Canterbury in the Great War

Canterbury in the Great War
Author: Stephen Wynn
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Total Pages: 176
Release: 2019-12-19
Genre: History
ISBN: 1473865328

A historic profile of the English city of Canterbury during World War I and the conflict’s effect on the region and its people. Canterbury had been a garrison town for many years before the war. When hostilities began between Britain and Germany, it was home to the Buffs (East Kent Regiment), who were immediately mobilized for war. They were replaced by the men of the West Kent Yeomanry, a Territorial unit, along with their fellow territorials, the Kent Cyclists, who despite their mode of transport, were an infantry battalion of the British Army, who were formed in 1908. They were tasked with guarding key points along with patrolling the Kent coastline. During the First World War, Canterbury was one of the county’s main recruiting areas, particularly for those men from east Kent. By the end of the war, thousands of men had enthusiastically made their way to the town’s Drill Hall in St Peter's Lane to sign on the dotted line so that they could do their bit for King and country in the nation’s hour of need. Statistics showed that one in four men had enlisted in the British Army. Meanwhile, the town’s civilian population did their part for the war. Some worked in the munitions factories and the Kent VAD hospital, while others worked as air raid wardens. These were extraordinary times that relied on ordinary people to pull together and do whatever they could for the common good. Through researching local newspapers of the day, along with letters, diaries, photographs, parish magazines, trade journals, contemporary printed pamphlets, and more, author Stephen Wynn details the stories of this dramatic era.

The Blitz

The Blitz
Author: Stewart Ross
Publisher: Evans Brothers
Total Pages: 36
Release: 2007
Genre: History
ISBN: 9780237533939

This series uses primary source evidence such as diaries, posters, newspaper cuttings and oral accounts to portray life on the Home Front. This title discusses the intense bombing of Great Britain by Germany in World War II - called the Blitz (Blitzkrieg).

Secret Canterbury

Secret Canterbury
Author: Geoff and Fran Doel
Publisher: Amberley Publishing Limited
Total Pages: 189
Release: 2018-11-15
Genre: Photography
ISBN: 1445669137

Explore Canterbury's secret history through a fascinating selection of stories, facts and photographs.

How Churchill Waged War

How Churchill Waged War
Author: Allen Packwood
Publisher: Grub Street Publishers
Total Pages: 374
Release: 2018-10-30
Genre: History
ISBN: 1473893917

An analytical investigation into Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s decision-making process during every stage of World War II. When Winston Churchill accepted the position of Prime Minister in May 1940, he insisted in also becoming Minister of Defence. This, though, meant that he alone would be responsible for the success or failure of Britain’s war effort. It also meant that he would be faced with many monumental challenges and utterly crucial decisions upon which the fate of Britain and the free world rested. With the limited resources available to the UK, Churchill had to pinpoint where his country’s priorities lay. He had to respond to the collapse of France, decide if Britain should adopt a defensive or offensive strategy, choose if Egypt and the war in North Africa should take precedence over Singapore and the UK’s empire in the East, determine how much support to give the Soviet Union, and how much power to give the United States in controlling the direction of the war. In this insightful investigation into Churchill’s conduct during the Second World War, Allen Packwood, BA, MPhil (Cantab), FRHistS, the Director of the Churchill Archives Centre, enables the reader to share the agonies and uncertainties faced by Churchill at each crucial stage of the war. How Churchill responded to each challenge is analyzed in great detail and the conclusions Packwood draws are as uncompromising as those made by Britain’s wartime leader as he negotiated his country through its darkest days.

The Canterbury Book of Days

The Canterbury Book of Days
Author: Paul Crampton
Publisher: The History Press
Total Pages: 390
Release: 2012-02-29
Genre: Reference
ISBN: 0752485857

Taking you through the year day by day, The Canterbury Book of Days contains a quirky, eccentric, amusing or important event or fact from different periods of history, many of which had a major impact on the religious and political history of England as a whole. Ideal for dipping into, this addictive little book will keep you entertained and informed. Featuring hundreds of snippets of information gleaned from the vaults of Canterbury's archives, it will delight residents and visitors alike.