Published by Harper Collins

ISBN 0-00-713751-6 HB 717 pages £20.00

The dust jacket hails Professor Holmes’ latest work as describing the direct experience of the ordinary British soldier. The book describes in 6 main sections the life of the British soldier, from the pre-war army to the wartime volunteers and conscripts.

The overall impression is of Holmes’ immense admiration of the soldiers of the period 1914-1918. He has used a huge archive of resources and quotes freely from published and unpublished works. Holmes does not paint the soldiers-both officers and men- as plaster saints, but acknowledges their human failings, with their fondness for alcohol and the opposite sex. However, he acknowledges the strong points of the soldiers and the adaptation of civilians to life in the army.

The new innovations in warfare are introduced with sections on tanks, gas, the development of firepower and the advancements in all aspects of medicine all explored. Sensitive subjects such as shell shock and capital courts martial are not sensationalised, but handled well.

I found the first chapter out of kilter with the rest of the book, being written in a different style, and thought it could potentially be off-putting. The rest of the book resumes Homes’ familiar easy reading, conversational style.

I found that some sections, mainly describing the pre-war army and its organisation were copied verbatim from an earlier work, Riding the Retreat and found about 15 errors, which I hope were typographical.

The book is well illustrated and accompanied by an impressive bibliography and references. With Professor Holmes’ high profile as a writer and broadcaster, and his fluent style the book will undoubtedly and deservedly become a best seller.

Reviewer: Michelle Young