History of the 33rd Battalion, Machine Gun Corps – a VMGCRA reprint

Description

This is an amazing unit history of the Great War. It is one of only two full unit history of a Machine Gun Corps organisation and covers the formation of the three machine gun companies (the 19th, 98th and 100th) in 1915 through to the disbandment of the 33rd Battalion in 1919, as well as the additional company – the 248th – added in 1917. It’s possibly most famous for being the first account of the firing of just less than one million rounds by Vickers machine guns on the Somme (something we detail more in the book).

Watch our original introductory pre-order launch video: https://youtu.be/1qT9_upcfi8

Listen to Rich read a short excerpt from the book: https://youtu.be/3LyITDIHvqA

Rather than just a simple ‘reprint’ a group of volunteers from the Vickers MG Collection & Research Association have transcribed the text and added information to make it easier for the modern reader to understand. Originally written straight after the battalion’s disbandment, this 1919 publication was only printed on a limited run of 1,600 copies. Whilst they do occasionally appear for sale on the collectors’ market, the price usually prohibits those with a general interest to buying a copy. As such, we’ve made sure that this is an affordable reprint yet still to a very high quality.

• Case Bound Books.
• Crown Quarto (246mm x 189mm).
• 15 full colour prints.
• 46 sepia tone photographs.
• 236 pages.
• Full colour print.
• Dark Green ‘Wibalin’ (pseudo-fabric) cover inlaid with gold foil.

As well as footnotes to support the original content, we’ve also added information on the orders of battle of the 33rd Division, the organisation of a machine gun company in 1917, some pre-formation information and a copy of a research paper written about the ‘one million rounds’ event. We’ve also fully indexed with names, places, units and other terms mentioned.

Alongside the original publication, the watercolours painted by Hutchison and other members of the battalion were offered for sale as prints. We’re doing the same. With the added bonus that Patrons will receive one of these A3 prints free of charge.

Our print run is limited to 200 copies. This publishing event was wholly run by the Association and the first of many. Please do support us and see all of the profits rolled back into the Association’s activities to education and inform people about the use of the Vickers MG.