Synopses & Reviews
'The officer suddenly came up to us in a state of great anxiety and asked us if we had seen anything startling ... he then pointed to the sky ... I could see quite clearly in mid-air a strange light ... and I could distinctly see three shapes, the one in the centre having what looked like outspread wings.' World War I veteran
'Long after the war is over, and the facts of it have been recorded in histories, one of the most widely known events will be the appearance of St George and his angel-warriors in the defence of the British during the retreat from Mons. We say "known"; because posterity will "know" that the Saint came down. People "know" it already. The papers are full of the occurrence, and the testimony pours in from all sides.' The Times Literary Supplement, 19 August 1915
The Angel of Mons is one of the best-known legends of twentieth-century warfare but the mystery remains. Did British soldiers really see angels, saints and bowmen leading them against the Germans? Or were the stories the result of hallucinations experienced by battle-weary men, carefully planted propaganda or simply the misinterpretation of a short story in a London evening newspaper? David Clarke, an expert in supernatural belief and folklore, investigates the facts behind the legend.
Review
"South Yorkshire ghohstbuster David Clarke has released his latest book about spooky angel soldiers..." (Star (Barnsley), 7 May 2004)
"...an indispensable digest of original accounts...intelligent, original look at Mons's angelic hosts..." (Fortean Times, August 2004)
"...a fine book...a fascinating exposure of the lines between fact and myth..." (Yorkshire Post, 19th June 2004)
"...one fascinating example of how rumour can spread..." (Manchester Evening News, Sat 24th July 04)
"...a rich, fascinating account of myth, propaganda and big shining angels..." (The Crack, September 04)
"...A beautifully produced book, lucidly written, and with fascinating illustrations...highly recommended" (Shooters Journal)
"...the best work to date...a splendid example of folk-lore..." (Northern Earth)
"...establishes beyond doubt that the 'Angel of Mons' is a 22 carat, solid gold myth..." (The Northern Echo, 9th August 2005)
Synopsis
In August 1914, as the British Expeditionary Force marched through Belgium to meet up with French forces, they suddenly and unexpectedly found themselves confronted by the main thrust of the advancing German army. Although they were vastly outnumbered, this highly-trained force of army regulars held off the attack so effectively that the Germans remained unaware of the tiny size of the force that opposed them. It was in these extreme circumstances that the wounded and dying soldiers were said to have seen strange angelic forms in the sky that protected them from slaughter. In the years that followed, tales of 'angels at Mons' were widely reported in the press and quickly spread throughout the Empire. The story entered popular culture with amazing speed and lives on today in folklore and legend. Many veterans of the war and thousands on the Home Front continued to believe in the Angel of Mons for the rest of their lives.
In this fascinating investigation David Clarke examines the history of such wartime legends and explores the likely truth behind the myth.
Synopsis
The Angel of Mons recounts the tale of the advancement of German troops through Mons in 1914, to meet the ill-prepared British Expeditionary Force. The British troops were forced to retreat, with little hope of saving the lives of those at the front. It is in these extreme circumstances that many of the wounded and dying soldiers brought back from the Western Front, reported having been rescued by strange angelic forms in the sky that protected them from massacre - The Angel of Mons.
David Clarke follows this and other myths and rumours in an effort to trace the reality behind the Angel of Mons and discover what it was the soldiers saw.
About the Author
David Clarke is an acknowledged expert on supernatural beliefs of twentieth-century war. He has written seven books on strange phenomena and UFOs and has been an advisor on this subject to both print and broadcast media. He teaches on traditions of supernatural belief at the Centre for English Folklore Studies at the University of Sheffield.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements.
Introduction.
1. The unseen host.
2. The Battle of Mons.
3. Rumours of war.
4. The sinister genius.
5. The birth of a legend.
6. Ministering angels.
7. Angels that refuse to die.
8. Phantoms of No Man’s Land.
9. The hidden hand.
10. Myth or miracle?
Appendix: ‘The Bowmen’, by Arthur Machen.
Bibliography.
Notes and references.
Index.