The British Army in World War I (2): Western Front 1916-18

This volume covers the years of the "big pushes": the costly mistakes of the Somme in 1916, and Third Ypres - the infamous Passchendaele battle - in 1917. The author goes on to describe the successful defensive fighting against the great German offensive of spring 1918; and the Allies' final advance to victory on the Western Front. This is the second of three concise yet fact-filled titles on the British Army of the Great War, detailing organization, uniforms and insignia, weapons and training, leadership and campaign history.

In 1916, Britain was finally forced to introduce universal conscription to replace the terrible casualties suffered by the pre-war Regulars, the Territorials and the eager but unprepared volunteers of the 'New Armies'. In 1917 and 1918, the vastly expanded British Expeditionary Force became the most effective of all the combatant armies in France, its improved weapons and tactics forged in the furnaces of the Somme and the Ypres Salient. Shaken but resilient under Germany's last desperate offensive in spring 1918, it swept forward to final victory. This second of three titles charts its changing appearance in colourful detail.