ISBN: 978-1-898529-28-6
It is all too easy when studying the Great War to concentrate solely on the Battlefields of the Western Front. Many people forget that the Great War was the first conflict to encompass the phrase “Total War”. This phrase is often bandied around by historians but little literature is available to explain what this meant on those who remained at home.
‘The Impact of Catastrophe’ – The people of Essex and the First World War (1914-1920) goes a long way too cover this lack of good literature on those who remained at home.
Paul Rusiecki has spent many years researching the local newspapers and archives of Essex to provide material for this excellent book. The book is broken down 5 sections.
As an introduction you look at life in Essex before the war, quickly you move into the effects of the war in Essex from 1914 to its conclusion in November 1918. This section covers the majority of the book. All aspects of life are covered here in well framed mini sections. These range from Home Defence, Farming, Women, Sport, Enemies within, and returning heroes to mention but just a few.
The post-war sections look at the ‘Land fit for Heroes’ and the winding down of the war time economy. The final two sections cover the after math of the war and how Essex came to terms with its place in this the greatest social event of modern times.
Finally there is a very well structured end section listing all the war memorials of Essex.
'The Impact of Catastrophe' subtitled 'The people of Essex and the First World War (1914 - 1920)' fills a gap in hitherto published work.
The book is available from the Essex Records Office. "For more information, or to order, e mail:
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Tel: 01245 244644."
Reviewer: Martin Hornby
