Military Model Scene

Title: Abandoned Places of World War 1
Author: Neil Faulkner
Publisher: Amber Books
ISBN: 978-1-83886-045-5

This is another in the series of large format photo collections which take on the topic of Abandoned Places, and this time focussing on the battlefields of WW1. A large format 224-page hardcover book, very much what I'd describe as a 'coffee-table' book, on the basis that even for those who may not have a regular interest in military history will be attracted by this collection of amazing photographs.
After over 100 years it is amazing just how much remains to remind us of the events of WW1. Not just the preserved memorials, but many other places that remain largely unknown to many of us. There are a wide variety of bunkers, trench systems, shipwrecks, old ammunition and much more. Organised into 7 separate chapters, these give a good indication of how varied the contents are. The chapters cover Belgium; France; the UK; Austria, Italy & Slovenia; Eastern Europe; The Balkans, Middle East & Africa; and finally, North America & the Pacific. As might be expected, there are the forts of Antwerp and Liege, trenches at Ypres and piles of old ammunition plus the various sites at Verdun. There are the trenches and bunkers which remain hidden away in various forests and the tunnels beneath Arras. What might be more surprising to many though will be the tunnels and fortifications in the mountains of Trentino, better know these days as a winter ski resort. There are shipwrecks, trenches and more at Gallipoli, coastal defences around the UK, even rusting train wrecks in Jordan thanks to attacks by Lawrence of Arabia. More fortresses, this time in Slovenia and Poland, WW1 trenches and shell craters in the Negev as well as forts and gun emplacements around the coasts of North America.
Just a few of the places illustrated are well known to visitors, but many are not and some of these are well illustrated thanks to these high quality modern colour images, each with explanatory captions to explain what we see. A really interesting collection I think, with some places you may be familiar with, but many that you will not.
Thanks to Amber Books for our review copy.

Robin