Quick Training for War: : Robert Baden-Powell: Osprey Publishing

Quick Training for War

Description

In this fascinating little book, Robert Baden-Powell uses his extensive military experience and memories of service in Africa to distill soldiering down to 'the four C-s': Courage, Common sense, Cunning and Cheerfulness.

With observations gleaned from his campaigns against the Zulus, the Ashanti and the Boers during the period 1876–1910 (and even from conversations with the German Kaiser), B-P discusses all aspects of military service from digging trenches and earth-works to 'inculcating cheerfulness in your men'. This period document gives a unique insight into the mindset of the British officer in 1914; advocating a training system that encapsulated Edwardian values, conventional military thinking and centuries of army tradition.

Quick Training For War is a perfect example of the type of war the British expected to fight and which they prepared for in 1914, and it became a standard survival guide for many British troops. Personable in tone, this is the well-intentioned, no-nonsense advice of a seasoned campaigner - albeit an officer more accustomed to scouting on the South African veldt than struggling through Somme mud.

Introduction

I THE MAKING OF AN ARMY
The Raw Material
The Inner Meaning of Drill
Mutual Sizing Up
Officers and Men
The Necessity for Drill
Success in War
The German Emperor on our Alphabetical Methods

II THE FOUR C'S OF SOLDIERING: COURAGE
The Development of Courage
Confidence in Yourself
Marksmanship
Judging Distance
Confidence in your Horsemanship
Confidence in your Pals
Confidence in your Leaders
Machine-made Discipline
Health as a Step to Courage
How to Inculcate Courage
The German Emperor on Attack
Saving Your Men

III THE FOUR C'S OF SOLDIERING: COMMON-SENSE
The Triangular Formation
A Typical Cavalry Fight
The Boers at Majuba
The Importance of Covering Fire
The Common-sense Use of Cavalry
Trenches and Defence Works
The C. S. Trench
Sand-bag Defences
Common-sense Dodginess
Bridging Rivers
Comfort in Camp
Giving Orders Clearly
Concealment
How to Inculcate Common-sense

IV THE FOUR C'S OF SOLDIERING: CUNNING
Where Cunning Scores
Out-Boering the Boer
Masters of Cunning
How to Inculcate Cunning
Ruses of War

V THE FOUR C'S OF SOLDIERING: CHEERFULNESS
A Factor in Success
How to Inculcate Cheerfulness

VI HOW TO CARRY OUT TRAINING
General Scheme for Training: Parades
How to Make the Training Practical and Interesting to the Men
Minor Training Sandwiched In
Tactical War Game
The Attitude of the Officer
Verbal Orders

Conclusion

Product details

Published	20 Sep 2018
Format	Hardback
Edition	1st
Extent	128
ISBN	9781472837943
Imprint	Osprey Publishing
Dimensions	140 x 110 mm
Series	General Military
Short code	GNM
Publisher	Bloomsbury Publishing

Author

Robert Baden-Powell

Robert Baden-Powell OM, GCMG, GCVO, KCB was a lieu…

Author

Martin Robson

Dr Martin Robson is a lecturer in defence studies…

B.P. has a reputation which is second to none, and this little book is so brightly and cleverly written that it will be read with advantage by the recruit and studied with infinite pleasure and profit by the professional soldier.

Daily Mail
As instructive as it is interesting.

Morning Post
Clear and persuasive

Observer