The Early Battles of the Eighth Army: Crusader to the Alamein Line

Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Pen & Sword Books Ltd. Very Good/Very Good. 2002. Hard Cover. 8vo 0850528518 Dust jacket complete, unclipped. Original cloth boards with bright gilt titling on spine. Neat address label on verso of title. Dimensions: Photographs on plates. 224 pages. 15.2 x 1.8 x 24.1 cmReaders of this Author's Eighth Army's Greatest Victories (shortly to appear as a Penguin paperback) will welcome this latest work covering the difficult early period of what was to become one of the most illustrious formations in British military history. Born from the Western Desert force, the Eighth Army was beset with command, equipment and morale problems before it emerged to enjoy glory. The book recounts the events of the first year of Eighth Army's existence when it enjoyed the advantages of superior numbers, superior tanks (contrary to legend), superior Intelligence and the support of a more effective air force. Despite these benefits and the undoubted valour of its soldiers, however, it suffered a series of defeats or, even more disheartening, successes which brought no lasting benefit. The book describes these events and explains the reasons with authority. .