The Canadian Army Journal

writes that the charge of the 21st lancers, “…was the last cavalry charge in the history of
the British Army.” 1 Green also implies that the British commanders at Omdurman were
tactically inept, and won the battle more by luck than skill of arms. Such an assessment
is unsupported by existing evidence.
Overall, however, Dominic Green has succeeded in making the events of Egypt and
the Sudan in the late nineteenth century relevant to those studying conflict in the region
during the early 21st century. A concise and enjoyable read, this book is recommended
for those interested in the history of Islamic conflict and its connection to modern affairs.
Note
1. Dominic Green. Three Empires on the Nile: The Victorian Jihad, 1869-1899, 261.
SPARE PARTS: A MARINE RESERVIST’S JOURNEY FROM
CAMPUS TO COMBAT IN 38 DAYS
WILLIAMS, Buzz. New York, Gotham Books, Published by Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,
2004, 303 pages. $39.00
Reviewed by Warrant Officer David Turnbull
Most accounts of military service have come
from the pen of officers. Although there are
exceptions, most Non-Commissioned Members
(NCMs) do not put their experiences to paper for
the sake of posterity. It is even rarer for the
Reservist, or part-time soldier, whether an officer
or NCM, to do so. That is why it is a positive
development that Buzz Williams has chosen to
write about his experience as a Marine Reservist
and his participation in the Gulf War of 1990-91.
Why is this important to us as Canadian
soldiers? With the large amount of Reservist
participation in United Nations (UN) missions and
operational tours (past, present and future), it is
important to understand their world. Although
written from an American experience, careful
attention to the events can provide a level of
understanding to the Canadian Reserve
experience. The author is in a unique position to
provide reflection on the Reserve experience. He
served as a Light Armoured Crewman for five of
his six years of service; this included active service
in the Gulf War as a Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV) driver. Ultimately he became the
Company Master Gunner, the Company Subject Matter Expert (SME) on LAV gunnery
for his Marine Reserve unit.
What gives the book its depth is the academic background that Buzz Williams has.
He completed his Bachelor of Education Degree (B.ED.) at Towson State University and
subsequently became a National Teacher of the Year award winner. Following his
retirement from the Marine Reserve he enrolled in the Master’s program at Johns
Hopkins. He is currently a secondary school administrator with the Harford County
Public Schools in Maryland.
Canadian Army Journal Vol. 11.1 Spring 2008 127