A Perspective on Infantry ; John A English

BOOK REVIEW

1.    Introduction

a.    Name of Book                  -     A Perspective on Infantry

b.    Author                        -     John A English

c.    Publisher                     -     Praeger

d.    Edition                       -     New York 1984

e.    No of Pages             -     345

f.    Price                   -     Rs. 350.00

2.    About the Author. The author is a serving officer in the Canadian Army. An infantryman, he has seen service in England, Germany, Denmark, Cyprus, Canada and Alaska - environs so varied that they could not but add to the knowledge and maturity so necessary to the writing of this book. That the author ably used his experiences can easily be seen in the quality of his approach, and clarity of his arguments.

3.    Review of the Book. This book is about infantry. Specifically it is bout infantry in war, its primary focus being on the fundamentals of infantry operations and training. The basic organisation, equipment, weapons and tactics of infantry in several countries have been compared at length. Combat experiences and training philosophies are also examined in order to ascertain the qualities or characteristics that distinguish good infantry from bad, the efficient from the inefficient.

4.    Critical Analysis. The author begins by examining the structure and purpose of the infantry. He then introduces military thinkers, whose thoughts form the foundations of his treatise. We learn how warfare changed from massive frontal assault to carefully applied tactics  and  doctrine;  to  Blitzkrieg  and  devaluation  of the food

infantry; to emphasis on infantry in intimate support of tanks; and psychology. English concludes by emphasizing the human element of the battlefield, the evergreen foot soldier.

5.    Conclusion. "A perspective on Infantry" is valuable work, involving considerable research and study. It is an impressive blend of history and analysis, bridging the gap in understanding and practice of tactics. The book is unique, because it is not a purely historical account of infantry exploits, but explains tasks and organisations and the rationale underlying these. It contains ample illustrative material - charts, diagrams and maps. Its bibliography alone is a colossal work, and contains a wealth of knowledge on infantry. The book is recommended to be read by all officers, infantry or otherwise.