Into the Jaws of Death: British Military Blunders, 1879–1900
Feb 2008 · Casemate Publishers
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About this ebook
A study of British military defeats and disasters in the late nineteenth century: “An enthralling look at the Victorian army in adversity.” —BBC History Magazine
Between the Crimean War and the dawn of the twentieth century, the British Army was almost continuously engaged in one corner of the globe or another, in military operations famously characterized by Kipling as the “savage wars of peace.” In his new work on the most dramatic Victorian campaigns, Mike Snook brings the most dramatic clashes of the age of empire back to life.
Here he focuses closely on defeat and disaster—the occasions when things went badly awry for the British. The names of these great battles—Isandlwana, Maiwand, Majuba Hill, Khartoum, Colenso, Spion Kop, and Magersfontein—still resonate down through the ages. In a meticulously researched military history, the author exposes the true and sometimes embarrassing causes of defeat. Overstretch, political meddling, military incompetence, and petty jealousy all played their part. Above all else, however, these are dramatic and perceptive accounts of mere mortal men struggling to deal with the often-overpowering dynamics and horrors of nineteenth-century warfare on the fringes of Empire.
Between the Crimean War and the dawn of the twentieth century, the British Army was almost continuously engaged in one corner of the globe or another, in military operations famously characterized by Kipling as the “savage wars of peace.” In his new work on the most dramatic Victorian campaigns, Mike Snook brings the most dramatic clashes of the age of empire back to life.
Here he focuses closely on defeat and disaster—the occasions when things went badly awry for the British. The names of these great battles—Isandlwana, Maiwand, Majuba Hill, Khartoum, Colenso, Spion Kop, and Magersfontein—still resonate down through the ages. In a meticulously researched military history, the author exposes the true and sometimes embarrassing causes of defeat. Overstretch, political meddling, military incompetence, and petty jealousy all played their part. Above all else, however, these are dramatic and perceptive accounts of mere mortal men struggling to deal with the often-overpowering dynamics and horrors of nineteenth-century warfare on the fringes of Empire.
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About the author
Born in Monmouthshire, Lieutenant Colonel Mike Snook is a lifelong professional soldier.
After graduating successively from Leicester University and Sandhurst, he was commissioned into the Royal Regiment of Wales in 1984. Since then he has served all around the world, including active service in regimental and staff appointments in Afghanistan, Bosnia, South Armagh and Belfast.
In recent years he has worked as a British military adviser in South Africa and as the Chief Instructor of the Tactical Intelligence Branch at the Defence College of Intelligence.
Presently on the HQ staff at the Defence Academy, he is utilizing his spare time to read for a PhD.
After graduating successively from Leicester University and Sandhurst, he was commissioned into the Royal Regiment of Wales in 1984. Since then he has served all around the world, including active service in regimental and staff appointments in Afghanistan, Bosnia, South Armagh and Belfast.
In recent years he has worked as a British military adviser in South Africa and as the Chief Instructor of the Tactical Intelligence Branch at the Defence College of Intelligence.
Presently on the HQ staff at the Defence Academy, he is utilizing his spare time to read for a PhD.
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