Not really a book, more a collection or roll call of facts and figures, still it did make an interesting read and reference source.
Wednesday saw the completion of this epic undertaking.
As before here is the AAR from James, less big picture, but way more detailed:
There are one or two non-Essex figures in this unit, but the Essex figures are ones that I have had since the 1990s if not earlier. Finished now and constructed so I can make a variety of Napoleon's Battles brigade units - 2x16, 1x20, 1x24 or 1x28. Spare figures made it easy to make up casualty bases.
Short of time and still exhausted after completing the big Trafalgar game I just managed to watch a how to video on this game before setting off to Richard's to play it with him, Simon and Russell.
I'd seen a previous movie on De Gaulle in 2012 at the French Film Festival here in Perth, Western Australia. It covered the critical six weeks in May/June 1940 plus back story to De Gaulle's family. I found it to be a very moving film due to the scenes with his family fleeing as refugees with a handicapped daughter. This new film, while not associated as far as I know, effectively takes off from were that movie finished.
The political twists were amazing and also how De Gaulle was able to bounce back after various setbacks. There was much I didn't know and while I am sure there was a good deal of artistic licence (which generally makes for an engaging movie after all) I consider it an excellent war movie, up there with anything the Americans have produced.
One thing I found interesting was only one passing reference to the Russians and nothing that I can recall about the Italians. The major battle depicted, Bir Hakem, certainly involved, on my follow up research, significant action against Italian forces.
I am looking forward to part two.
I had purchased the deluxe (it came in a tin) DVD boxed set a good many years ago after thoroughly enjoying Band of Brothers. So I knew I had something to look forward to if I was ever laid up. Thankfully the opportunity has only recently arisen, when I was in need of some convalescence after some hi-tech medical intervention to tune up my heart (AF ablation - highly recommended if you have an irregular heartbeat and advancing years. Get in before it becomes an issue and you have to compete in with Covid clogged emergency departments.)
It then became a race against time to finish the series before I went away on some r&r (which seemed to be in keeping with the pace of the series and perhaps deployment in the Pacific Theatre).
Not as good as BoB as I found it muddy in both ability to follow dialogue (wish I had used subtitles) and to recognise who was who (as in combat one marine looked very much like the next). By halfway through I had started to understand what was happening (and it also helped that I knew a little about the Pacific campaign). Certainly brings home the horror and senseless destruction. A quality production, although I was conscious that it had been filmed in Australia and that knowledge, rather than any visual flaw, kept springing to mind.
As it neared to a conclusion I found myself wishing that it had been a proper documentary with non fictional characters. I was totally surprised when the end credits popped up showing the actors and the real person they were based on and a small note about that person subsequent life. Thankfully most of the marines who survived went on to lead decent lives.
An excellent movie in its own right and covering a generally forgotten bit of history - the early Palestinian fight against the loss of their homeland. Very much focussed on the British presence and actions.
What really impressed me was what I can only assume was existing photos and newsreels from the period that had been coloured and enhanced and skillfully blended to give a real sense of it being 1936/37 in Palestine.
