Osprey Men at Arms Series
The British Army in World War 1 (1)
The Western Front 1914 – 1916
By Mike Chapell

This like all the other Men at Arms series is a mine of information.

Each section the book covers is filled with historically accurate information and is written by an author who specialises in the subject covered, this is backed up with lovely colour plates which can be used as painting guides. 

Not only are there colour plates to help but also pictures, photographs and illustrations. I find as with other Ospreys, that it is amazing just how much information is packed into so few pages.

The introduction gives a basic history to the lead up to the time period covered. Then under a sub heading it continues with the relative changes and practices that were altered after the Boer war. 

Most of the services of the Army are covered from the front line soldiers to the medical staff and even veterinarians, Before reading this book I like I suppose many others of you, (and some of you may think it daft), but I actually thought that when a horse was wounded that it was put down, not so, indeed it was looked after by the army’s Vets and orderlies and there is even a photograph of a horse being treated for shrapnel wounds. Although not fully covered in the text but they do get mentioned.

The colour plates are as can be expected from other Osprey publications, Excellent, and very well detailed.

Again they cover most of the various arms of the army. There is also a very nice plate of Albert Ball the fighter ace, and further in the book is a photograph of his grave marker, a sad end to a brave man.

Weaponry is also covered in the book as you would expect, and again drawings and pictures are included.

Overall a very nice addition to the Men at Arms series and in my opinion a good start for anyone who is beginning in the period, who wishes to know more about the army of Great Britain. 

It is very much what we have all come to expect as the “norm” as far as Ospreys publications are concerned.

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