Scorched Earth, Black Snow: Britain and Australia in the Korean War, 1950
by Andrew Salmon (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars 17 customer reviews
ISBN-13: 978-1845136192
ISBN-10: 1845136195Why is ISBN important?
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Editorial Reviews
Review
A compelling tale that explains the camaraderie of small units in war, but doesn't shy away from the visceral if sometimes exhilarating experience of high-intensity conflict, the brutalising effect on those waging it and the consequences for the Korean population. This admirable book does justic to its subjects who deserve to be better remembered.
BBC History Magazine 'Gripping...The men who fought with the UN force deserve to be remembered better than they currently are. Salmon's moving, fascinating book at last does them justice.'
Mail on Sunday 'Casts fresh light on Britain's role in one of the 20th century's bloodiest yet least remembered conflicts.'
The Times 'The author is rapidly earning himself a reputation as a key chronicler of the years of the Korean war: this latest title is incisive, compelling and neatly crafted, and will enhance that reputation further.'
South China Morning Post 'One of the book's main assets is the many eyewitness accounts which enliven the exciting narrative. Thanks to Andrew Salmon, this forgotten war will now always be remembered.'
Britain at War 'Among the best works of non-fiction I have ever read. An absolute page-turner. Like a top work of thriller fiction, but it is for real.'
Arrse.co.uk (Army website) 'The story is full to the brim, rich in tales of courage and of horror...a powerful story, distinctive in style, which pulls no punches...a military history that is fascinating, shocking and thought provoking in equal measure.' Pennant
About the Author
Journalist Andrew Salmon covers the Koreas for Forbes, The South China Morning Post, The Times and The Washington Times. Educated at Elizabeth College Guernsey, the University of Kent and the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, he is the author of business history American Business and the Korean Miracle and two books about the Korean War. The first, To the Last Round: The Epic British Stand on the Imjin River, Korea, 1951, was the unanimous winner of the Hampshire Libraries/Osprey Publishing 'Best Military Book of 2009' award. In 2010, he was honoured at Seoul's National Assembly with a 'Korean Wave' award for his contribution to the literature of the Korean War. He lives in Seoul with wife Ji-young and daughter Hannah.
Journalist Andrew Salmon covers the Koreas for Forbes, The South China Morning Post, The Times and The Washington Times. Educated at Elizabeth College Guernsey, the University of Kent and the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, he is the author of business history American Business and the Korean Miracle and two books about the Korean War. The first, To the Last Round: The Epic British Stand on the Imjin River, Korea, 1951, was the unanimous winner of the Hampshire Libraries/Osprey Publishing 'Best Military Book of 2009' award. In 2010, he was honoured at Seoul's National Assembly with a 'Korean Wave' award for his contribution to the literature of the Korean War. He lives in Seoul with wife Ji-young and daughter Hannah.
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Product details
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Aurum Press (May 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1845136195
ISBN-13: 978-1845136192
Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 1.7 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
Product details
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Aurum Press (May 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1845136195
ISBN-13: 978-1845136192
Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 1.7 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
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Customer Reviews
4.6 out of 5 stars
17
4.6 out of 5 stars
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4 star 18%
3 star 6%
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Top Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Customer Reviews
4.6 out of 5 stars
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4.6 out of 5 stars
5 star 76%
4 star 18%
3 star 6%
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Top Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
An interesting view of the British and Commonwealth involvement in the Korean War on the ground.
ByCharles B.on February 16, 2017
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
Having read a number of book about the US involvement in Korea, I had known that the UK and Commonwealth nations had shown up to help fight in the conflict, but that was supposedly after the retreat from North Korea in the winter of 1950. This book tells it differently, than I knew what the history was taught to me. From the moment North Koreans had crossed the border the British were looking at honoring their UN treaty commitments. So they pulled some units from Hong Kong, which was an slightly under strength (at least in American eyes) infantry brigade. That was the 27th Infantry Brigade, they fought from the defense of the Pusan Perimeter to the break out and up through Pyongyang and towards the Yalu before they helped to cover the 2nd Infantry Division retreat when the Chinese entered the war in November of 1950.
ByCharles B.on February 16, 2017
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
Having read a number of book about the US involvement in Korea, I had known that the UK and Commonwealth nations had shown up to help fight in the conflict, but that was supposedly after the retreat from North Korea in the winter of 1950. This book tells it differently, than I knew what the history was taught to me. From the moment North Koreans had crossed the border the British were looking at honoring their UN treaty commitments. So they pulled some units from Hong Kong, which was an slightly under strength (at least in American eyes) infantry brigade. That was the 27th Infantry Brigade, they fought from the defense of the Pusan Perimeter to the break out and up through Pyongyang and towards the Yalu before they helped to cover the 2nd Infantry Division retreat when the Chinese entered the war in November of 1950.
This was primarily a UK regiment that was joined later in the opening of the war by a battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment. The author meets some of the men who make up the leadership and the various ranks in the 27th Infantry and relate their stories of shipping out of Hong Kong, going to Pusan and seeing massive amounts of supplies and food the US had all over the place. These men were still being subjected to rationing at home a full 5 years after the 2nd World War had ended.
The other interesting stories are of the 41st Royal Marine Commandos and their operations in support of the breakout and then of their support of the 1st Marine Division attack out of the Chosin and home. There are some very amazing stories of the battles and the survival of a British and Commonwealth infantry division. The respect that the Royal Marines earned during the breakout is legendary now.
The book ends at Christmas with the survivors of both the 27th and 41st asking whats next, all while seeing new units and replacements show up.
This book provides to a US history student some real insight into the rest of the military units that made up the UN commitment to the Korean War. As well it can provide some really good insight into the state of the UK in the post war with just how a number of the men from the UK who were called up for national service (think the draft in the US) and some of them had experience war in TransJordan and Palestine as well as the Malay Insurgency or Indian Insurgency; what they saw and experienced around the "gods of plenty" as one of the 27th Soldiers is quoted to describe the Americans. Highly recommend to add this to your Korean War readings lists.
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4.0 out of 5 starsFew Americans even know that Australia helped us fight the Korean War
ByJames Kenneyon October 10, 2015
Format: Paperback|Verified Purchase
Few Americans even know that Australia helped us fight the Korean War. This book tells of that bloody conflict from the Australian perspective. Stories by individual soldiers abound. Together they paint a hair-raising portrait of this futile and largely forgotten war. This book is a chimera: the first half is exciting and almost exultant, as MacArthur's daring Inchon maneuver leads to a breakthrough that the Australians follow up with a lightning strike northward toward Pyongyang. Once MacArthur makes the unfortunate and (in hind-sight, foolish) decision to continue past the 40th parallel, the waist of Korea and the agreed stopping point for the advance, the whole tenor of the book changes, and the bleeding, suffering, chaotic reversal of all their gains cut the Australians to pieces, reading it becomes painful. For the first time, I realized why MacArthur was cashiered by Truman: not for his arrogance, but for his utter failure in Korea.
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5.0 out of 5 starsFound a real gem in this novel.
Byjasonon December 13, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
I purchased this book after my boss found an untouched Korean war era battlefield on the opposite side of the mountain from our office. I thereafter became interested in the local history in relation to the war and yet was disappointing to find there were no other recent books on the battle of the Pusan Perimeter.
This book covers the British and Australian regiments in the war through the Pusan Perimeter to the Chosin Reservoir. It does an excellent job of combining the regiment's history with the history of the war in general and introduces you to some quite heroic individuals in the process. Although I never figured out how exactly that battlefield fit into the narrative of the battle of the Pusan Perimeter, I gained a better appreciation of the sacrifices made by the countries involved and I am currently starting the sequel that covers the 1951 Chinese Spring Offensive.
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5.0 out of 5 starsBrilliant Account of the Early Days of the Korean War
ByJeffrey Milleron June 21, 2013
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
To those not familiar with the Korean War, it might be hard to understand the kind of conflict which took place on the Korean peninsula from late June 1950 when North Korea invaded to one year later when armistice talks began and the war entered a defensive stalemate. And for the UN forces which found itself on the defensive in the summer of 1950 and again in the winter of 1950/1951, it might be difficult to understand just how horrendous those dark days were for those forces. In his highly acclaimed book, Scorched Earth, Black Snow: The First Year of the Korean War, author and Korean War historian Andrew Salmon offers a riveting account of British and Australia forces in the first year of the conflict.
Salmon is brilliant describing this first year of battle and offers plenty of insights into understanding the chaos as well as how the UN forces managed to turn the tide of the war which ultimately brought the Chinese, North Koreans and the US to Kaesong and Panmunjom. There's no reason why the Korean War should ever be a "forgotten war" when one reads a book like Salmon's. This book is a much needed addition to the library of books on the conflict.
Jeffrey Miller,
Author of War Remains, A Korean War Novel
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5.0 out of 5 starsEasy to follow along with and read
ByScott Baileyon February 3, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
Scorched Earth Black Snow describes the fighting in Korea of the commonwealth brigade. The history of the different units and key people in the organization is detailed. Easy to follow along with and read, book shows the movement of the unit with maps and engagements. After reading this book you get to feeling of the intense engagement this unit conducted in Korea. Book is worth the buy it provides information on an often over looked formation in the Korean conflict. Great read and enjoyable
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ByBetsyon June 16, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
Terrific book about the first year of a terrible war. The American participation receives more ink, but this book highlights the efforts of the British and Australian allies. The 27th Brigade and 41 Commando are featured, including the retreat by the latter from the Chosin Reservoir. I would highly recommend this book.
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4.0 out of 5 starsFew Americans even know that Australia helped us fight the Korean War
ByJames Kenneyon October 10, 2015
Format: Paperback|Verified Purchase
Few Americans even know that Australia helped us fight the Korean War. This book tells of that bloody conflict from the Australian perspective. Stories by individual soldiers abound. Together they paint a hair-raising portrait of this futile and largely forgotten war. This book is a chimera: the first half is exciting and almost exultant, as MacArthur's daring Inchon maneuver leads to a breakthrough that the Australians follow up with a lightning strike northward toward Pyongyang. Once MacArthur makes the unfortunate and (in hind-sight, foolish) decision to continue past the 40th parallel, the waist of Korea and the agreed stopping point for the advance, the whole tenor of the book changes, and the bleeding, suffering, chaotic reversal of all their gains cut the Australians to pieces, reading it becomes painful. For the first time, I realized why MacArthur was cashiered by Truman: not for his arrogance, but for his utter failure in Korea.
----
5.0 out of 5 starsFound a real gem in this novel.
Byjasonon December 13, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
I purchased this book after my boss found an untouched Korean war era battlefield on the opposite side of the mountain from our office. I thereafter became interested in the local history in relation to the war and yet was disappointing to find there were no other recent books on the battle of the Pusan Perimeter.
This book covers the British and Australian regiments in the war through the Pusan Perimeter to the Chosin Reservoir. It does an excellent job of combining the regiment's history with the history of the war in general and introduces you to some quite heroic individuals in the process. Although I never figured out how exactly that battlefield fit into the narrative of the battle of the Pusan Perimeter, I gained a better appreciation of the sacrifices made by the countries involved and I am currently starting the sequel that covers the 1951 Chinese Spring Offensive.
----
5.0 out of 5 starsBrilliant Account of the Early Days of the Korean War
ByJeffrey Milleron June 21, 2013
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
To those not familiar with the Korean War, it might be hard to understand the kind of conflict which took place on the Korean peninsula from late June 1950 when North Korea invaded to one year later when armistice talks began and the war entered a defensive stalemate. And for the UN forces which found itself on the defensive in the summer of 1950 and again in the winter of 1950/1951, it might be difficult to understand just how horrendous those dark days were for those forces. In his highly acclaimed book, Scorched Earth, Black Snow: The First Year of the Korean War, author and Korean War historian Andrew Salmon offers a riveting account of British and Australia forces in the first year of the conflict.
Salmon is brilliant describing this first year of battle and offers plenty of insights into understanding the chaos as well as how the UN forces managed to turn the tide of the war which ultimately brought the Chinese, North Koreans and the US to Kaesong and Panmunjom. There's no reason why the Korean War should ever be a "forgotten war" when one reads a book like Salmon's. This book is a much needed addition to the library of books on the conflict.
Jeffrey Miller,
Author of War Remains, A Korean War Novel
----
5.0 out of 5 starsEasy to follow along with and read
ByScott Baileyon February 3, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
Scorched Earth Black Snow describes the fighting in Korea of the commonwealth brigade. The history of the different units and key people in the organization is detailed. Easy to follow along with and read, book shows the movement of the unit with maps and engagements. After reading this book you get to feeling of the intense engagement this unit conducted in Korea. Book is worth the buy it provides information on an often over looked formation in the Korean conflict. Great read and enjoyable
----
ByBetsyon June 16, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
Terrific book about the first year of a terrible war. The American participation receives more ink, but this book highlights the efforts of the British and Australian allies. The 27th Brigade and 41 Commando are featured, including the retreat by the latter from the Chosin Reservoir. I would highly recommend this book.
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