Osprey Elite - 98


British Commanders of World War II

By Ian Sumner

I have to admit that I am no expert on the subject of the Second World War, in fact I have only a general interest in the subject. So I was very interested in the contents of this volume. It covers the character and careers of a number of military commanders whose name may have been familiar but about whom I knew very little, or whom to be honest had completely slipped past my attention. 

The individuals covered include Auchinleck, Bennett, Coningham, Fraser, Hobart, Horton, Portal, Slessor, Tovey and Urquhart and others. Each subject features one or more photographs and a short but detailed biography. I found this a very interesting read, and I am sure that this would be a very useful reference to anyone wargaming the period. 

If I was frustrated by anything in this volume it was that it features snippets about other commanders such as Lt General Scoones, defender of Imphal and Kohima, and about whom I know little, but would now, after reading the notes under a featured photograph, like to know more. 

As usual the volume includes a selection of superb plates, this time by Malcom McGregor. However despite the obvious quality of the plates, I am not sure that that they will be of great an interest as the uniform plates in the Men at Arms series.

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