The Defense Of Duffer's Drift

The Defence of Duffer’s Drift is a fundamental and yet insightful analysis of a small unit’s tactics in defending a strategic objective given limited communications, resources, and manpower. All of which is narrated in a distinct and unique manner through a created character named Lt. Backsight Forethought and his series of dreams. Through the main character’s point of view, Major General Swinton is able to delineate many of the integral facets of a successful defense in an enjoyable and atypical manner. The author’s many years of military service and experience are quite evident throughout the book and are most revealed through the twenty-two lessons learned and applied by Lt. Forethought. Of those twenty-two lessons, three in particular seemed to be of extreme relevance to a new platoon leader: the urgency and importance of first setting security and preparing defenses, the use of cover and concealment, and the creation of clear fields of fire.