Battlefield account of the New Zealand Division's capture of the French town of Le Quesnoy in its last and most successful action in the First World War. Strikingly illustrated with maps, photographs and the stunning paintings of the battle by George Butler, Le Quesnoy 1918 is an inspiring book by an outstanding military historian.

Le Quesnoy (pronounced Leck con wah) is a town in northern France. It is surrounded by high walls and deep trenches. In World War I it was occupied by the German army for four long years. In November 1918 the town was liberated by soldiers from far-away New Zealand. Because these men used a bit of kiwi ingenuity they were able to take the town back without a single civilian life being lost. This has become one of the most famous stories in New Zealand military history and the relationship between Le Quesnoy and New Zealand continues to this day. This book tells the story of Le Quesnoy's liberation through the eyes of a child living in the town at the time. Stunning watercolour illustrations and simple language make this an ANZAC picture book that young readers will be able to imaginatively engage with. Format: 285x240mm (portrait).

"This book by a diverse group of French, German and New Zealand writers and researchers examines the differing perceptions of the wartime experience, in particular the battle of Le Quesnoy and the scaling of the town walls by the soldiers of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade on 4 November 1918"--Inside jacket.This book, has been written by an eclectic group of French and New Zealand writers and researchers, which grew out of a successful conference held in Le Quesnoy in 2008. The First World War ended for the New Zealand Division some kilometers east of the old walled fortress town of Le Quesnoy in Northern France on 11 November 1918. The war had a cataclysmic impact on New Zealand which echoes to this day. It had even a greater impact on France which endured much of its countryside and towns being in turn occupied by the German imperial armies, and then devastated in the battles to force their withdrawal. The human cost was of a similar scale.

An original investigation dedicated to the captivity experiences of British military servicemen captured by Germany in the First World War.

A comprehensive new history of the shaping and performance of the British army during the First World War.