Book Reviews

Black War-Bonnet

"This is the first novel in a historical series that follows in the tradition of Horatio Hornblower (C.S. Forester), Richard Sharpe (Bernard Cornwell) and Harry Flashman (George MacDonald Fraser). It follows the life of a young Canadian as he experiences actual historical events and places in the world of the early nineteenth century, in particular the Napoleonic wars. Roderick Gaspard MacHugh is an orphan whose French mother is a victim of the French Revolution's brutality, and whose Scottish father is killed by outlaws on the Canadian prairies. The boy witnesses both deaths. He spends his early teen years with Blackfoot natives and is trained as a warrior. This multi-cultural inheritance guides him in his quest to avenge his parent's murders and deal with the dangers that he regularly encounters in the brutal world in which he lives. If you like accurate history as seen through an engaging personality mixed in with adventure and mystery and a little romance, then this series will quickly capture your attention. It is clear the author has traveled to the places in the story as the descriptions have a vividness that can only come with personal experience and this makes MacHugh's tribulations all the more authentic. A lot of research has been done on the culture and life of the characters whether native, French or Scottish. Like the author, MacHugh is a piper and this introduces a dimension to the character and the fiction that you don't often find in these kinds of novels as music often comes up as an element in the plot. Though the main character is Canadian he inhabits the world of the late eighteenth, early nineteenth century and it can appeal to any reader. For these kinds of novels to work the character has to seem real and likeable and the setting needs to come alive and make you feel you are there. The author succeeds. It's a fun and compelling read."

-Jeffrey Mcmurdo
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The Fugitives

"This is the second novel in the MacHugh series and moves his life forward from a teenager on the Canadian plains to a highland soldier in Portugal during the Napoleonic wars. It focuses in particular on the siege of the Almeida fortress in 1810 and the cataclysmic explosion of its ammunition bunker which was the largest man-made explosion in history up to that time. Once again the reader follows Rory MacHugh as he encounters fascinating characters, intrigues, dangers and actual historical events. If, like me, you don't know much about this period of history and haven't been to Spain or Portugal don't worry. As you become engrossed in the story you acquire a sense of familiarity with that time and place that stays with you. It is also interesting to discover how very different social values were then, a time not just of war but revolutionary fervour, and how that shaped people's perspectives on life as they saw an old order fall and a new unknown society being born. MacHugh is a great companion - both for those he encounters, and the reader. It's an entirely enjoyable read, and a good way to learn some of that history."

-Jeffrey Mcmurdo
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A Secret of the Sphinx

"This is the third volume in the MacHugh series and in my view the best. It covers the exploits of Rory MacHugh in the form of 'discovered memoirs' as he departs Canada, endures imprisonment in England - the horror of London's prison ships at Woolwich - and then escapes and joins a highland regiment and ships out to Egypt to confront Napoleon's invasion there. The author's strength in these novels is his great attention to historical detail and accuracy, and the way he enables the reader to vicariously experience the battles, espionage and romances that the main character encounters. He uses well the actual vocabulary of the times. He achieves authenticity by dredging up minor personalities and events and working them into the story, such as Zenab, a sixteen year old daughter of a local ruler tragically executed after Napoleon's retreat from Egypt for having been taken to bed by him.

The footnotes, glossary of archaic terms and short biographies of the true historical figures who feature in the history add context and understanding. The drawings are in the style of sketch artists of the era and add to the seeming realness of the story. As with the first two volumes, the only misgiving is that there are not more of them. The historical footnotes actually would be more helpful at the bottom of the page rather than the end of the book, for immediate reference. And though there are a couple of good maps, more of them, especially of the battles and old Cairo would help the reader to better visualize what was happening. And it would add to the exotic character of the adventures as these truly are exotic lands. If you want to escape today's world and enter into the life and times of the early 1800s in Egypt - and meet Napoleon - this novel will quickly take you there."

-Jeffrey Mcmurdo
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The Suicide Battalion

"I am liking the story and the documentary story line. There is a lot of history and stories to hear. We need to respect them all and make sure that they are never forgotten. Especially those who where never found, like my Great Grandpa. There is a lot of gruesome detail in this book but a very good tribute to the 46th battalion of Moose Jaw Saskatchewan."

-Jennifer

"If you're from Saskatchewan you'll easily relate to this history of the extraordinary 46th Battalion of the South Saskatchewan Regiment which served in World War I. And if you're simply interested in military history then you will have the enjoyment of a compelling and moving narrative of a group of volunteer soldiers who were at the center of so many of the crucial battles of the war. But if you are both of these then this is a gem that will linger in your memory long after you have finished reading it. What these soldiers achieved is remarkable in the annals of the war and I would be curious to know how their record compares to other Allied battalions.

Suicide Battalion was first published in 1978 right after many of the veterans' stories had been collected in taped interviews. Which was timely as it was the last chance to preserve these for posterity. And what stories they are. It was re-issued in 1990 with photos. It covers the war from the initial rush to enlist in August 1914 through to the Battalion's return in June 1919. In those five years it was involved in - and often at the center of - almost every significant action of the war. While the victories were many the price paid was very high. A total of 5,375 men served in the 46th. Of these 4,917 were killed or wounded - an unbelievable rate of 91.5 percent. The dead numbered 1,433 which represents a grim 29% of those who served. The mental toll for the survivors is unfathomable.

The appalling loses shouldn't suggest they weren't good soldiers who were easily killed or wounded. Life on the prairies was hard and required men to shoot and ride horses and live rough and to support each other against the many hardships of frontier life. Adapting to trench conditions wasn't a great leap. As tough soldiers, the Canadians, and in particular the South Saskatchewan Regiment were trusted enough by their leaders to be used as the shock troops or defensive line at critical times. And for this there was an inevitable consequence in high casualty rates. The reputation of Canadian troops among the enemy is revealing. Captured German frontline reports famously had the same recurring observation: "Canadians have moved into the line across from us. We expect to be attacked."

The story of the 46th Battalion is an incredible - and hellish - one and this book does justice to it, and to the men who served. The authors provided a lasting service in capturing the interviews of these men in the 1970s before the last of them passed on. And that is what moves the book along as it gives both the history of the battalion's actions along with the personal stories of these men and what happened to them and what they thought of it all. Perhaps the most meaningful passage in the book is the description of what they did when the armistice was declared on November 11th, 1918. There was no cheering in the 46th.

The book easily could have been a hundred pages longer, with more background on the men before they joined and more follow up on what the survivors' lives were like afterwards. In particular, there is the question of why this Battalion's achievements were so significant. The list of battle honours is long - 14 battles which include the Somme, Arras, Vimy, Ypres, Passchendaele, Amiens, the Hindenburg Line and Valenciennes. At the battle of Vimy Ridge, the 46th was sent into the most critical spot where it reached its objective and saved the day in holding the line together. William Johnstone Milne, of Moose Jaw won the Victoria Cross for twice taking out German machine gun posts singlehandedly and allowing the advance to proceed. Later, on that first day of the battle, he was killed.

The Armoury in Moose Jaw from which the 46th was recruited and deployed, and to which they returned for demobilization has display cases which hold many artefacts of the men who served. Without Suicide Battalion they would not have as much meaning. It is a valuable tribute to the 46th and enthralling storytelling."

-Jeffrey Mcmurdo

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