The Western Front Association: furthering interest in the Great War 1914-18 | explore | learn | share

ISBN: 0 297 846957  HB 574pp £30
Published by Weidenfield and Nicholson. 

I was very fortunate to have this book given to me as one of my Christmas presents and am pleased to have received such a valuable work of research. It added greatly to my understanding of the British Army of this period and its many problems. Also of its difficulties in setting up an efficient fighting force in foreign countries and also its maintenance whilst there. The author deals with many aspects of the army such as the Regular Battalions, the Territorials, the New Armies, Conscription, New Weapons and New Arms. He writes of Labour, Women in Khaki, Manpower at the Front and other related topics and concludes with his verdict on the British Army during the conflict. Each chapter is meticulously researched , beautifully written and I was greatly impressed with the huge amount of detail that the author had amassed to make the book possible .Each chapter also contains personal experiences of officers and men which contribute to the subject in question . Particularly absorbing was the chapter dealing with Manpower at the Front and the Crisis of 1918. It highlighted how drastic the problems of manpower were in late 1917 and early 1918 .Allenby was requesting additional divisions in Palestine and Plummer was to receive four divisions to prop up the Italians. Having to deal with politicians; Lloyd George in particular was another of the problems Haig had to face.
Another aspect of the war; that of welfare and morale was vital to the contentment of the troops and the reader will become aware of the importance the British Army attached to this subject alone. To this end it was realised that better food for the soldiers was required. The lack of green vegetables in particular was a problem. Gardens were planted in France to provide cabbage and potatoes and at home 6500 acres were under cultivation for the Army by November 1918. Food wastage was also addressed and it was realised that fat could be recycled to provide glycerine for shells .Concert parties were set up in Divisions and professional entertainment groups also came over from the United Kingdom to entertain the troops. Two French girls who lived in Armentieres seem to have performed with the concert parties of whichever Division was in their area. In 1915 they appeared with the “4th Divisions Follies” under the stage names Glycerine and Vaseline. I quote from only a few of the many of the gems of information contained in each chapter. The book contains many very clear photographs, most of which were unknown to me and therefore of special interest .Also there are three appendices on British Army Acronyms, Medical Categories and Infantry Units as well as the authors list of sources.
This small review however cannot possibly do justice to the huge amount of detail available under each heading. Charles Messenger is to be congratulated on writing such a lively, entertaining and informative book; one which is required reading for all those of us interested in the Great War.

Reviewer: Maurice Johnson