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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. Another strength is
the illustrations and maps used throughout. While many of the photographs
have appeared before, the colour maps have been specially prepared for the
book. They are visually stunning and critical to explaining the complexities
of the battle. Taking the Ridge is a thorough and complete dissection of
Messines and its aftermath…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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