always have the backup career in mind ] then there‘s quite a few good ones. Mouthful of Rocks is written by a deserter who likes to make up alot of BS about the legion and he‘s pretty bitter so everything he says has to be taken with a grain of salt, but a decent read. Then there‘s Paratroopers of the FFL which isn‘t sold at most book stores and Chapters can‘t order it in even after they take your money (had it on order for 6 months). Its a good history of 2REP and what happens in the modern day reg‘t. Inside the FFL is good if you‘re into history, it only covers up to right after the Gulf War.

 

[enfield]

Paras of the FFL is a good read, though I think it might glorify them a little to much - I believe it compares them to the SAS at one point.
"Legionnaire" is brutally honest, describing fighting in ALgeria in the 60‘s, the mutiny an disbandment of of the 1REP, as well as life in the Legion and courses and what not.

Sharp End is good the first couple times, but the more you read it the more Davis‘s arrogance comes through. I‘ve seen him on TV a couple times and can‘t say I like him awhole lot. "Fortune‘s Warriors", his second book, is no where close to Sharp End.

"War" by Gwynne Dyer is a great book (and video series by PBS). Give it a great. Anything by Keegan is good as well, although it‘s history.

 

[portcullisguy]

Originally posted by echo:
[qb]Don‘t Forget "Bravo-Two-Zero" by Andy McNab.
excellant book in my (and quite a few friends) opinion.[/qb]

I have seen many books on the market allegedly written by SAS people, and I discounted the majority of them out of hand.

One day I picked up Bravo Two Zero and my perspective was altered forever. A great follow-up was his quasi-autobiography, Immediate Action.

Andy McNab has been chastized for his writing those books, and in particular by at least one survivor of his doomed Gulf War mission. Whatever your view of the man himself, the books are excellent resources and insight into a winning mindset.

McNab goes to great lengths to portray himself as just another soldier doing his job, not in it for Queen and country, but instead because it‘s what he‘s good at -- the chapters on SAS Selection in Immediate Action are very insightful and should provide a solid idea in the reader‘s head about what a professional soldier should aspire to be.

As to McNab‘s fiction novels, I have no opinion, having never read them. The last thing that interests me is SAS fiction.

 

[portcullisguy]

After a long wait, Bravo Two Zero has finally - I am told - been released on VHS here in Canada.

Previously, one had to order the PAL-mode Brit copy, and have it converted to NTSC. I did this and it resulted in a movie nearly too dark to see clearly (dirty recording heads at the video conversion place?).

Apparently, the North American version was released December 18. Unfortunately, it has not received wide distribution yet -- Not a single Rogers Video in Toronto has it, and Blockbuster was only able to tell me that SOME store(s) has it, but they couldn‘t tell me which ones. I know Video 99 in Stouffville has it.

The movie was quite good, although aside from Sean Bean, there are no well-known actors of note, and the acting is not award-winning. However, it is a faithful enactment of the book by Andy McNab. My Euro version had an interview with Mr. McNab afterwards, which I found insightful.

If you are looking for it, and you local store doesn‘t have it, bug he s*** out of them until they get it from their distributor -- it IS available to them...

 

[spacemarine]

B20 has been available for a long time on VHS, I‘ve seen it for sale on the net, unfortunately it‘s pricey to order from the UK, the VHS copy ends up being forty some dollars canadian. Thanks for the tip about it now being available in Canada.

 

[bob]

Also,excellent reading are The D-Day Dodgers by Daniel G. Dancocks,Rhineland by Brigadier General Denis Whitaker,The Patricias by David Bercuson,Our Bravest And Our Best by Arthur Bishop and many more fine books about not only Army but also Cdn Navy and RCAF.I realize that you want books on being a grunt,but pick up and read about other CDN. Military Services in Canada.I just read the book on H.M.C.S.Haida by Barry M.Gough.She was quite a Lady.Read about her Battle Honours. Came close to being sunk.Take a trip to Toronto if you are close and take a tour before they take her to Hamilton.YAH I know some of you think i am doing a plug for some book store.Dont stop at reading about one when you can broaden your knowledge on other Cdn.Military History.For some of you i can say i know what being a grunt is.I had the Privilege & Honour of serving with the Black Watch and R.C.R.in the 60s.I have also served with The Ontario Regiment,another great Regiment.Some of you wanted to know about comradeship & esprit de corps.The Watch was taken out of the Order Of Battle,but let me tell you that the buddies that you trained & worked with is something that will stay with you always.Our reunions are every 2 years and i can say that the comradeship and pride is just as strong to-day as it was back then.Sorry i rattled on so long.

 

[Andrew]

I am just curious, i have just bought the book "JTFII, Canada‘s secret commando‘s". Seems to be pretty interesting but talks alot about weapons(think the author just tryed to make the book longer) that I and most people would know about. Just don‘t fit well in the book with my opinion. But my question is, in other books like B2O, CQB, Immidiate Action all the photos in the books have the faces of the SAS soldiers blocked out unless the soldier had died. And in this book non of the faces of the JTFII‘s faces are blocked out. Is this right to keep the soldiers identity secretive??

Andrew

 

[cagomez]

Andrew

There has been a previous thread regarding books and info about the JTF. Its under The Canadian Army Section titled "Well here it is" Try the link I posted if it works

http://cdnarmy.ca/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=000339

 

[Spr Earl]

A good book is "The Battalion of the Damned"
I can‘t remember the author‘s name.

It‘s about ex S.S. in the Foregn Legion in Indo China and how the battalion was made up of Ex S.S. and how they got the dirty job‘s and the tactic‘s they used on patrol‘s and convoy escort‘s which French regular troop‘s refused to do.

A very good read and educational in so much it give‘s insight how to fight a hidden enemy.

 

[enfield]

The JTF2 book is very strange - some good stuff, and some weird stuff, and a whole bunch that is so general it seems to be just thrown in to make the book longer.
If you know nothing about the military and special forces, it‘s a good read. If you some stuff, it gets a little hard to read at parts.
I think th length of the bibliography shows that most of what the author did was gather up every tidbit of public knowledge on JTF2 and put it in one place, and then throw in some general stuff - like Clothe The Soldier PR photos.

In regards to the faces; the SAS policy of staying anonymous is because of the ongoing threat from the IRA, as well as other terrorist groups. Most US Special Ops Units do not have the same policy - although it‘s very difficult to find ANY photos of Delta or CIA Special Activitivies.
Many of the "special forces" that are mentioned in the book are less secretive because they are a very different creature in mandate than JTF2.