Book Description

Military campaigns, pivotal battles and extraordinary leaders have collectively shaped the course of history and in this fascinating book, author Tom Quinn examines some of the most remarkable campaigns, incidents and characters from the earliest recorded histories to the second Gulf war. These strange but true stories include figures both famous and obscure, from Wellington, Churchill and Napoleon to maverick soldier 'Popski' Peniakoff, who commanded a company of British soldiers in North Africa during the Second World War. Known as "Popski's Private Army," this motley bunch were highly unorthodox but very effective in raiding Axis supply columns and destroying Luftwaffe aircraft. Then there's the unusual Russian warship Novgorod; which was completely circular, and the Victoria Cross winner who survived completely unscathed against all odds, not to mention the old colonel who went into battle with his trousers down and the woman who fought as a man for nearly twenty years without being discovered. Military's Strangest Campaigns & Characters makes for bizarre yet absorbing reading, highlighting the origins of strange regimental traditions, heroic and ridiculous soldiering, and the folly of commanding officers throughout the ages.