Guns of the Regiment

[Mike Cecil]

Just recd the latest offering from Clive Law: 'Guns of the Regiment' by Doug Knight.

Hard cover, A4, 425 pages of excellent quality paper with plenty of both monochrome & colour images. Have only just thumbed through it, but already I can see this is a wealth of information relevant to not only Canada but other Commonwealth countries as well. Very well done Mr Knight!

The author's expertise is obviously in artillery equipment - the only (and very minor) criticism I'd make is that much of the peripheral equipment like tractors and limbers only have the most basic of titles, such as 'field artillery trailer' for a No.27 Mk.1, and 'early CMP field artillery tractor' for a Cab 12 CMP. In one case, he describes a Chev Cab 13 3 ton truck as a 'lorry'. But the absence of detail in this area is nothing when compared with the incredible amount of detail about the artillery pieces.

I know what I'll be reading for the next few days! Certainly well worth the $$.

Mike

[lynx42]

Haven't heard of that one so how does it compare to the Australian War Memorial book 'Guns of the Regiment' by S N Gower published in 1981, Mike?

There are probably more books with the same name out there as well.

Regards Rick.

[Mike Cecil]

Hi Rick,

Steve Gower's book deals with the Australian aspects of some of the same subject in a similar way, though with a very different format. Steve's book is typical of a book produced in 1981: on poorer quality paper, with fewer illustrations, all monochrome, and printed in a smaller format. It deals with field and siege artillery in 249 pages, and has nothing much on anti-aircraft artillery or tractors. It is, however, an excellent overall appreciation of the artillery utilised by Australia up to the 1980s.

Knight's book is far more comprehensive and provides much more technical detail about each artillery piece and rocket system used by Canada. The paper and presentation are far superior, as you would expect with modern printing methods. The images are first rate, crisp images showing lots of detail.

If you read Steve's book, and use it as a basic reference as I do, then you will probably appreciate Knight's book for its detail and presentation. Both have done an excellent job in bringing together a comprehensive list of 'types used' by their respective countries. (Steve's book could do with someone producing a sequel - 1981 to today).

Mike

[lynx42]

Hi Mike,

Thank you for that, it looks like I will have to shell out and purchase the other one.

Hope all is well over there,

Regards Rick.