A Keen Soldier

A Keen Soldier

Author: Andrew Clark

Publisher: Vintage Canada

Published: 2012-11-13

Total Pages: 322

ISBN-13: 0307368734

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When award-winning journalist Andrew Clark found the file on Harold Joseph Pringle, he uncovered a Canadian tragedy that had lain buried for fifty years. This extraordinary story of the last soldier to be executed by the Canadian military -- likely wrongfully -- gives life to the forgotten casualties of war and brings their honour home at last. Harold Pringle was underage when the Second World War broke out, eager to leave quiet Flinton, Ontario, to serve by his father’s side. But few who volunteered to fight “the good fight” realized what horror lay ahead; soon Pringle found himself in Italy, fighting on the bloody “Hitler Line,” where two-thirds of his company were killed. Shell-shocked, he embarked on a tragic, final course that culminated in a suspect murder conviction. His appeal was reviewed by the highest levels of government, right up to prime minister King. But Private Pringle was put to death -- the only soldier the Canadians executed in the whole of the Second World War. His own countrymen carried out the orders, forbidden to go home before completing this last grotesque assignment, even though the war had ended. The Pringle file was closed and stayed that way for fifty years -- until Andrew Clark uncovered it and began a two-year investigation on Pringle’s life in the army. A Keen Soldier is a true-life military detective story that shows another side of what many consider our proudest military campaign. Andrew Clark examines the fallout of a crisis that disfigured our national conscience and continues to raise questions about the ethics of war. And he does so with eloquence and a deep compassion, not only for his subject but for all wartime soldiers -- even the men who executed Pringle and the officer who gave the order to fire.


Book Synopsis A Keen Soldier by : Andrew Clark

Download or read book A Keen Soldier written by Andrew Clark and published by Vintage Canada. This book was released on 2012-11-13 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When award-winning journalist Andrew Clark found the file on Harold Joseph Pringle, he uncovered a Canadian tragedy that had lain buried for fifty years. This extraordinary story of the last soldier to be executed by the Canadian military -- likely wrongfully -- gives life to the forgotten casualties of war and brings their honour home at last. Harold Pringle was underage when the Second World War broke out, eager to leave quiet Flinton, Ontario, to serve by his father’s side. But few who volunteered to fight “the good fight” realized what horror lay ahead; soon Pringle found himself in Italy, fighting on the bloody “Hitler Line,” where two-thirds of his company were killed. Shell-shocked, he embarked on a tragic, final course that culminated in a suspect murder conviction. His appeal was reviewed by the highest levels of government, right up to prime minister King. But Private Pringle was put to death -- the only soldier the Canadians executed in the whole of the Second World War. His own countrymen carried out the orders, forbidden to go home before completing this last grotesque assignment, even though the war had ended. The Pringle file was closed and stayed that way for fifty years -- until Andrew Clark uncovered it and began a two-year investigation on Pringle’s life in the army. A Keen Soldier is a true-life military detective story that shows another side of what many consider our proudest military campaign. Andrew Clark examines the fallout of a crisis that disfigured our national conscience and continues to raise questions about the ethics of war. And he does so with eloquence and a deep compassion, not only for his subject but for all wartime soldiers -- even the men who executed Pringle and the officer who gave the order to fire.

The Laws of War in the Late Middle Ages

The Laws of War in the Late Middle Ages

Author: Maurice Keen

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2015-10-05

Total Pages: 292

ISBN-13: 1317397584

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Many of the combatants in the European wars of the late middle ages fought for their own gain, but they observed a code of regulations, part chivalrous and part commercial which they called the ‘law of arms’. This book, originally published in 1965, examines this soldiers’ code, to understand its rules and how they were enforced. How did a soldier sue for ransom money if his prisoner would not pay it, and before what court? How did he know whether what he took by force was lawful spoil? As the answers to these and other questions reveal, the workings of the law of arms gave practical point to the contemporary cult of chivalry. It also had an important influence on the early development of ideas of international law.


Book Synopsis The Laws of War in the Late Middle Ages by : Maurice Keen

Download or read book The Laws of War in the Late Middle Ages written by Maurice Keen and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2015-10-05 with total page 292 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Many of the combatants in the European wars of the late middle ages fought for their own gain, but they observed a code of regulations, part chivalrous and part commercial which they called the ‘law of arms’. This book, originally published in 1965, examines this soldiers’ code, to understand its rules and how they were enforced. How did a soldier sue for ransom money if his prisoner would not pay it, and before what court? How did he know whether what he took by force was lawful spoil? As the answers to these and other questions reveal, the workings of the law of arms gave practical point to the contemporary cult of chivalry. It also had an important influence on the early development of ideas of international law.

The Fateful Adventures of the Good Soldier Švejk During the World War, Book Two

The Fateful Adventures of the Good Soldier Švejk During the World War, Book Two

Author: Jaroslav Hašek

Publisher: Good Soldier Švejk

Published: 2009-05

Total Pages: 229

ISBN-13: 1438916701

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A picaresque series of tales about an ordinary man's successful quest to survive, and a funny but unrelentingly savage assault on the very idea of bureaucratic officialdom as a human enterprise conferring benefits on those who live under its control, and on the various justifications bureaucracies offer for their own existence.


Book Synopsis The Fateful Adventures of the Good Soldier Švejk During the World War, Book Two by : Jaroslav Hašek

Download or read book The Fateful Adventures of the Good Soldier Švejk During the World War, Book Two written by Jaroslav Hašek and published by Good Soldier Švejk. This book was released on 2009-05 with total page 229 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A picaresque series of tales about an ordinary man's successful quest to survive, and a funny but unrelentingly savage assault on the very idea of bureaucratic officialdom as a human enterprise conferring benefits on those who live under its control, and on the various justifications bureaucracies offer for their own existence.

Useful Enemies

Useful Enemies

Author: David Keen

Publisher: Yale University Press

Published: 2012-07-31

Total Pages: 379

ISBN-13: 0300183712

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Keen investigates why conflicts are so prevalent and so intractable, even when one side has much greater military resources. He asks who benefits from wars-- whether economically, politically, or psychologically-- and argues that in order to bring them successfully to an end we need to understand the complex vested interests on all sides.


Book Synopsis Useful Enemies by : David Keen

Download or read book Useful Enemies written by David Keen and published by Yale University Press. This book was released on 2012-07-31 with total page 379 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Keen investigates why conflicts are so prevalent and so intractable, even when one side has much greater military resources. He asks who benefits from wars-- whether economically, politically, or psychologically-- and argues that in order to bring them successfully to an end we need to understand the complex vested interests on all sides.

Soldier from the Wars Returning

Soldier from the Wars Returning

Author: Charles Carrington

Publisher: Casemate Publishers

Published: 2006-01-01

Total Pages: 289

ISBN-13: 1844153630

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Soldier from the Wars Returning is one of the truest, most profound and readable personal accounts of the Great War. The author waited nearly fifty years before writing it, and the perspective of history enhances its value. He writes only of the battles in which he participated (including the Somme and Passchendaele), though his comments on affairs beyond his knowledge at the time, through later study and reflection, are pungent and stimulating. Among other topics, he describes the politicians, the generals, Kitchener's Army, Hore-Belisha, German gas attacks, Picardy, dug-outs, tanks, the sex-life of the soldier, scrounging. trench kits and the censoring of letters. The author saw the First World War from below, as a fighting soldier in a line regiment. In the Second World War he served as a staff officer liaising between the Army and the RAF; serving two tours at RAF Bomber Command HQ at High Wycombe. This equipped him to draw forthright comparisons between the conduct of the two wars.


Book Synopsis Soldier from the Wars Returning by : Charles Carrington

Download or read book Soldier from the Wars Returning written by Charles Carrington and published by Casemate Publishers. This book was released on 2006-01-01 with total page 289 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Soldier from the Wars Returning is one of the truest, most profound and readable personal accounts of the Great War. The author waited nearly fifty years before writing it, and the perspective of history enhances its value. He writes only of the battles in which he participated (including the Somme and Passchendaele), though his comments on affairs beyond his knowledge at the time, through later study and reflection, are pungent and stimulating. Among other topics, he describes the politicians, the generals, Kitchener's Army, Hore-Belisha, German gas attacks, Picardy, dug-outs, tanks, the sex-life of the soldier, scrounging. trench kits and the censoring of letters. The author saw the First World War from below, as a fighting soldier in a line regiment. In the Second World War he served as a staff officer liaising between the Army and the RAF; serving two tours at RAF Bomber Command HQ at High Wycombe. This equipped him to draw forthright comparisons between the conduct of the two wars.

The Silver Soldier

The Silver Soldier

Author: Maureen Stack Sappey

Publisher:

Published: 2011-07

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780984616824

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Consumed by guilt over his part in the wrongful death of his closest friend, Paul Revere's oldest son is thrust into the drama unfolding on the streets of Boston in the 1770s. A senseless shooting, the Massacre on King Street, the dumping of tea in the harbor, the near-fatal ride by his father, and the slaughter of Patriots on Lexington Green all define the struggle for liberty for the younger Paul. Pitted against Andrew Carlton, a ruthless Tory and father of the girl he loves, Paul learns to forgive himself for the tragedy that has haunted him from an early age. In his unique position as Revere's son, Paul reveals the complexities of his courageous father who accomplished far more than a midnight ride on a borrowed horse. This novel centers on oppression and rebellion, and the selfless love between a son and his remarkable father, Paul Revere.


Book Synopsis The Silver Soldier by : Maureen Stack Sappey

Download or read book The Silver Soldier written by Maureen Stack Sappey and published by . This book was released on 2011-07 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Consumed by guilt over his part in the wrongful death of his closest friend, Paul Revere's oldest son is thrust into the drama unfolding on the streets of Boston in the 1770s. A senseless shooting, the Massacre on King Street, the dumping of tea in the harbor, the near-fatal ride by his father, and the slaughter of Patriots on Lexington Green all define the struggle for liberty for the younger Paul. Pitted against Andrew Carlton, a ruthless Tory and father of the girl he loves, Paul learns to forgive himself for the tragedy that has haunted him from an early age. In his unique position as Revere's son, Paul reveals the complexities of his courageous father who accomplished far more than a midnight ride on a borrowed horse. This novel centers on oppression and rebellion, and the selfless love between a son and his remarkable father, Paul Revere.

Becton

Becton

Author: Julius Wesley Becton

Publisher: Naval Institute Press

Published: 2008-02-15

Total Pages: 338

ISBN-13: 1612515568

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This autobiography, published in cooperation with the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), highlights Lieutenant General Becton's remarkable career, reflects on his youth, his almost forty years of service in the U.S. Army, and his subsequent civilian appointments. Devotion to leadership, education, service, race, and his spiritual upbringing are all central themes in the book. Becton enlisted in a segregated Army at age eighteen and rose to the rank of lieutenant general over the course of nearly four decades. After receiving his commission as a second lieutenant of infantry, he subsequently fought with distinction in the Korean War. Integrated into the Regular Army in 1951, he went on to earn degrees in mathematics and economics and held combat commands in the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam and the legendary 1st Cavalry Division in 1975–76. Promoted to lieutenant general in 1978, he served as commanding general of the U.S. VII Corps in Germany and deputy commander of Training and Doctrine Command and the Army Inspector of Training before retiring in 1983. Following retirement, he entered fields of international disaster assistance, emergency management, and education. In 2007 Becton was selected to receive the George Catlett Marshall Medal, the highest award presented by the AUSA for being a "soldier, combat commander, administrator, educator, public servant, government leader, and role model.”


Book Synopsis Becton by : Julius Wesley Becton

Download or read book Becton written by Julius Wesley Becton and published by Naval Institute Press. This book was released on 2008-02-15 with total page 338 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This autobiography, published in cooperation with the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), highlights Lieutenant General Becton's remarkable career, reflects on his youth, his almost forty years of service in the U.S. Army, and his subsequent civilian appointments. Devotion to leadership, education, service, race, and his spiritual upbringing are all central themes in the book. Becton enlisted in a segregated Army at age eighteen and rose to the rank of lieutenant general over the course of nearly four decades. After receiving his commission as a second lieutenant of infantry, he subsequently fought with distinction in the Korean War. Integrated into the Regular Army in 1951, he went on to earn degrees in mathematics and economics and held combat commands in the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam and the legendary 1st Cavalry Division in 1975–76. Promoted to lieutenant general in 1978, he served as commanding general of the U.S. VII Corps in Germany and deputy commander of Training and Doctrine Command and the Army Inspector of Training before retiring in 1983. Following retirement, he entered fields of international disaster assistance, emergency management, and education. In 2007 Becton was selected to receive the George Catlett Marshall Medal, the highest award presented by the AUSA for being a "soldier, combat commander, administrator, educator, public servant, government leader, and role model.”

A Soldier's Duty

A Soldier's Duty

Author: Thomas E. Ricks

Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks

Published: 2002-06-11

Total Pages: 274

ISBN-13: 0375760202

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From one of America’s most esteemed military correspondents and the author of Making the Corps comes a “briskly paced, engrossing tale” (Los Angeles Times) about a brutal brushfire war in Afghanistan that sets off a titanic struggle for the soul of the twenty-first-century American military.


Book Synopsis A Soldier's Duty by : Thomas E. Ricks

Download or read book A Soldier's Duty written by Thomas E. Ricks and published by Random House Trade Paperbacks. This book was released on 2002-06-11 with total page 274 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From one of America’s most esteemed military correspondents and the author of Making the Corps comes a “briskly paced, engrossing tale” (Los Angeles Times) about a brutal brushfire war in Afghanistan that sets off a titanic struggle for the soul of the twenty-first-century American military.

Death of a Soldier

Death of a Soldier

Author: Margaret Evison

Publisher: Biteback Publishing

Published: 2012

Total Pages: 299

ISBN-13: 9781849544498

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On 12 May 2009 Margaret Evison's son Lieutenant Mark Evison of 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, died of wounds sustained whilst leading a patrol in Helmand Province. Hailed a hero, Mark's death was a national sacrifice, his grave to be one of many in the identical, ordered rows in a military cemetery. But to his mother Margaret it was the most intimate of griefs. In Death of a Soldier, she attempts to reconcile her own unanswerable sense of loss with the idea that her son died for a good cause.


Book Synopsis Death of a Soldier by : Margaret Evison

Download or read book Death of a Soldier written by Margaret Evison and published by Biteback Publishing. This book was released on 2012 with total page 299 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: On 12 May 2009 Margaret Evison's son Lieutenant Mark Evison of 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, died of wounds sustained whilst leading a patrol in Helmand Province. Hailed a hero, Mark's death was a national sacrifice, his grave to be one of many in the identical, ordered rows in a military cemetery. But to his mother Margaret it was the most intimate of griefs. In Death of a Soldier, she attempts to reconcile her own unanswerable sense of loss with the idea that her son died for a good cause.

Ghost Riders of Baghdad

Ghost Riders of Baghdad

Author: Daniel A. Sjursen

Publisher: University Press of New England

Published: 2015-09-22

Total Pages: 296

ISBN-13: 1611688272

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From October 2006 to December 2007, Daniel A. Sjursen-then a U.S. Army lieutenant-led a light scout platoon across Baghdad. The experiences of Ghost Rider platoon provide a soldier's-eye view of the incredible complexities of warfare, peacekeeping, and counterinsurgency in one of the world's most ancient cities. Sjursen reflects broadly and critically on the prevailing narrative of the surge as savior of America's longest war, on the overall military strategy in Iraq, and on U.S. relations with ordinary Iraqis. At a time when just a handful of U.S. senators and representatives have a family member in combat, Sjursen also writes movingly on questions of America's patterns of national service. Who now serves and why? What connection does America's professional army have to the broader society and culture? What is the price we pay for abandoning the model of the citizen soldier? With the bloody emergence of ISIS in 2014, Iraq and its beleaguered, battle-scarred people are again much in the news. Unlike other books on the U.S. war in Iraq, Ghost Riders of Baghdad is part battlefield chronicle, part critique of American military strategy and policy, and part appreciation of Iraq and its people. At once a military memoir, history, and cultural commentary, Ghost Riders of Bahdad delivers a compelling story and a deep appreciation of both those who serve and the civilians they strive to protect. Sjursen provides a riveting addition to our understanding of modern warfare and its human costs.


Book Synopsis Ghost Riders of Baghdad by : Daniel A. Sjursen

Download or read book Ghost Riders of Baghdad written by Daniel A. Sjursen and published by University Press of New England. This book was released on 2015-09-22 with total page 296 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From October 2006 to December 2007, Daniel A. Sjursen-then a U.S. Army lieutenant-led a light scout platoon across Baghdad. The experiences of Ghost Rider platoon provide a soldier's-eye view of the incredible complexities of warfare, peacekeeping, and counterinsurgency in one of the world's most ancient cities. Sjursen reflects broadly and critically on the prevailing narrative of the surge as savior of America's longest war, on the overall military strategy in Iraq, and on U.S. relations with ordinary Iraqis. At a time when just a handful of U.S. senators and representatives have a family member in combat, Sjursen also writes movingly on questions of America's patterns of national service. Who now serves and why? What connection does America's professional army have to the broader society and culture? What is the price we pay for abandoning the model of the citizen soldier? With the bloody emergence of ISIS in 2014, Iraq and its beleaguered, battle-scarred people are again much in the news. Unlike other books on the U.S. war in Iraq, Ghost Riders of Baghdad is part battlefield chronicle, part critique of American military strategy and policy, and part appreciation of Iraq and its people. At once a military memoir, history, and cultural commentary, Ghost Riders of Bahdad delivers a compelling story and a deep appreciation of both those who serve and the civilians they strive to protect. Sjursen provides a riveting addition to our understanding of modern warfare and its human costs.