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

ISBN: 0 333 19689 9  hardback 186 pages
Published by Macmillan. 

This little book as stated has been brought together based on the letters and diaries of officers of the 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards. The main source comes from the diaries of Major Ma Jeffreys was one of two combatant officers to have served and survived all the fighting from August until December 1914.
His nickname originated from a certain lady of the same surname who owned a house of ill repute in Chelsea which was said to be frequented by young officers. I am not sure whether he knew of his nickname however.
Educated at Eton and the RMC at Sandhurst he served in the Nile Expedition and the South African war.
He commanded the Guards Depot at Caterham at the outbreak of the war and was then sent out to France as Second in Command of the 2nd Battalion. He was badly wounded in 1916, rose steadily in rank, finally commanding the 19th Division.
The book details the 2nd Battalions daily lives from mobilisation and departure to France, giving finely drawn pictures of the daily lives of the officers and men. It chronicles their part in most of the actions of the BEF from Mons , the retreat , Landrecies , Villers Cotterets , The Battle of the Marne the advance to the Aisne and then to the desperate fighting of the 1st Ypres. These prime sources bring the whole to light, particularly their accounts of the actions they took part in. One aspect comes through very clearly; that of the pride and superiority of the being a Grenadier Guardsman. Jeffreys makes the point very clearly comparing their march discipline with that of the Coldstream Guards as one instance. Many of the officers of the Guards Regiments knew each other well and each individual loss is noted with sadness. There is a very detailed account of the search by Lord and Lady Cecil for their son George who was killed at Villers- Cotteret which is particularly sad. The book has well illustrated with hand drawn maps and photographs and there is a bibliographical index of individual officers giving their service careers and decorations. It is a fascinating insight into the old BEF and one not to be missed.

Reviewer: Maurice Johnson