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Journal of the
Military Historical Society of Australia |
Review Jeffrey
McNeill embarked on a project to discover the part played not only by the New
Zealand Division, but also by the other components of II ANZAC Corps and – a
feature uncommon in standard British and Dominion battle histories – by their
immediate opponents in taking and
holding the Messines Ridge. The result is a handsome, large format volume,
which merits the attention of general readers and specialists alike. Clearly
and professionally written and ably supported by contemporary accounts, notes
and references, plus scores of photos, maps, tables and diagrams, make Taking
the Ridge an impressive work, and a worthy addition to any military
history enthusiast’s library – Paul Skrebels, Sabretache, LXIV
(1)52-53. March 2023. |
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Review: Taking the Ridge “The depth of McNeill’s meticulous research is
clear in this self-published book. It ranges from official records in New
Zealand, Australian and German archives, to the letters and diaries of
individual soldiers who were there. This book is not only the first full
account of New Zealand’s efforts at Messines, but also the first work New
Zealand military history to extensively use the records of German units and
formations that fought in the battle. This is a significant achievement. …There
is little doubt that it is now the definitive account of New Zealanders and
Australians in this critical Western Front action. The book is rich in detail
and sheds new light on a significant event of World War I”
– Glyn Harper, New Zealand Journal of History,
56(2) 136-137. 2022. |
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Review “Jeff McNeill has achieved
what many authors aspire to – a book so comprehensive on its subject that one
can hardly imagine anything left to write. While perhaps not really aimed at
a general readership, a light reading would still give enough for someone
unfamiliar with Great War history to get a feel for one battle in that huge,
distant conflict.” – Neil Frances, The Volunteers, 48(1) 73-74,
July 2022 |
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Review “The
richly-wrought detail and broad narrative sweep surely makes this account of
a largely-forgotten World War I Western Front battle a necessity on the
bookshelf of students of military history. What
a splendid gift it would make for a birthday or Christmas, for it sets a
standard rarely to be seen in the genre, with features like a lengthy look at
the geography of battle and the German side of events before, during and
after.” – Alister Browne in the Manawatu Standard 13 July 2022 |
The Battle of Messines: Book details WWI battle
that has been 'largely forgotten'
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Taking the
Ridge: Anzacs & Germans at the Battle of Messines 1917
– Dr Jeffrey McNeill NZ$79.99 incl. GST Taking the Ridge tells a fresh story of the iconic First
World War Battle of Messines 1917. Opening with 19 mines exploding under the
German positions and over inside five hours, the battle was a sorely needed
victory for the British troops who took the Flanders ridge near Ypres and in
which a fifth of all New Zealand’s soldiers who served overseas would have
somehow participated. Largely overlooked today, this was New Zealand’s battle
of the war. But victory was not as complete as claimed. Anzac losses were far
from light and the afternoon’s gains hung in the balance. Men and their
generals were all tested. Taking the Ridge provides the
definitive account of the New Zealand and Australian 3rd and 4th divisions’
actions as well as those of the German divisions opposite in that battle and
its aftermath at La Basse-Ville and Passchendaele in a year of grim trench
warfare. Available at good bookshops and online |
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The foot. Read Jeff’s story of finding a New
Zealand rifleman’s foot at Mesen published in The Journal of Urgent
Writing, Volume 1, 2016, Massey University Press. [click here] |
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www.riflemanpress.nz |
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