Whilst the war raged across Flanders fields, an equally horrifying and sometimes more dangerous battle took place underground.Beneath Flanders Fields tells the story of the tunnellers war, which still remains one of the most misunderstood, misrepresented and mystifying conflicts of the Great War.A wealth of personal testimonies reveal the engineering, technology and science behind how this most intense of battles was fought and won. They speak of how the tunnellers lived a relentless existence in the depths of the battlefield for almost two and a half years, enduring physical and mental stresses that were often more extreme than their infantry counterparts. Their lives were reduced to a complex war of silence, tension and claustrophobia, leading up to the most dramatic mine offensive in history launched on 7 June 1917 at Messines Ridge. Yet, Messines was not the end of their story, which continued with the crafting of a whole underground world of headquarters, cookhouses and hospitals, housing the innumerable troops who passed through this part of the Western Front.Here, this extraordinary, hidden world is revealed and the fragile legacy it has left behind on Flanders fields is brought to light.
Genealogy Methods and Techniques offers practical guidance on how to get the most from your family history research and be confident in the results. Suitable both for beginners who want to get things right from the start, and for experienced researchers with thorny problems to solve, this book offers tips and tricks for everyone. This book takes the reader on a journey through a series of research strategies, providing guidance at every step of the way. With clear explanations, real-life case studies and over 100 tables, charts and illustrations, it will equip you to apply best practices to your own research right from the start. Whether your research focuses on an in-depth analysis of a single individual or location, or tracing multiple generations of a family tree, this guide offers the structured approach and essential tools required to achieve reliable and meaningful results.
The definitive biography of the celebrated naval hero who brought down a Prime Minister.Roger Keyes was one of the most inspiring and controversial military figures Britain produced in the twentieth century, pursuing a distinguished career in the Royal Navy.In 1918, his leadership of the Zeebrugge and Ostend raids became the stuff of legend, earning eleven Victoria Crosses and transforming him into a national hero who symbolised Britains fighting spirit.Passed over for the position of First Sea Lord due to his opposition to naval disarmament, in 1934 Keyes entered Parliament, where he campaigned fiercely against appeasement alongside Churchill. It was his decisive, fiery intervention in the 1940 Norway debate that broke the back of Neville Chamberlains government and cleared the path for Churchill to become Prime Minister.Just months later, Churchill restored him to command as the first head of Combined Operations. Keyes created and championed the Commandos, forging the elite special forces unit that terrorised Hitlers coastal defences.A hero in two world wars, Keyes was revered by the men under his command and frequently compared to Nelson, but his abrasive style also made him powerful enemies. Cutting through the controversy that surrounds his name, this definitive, warts-and-all biography aims to restore Keyes to his rightful place in British history.