Loved this book. Lots of interesting information to digest. This is a great read for anyone who loves to read about history. Very well written

An interesting read, it was well written and presented, these are things I hadn’t heard about before, so everything was new to me, so I was never bored at any point , a thoroughly interesting and thought provoking read

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

The history presented in this book is something most people won't learn in history class. However, It is very important for the overall picture of the military law in war time. Well researched, Simon Webb introduces the reader to the past with a different perspective.

Having grown up near Shepton Mallet prison, the site of the US Army’s jail during WW2, I was aware before reading this book (supplied courtesy of Netgalley) that it had been used to house and execute US military during the war. This book is a book of two parts. The first part, which sets the context for part two, is the story of executions in the US and the background to US isolationist policy in the 20th Century. Before reading this book I wasn’t aware that although the US were instrumental in drawing up the Treaty of Versailles after WW1, they were never a signatory to it. The book also covers why the US demanded – and the British Government allowed – that US military personnel on British soil in WW2 were not subject to British laws. However, we insisted that British executioners carried out any hangings, not least of all for the reason that any suffering of the condemned was short-lived.
The second part of the story is that of the individual US soldiers who were court martialled and executed for crimes carried out during their time in Britain; not just against the locals but also against fellow soldiers.
I found this book a fascinating read and is definitely well worth reading, particularly by anyone interested in Somerset history or the history of the US ‘over here’.

I had no clue! This is a very interesting story about the executions of American soldiers in Great Britain for crimes they commited during WWII. I just never thought of us as having soldiers that commit crimes. I know how naive that sounds but I think most of us want to look at our soldiers and only see the good guys, not what the bad side could be. We all have this fantasy I think about WWII and how we were the knights on white horses charging in to save the day and triumphj over evil. Well we did help save the day and win against evil, but that is not to say that we didn't do our share of the looting and pillaging also. This book provides an education on what goes on and what we really don't care to acknowledge but need to. Thank you for opening my eyes.
I recommend this to anyone interested in WWII history, Read it so that you form a complete picture of our role in the war, both good and bad.
Thank you to the publishers at Pen & Sword Military and to NetGalley for the ARC of this book, I am leaving my honest review in return.

Gah-who knew hanging could be so brutal? The book was a real education. I had always assumed all deserters were executed. Folks interested in WW2 will find this book a fascinating read. U.S. history fans, too. Racism in the U.S. kind od went everywhere we went. Not as a big of a surprise, but hanging for rapes and burglary, was just a tad much. I can't believe they could get away with it in Britain. Interesting, and sad, story.