At 7.30 a.m. on Saturday, 1st July 1916, two British Divisions went 'over the top' to storm the village of Gommecourt. It was only a diversion to the start of the Battle of the Somme but, by midnight, 6,700 officers and men from London and the North Midlands were wounded or missing.

In 2006, Alan MacDonald published his first book about Gommecourt - 'Pro Patria Mori'. It described the tragic story of the men of the 56th (1st London) Division who fought and died that day. It describes the planning and preparation of the attack, and the battle itself unfolds in a minute by minute account of the futile, gallant action of the London Division.

The review for the Western Front Association reads: "...a finely written, meticulously researched book, which I have no hesitation in recommending". (Read the review here, the new Stand To! review and more comments here)

The commander and the men of the 46th (North Midland) Division were held responsible for the attack's catastrophic failure. Maj. Gen. Stuart Wortley was sacked and the Division played no further part in the Battle of the Somme. It would take them more than two years to rebuild their shattered reputation.

Now, in 'A Lack of Offensive Spirit?', his companion volume to 'Pro Patria Mori', Alan MacDonald explains how this exhausted and understrength Division was asked to do the impossible and how their General fell victim to a personal vendetta conducted by Sir Douglas Haig, commander of the British Armies in France and Flanders.

Now available:
A Lack of Offensive Spirit?
The 46th (North Midland) Division at Gommecourt, 1st July 1916

For an outline of the book please go here
To buy the book please go here