I've been away on a short break to my favourite corner of England - north Norfolk, near the North Sea coast. Trees, open skies, flooded fields, sand, dry grasses, marsh harriers, and white, white barn owls at dusk. And books. There's a good second hand bookshop in Burnham Market. When I was last there, readers of this blog might remember, I picked up a thin book of poems by men of the 8th Army, signed by Field Marshall Montgomery. This time, I found this:
This is the frontispiece from Lewis Winstock, Songs & Music of the Redcoats; a History of the War Music of the British Army 1642-1902 (Leo Cooper, London, 1970). What a find! The author combines military, political, cultural and musical knowledge in a learned survey of the music of the Redcoats from the Civil Wars to the South African War, via the Seven Years War, the French Wars, the Crimea etc etc. I will digest this work slowly, and with care, as it deserves. But, already, I found Winstock's account of the importance, and popularity, of Lilliburlero (what a rousing, heart lifting tune) fascinating. That our 'Protestant liberties' rested to such a degree on doggerel verse.
Another recent addition to my shelves came as a Christmas present from my son:
A marvellous compendium, and the sub-title of this book - A Celebration of the Commonplace, the Local, the Vernacular and the distinctive - could be a statement of all that I find most appealing in daily life. Yes, there are moments when the great, choreographed events appeal, but it is the 'commonplace, the local and the vernacular' that form the sense of place and being that gives me roots.
Finally, this, which will be familiar to many of you:
I have the rest of Brigadier Grant's wargaming in history series, but I enjoyed this volume the most. So much so that I have, of course, ordered some British foot for the Peninsular...
Goof finds. I'm going to have to take a closer look at Grant's work; you're not the first I've seen recommend it.
ReplyDeleteHe's written a good deal. I've only read his stuff published by Ken Trotman, both the Wargaming in History series and the War Game Companion (a companion to his father's famous book). But Grant has also been published by Partizan, and I intend to get his Wellington in the Peninsular soon-ish.
Deletetradgardmastare said...
ReplyDeleteSome interesting books.Great to have you back.Common Ground are a splendid organisation with a spiffing website not to mention other publications.
I used their leaflet at school to encourage the children to do a local map including what was significant for them,from friend's houses to favourite shortcuts.I really enjoyed doing my own too...
best wishes
Alan
That's very interesting, Alan. I once attended a paper at an international conference about that type of map led learning - some good results, especially in the Scandinavian countries. At the same conference I listened to some other, very interesting, work on the forest school movement (no, no, not the post-1945 Lithuanian resistance ... now that could be a good wargaming project). Happily, the forest school idea has now some purchase here, in England, but, as usual, in a rather truncated form. But, a lot better than nothing.
DeleteI've been trying to get my Head to allow me to train for forest School for ages! We have a wood at the back of the school and the Ranger who manages it has worked with us at times to great effect...
DeleteA great selection Stephen. 2nd hand bookshops are always on my lists for visits while out of the district.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, Paul. There's stuff out there, on the dusty shelves, that is just waiting for us wargaming types.
DeleteThanks for this lovely post. I've wanted to visit Norfolk for many years, and you've given me another reason to go.
ReplyDeleteAs an aside, I often whistle "Lilibulero" while walking around the garrison where I work w. many British Army types. No one has ever seemed to recognize the tune, but it could just be my whistling.
Cheers,
Mike
Thanks, Padre. I can see you are a man of fine tastes, that corner of Norfolk is a fine place. I blogged about my previous trip there at the end of June : http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6713133878713687741#editor/target=post;postID=6245037557708333444
DeleteFor a man of a Christian turn of mind it is the home of some of the most splendid, ancient churches, and the Anglo-Catholic Shrine of Our Lady of the Sea at Walsingham. One can also drink in the same, tiny, one roomed pub that Nelson did, and, for the 1940s type, there are endless bits of concrete and steel lying around. And that doesn't even begin to cover Turnip Townshend - my hero! So, if you are going, let me know, and I'll give you some pointers.
As for Lilbulero, I must say that I'm surprised. Of course, it used to be, until very recently, the BBC World Service's signature tune. Ah, change and decay...
What an uplifting post, Stephen; though the opening line perturbed me a little. Excellent books too, I started wargaming with Featherstone's book but 'Battle -Practical Wargaming' followed very closely. Grand stuff!
ReplyDeleteWhy, thank you kind sir! Er, I hadn't thought that the bit about Kipling might read oddly - d'oh! Clearly B'head had better libraries than the other side of the Wirral - all I ever came across was Feathers.
DeleteWelcome back from your jaunt. I look forward to the days I can return to the secondhand bookshop and browse for hours, breathing in that wonderful musty smell..... a goodly haul of reading matter for you there.
ReplyDeleteIt's probably a health hazard - the musty smell inhalation, that is. Don't let on - they'll ban them (in association with Waterstone's, of course).
Delete