First World War Books

Book SynopsisThe 306: Dawn is a new piece of music theatre from the National Theatre of Scotland. Based on real events, it charts the heart-breaking journey of three of the three hundred and six British soldiers who were executed for cowardice, desertion and mutiny during World War I (1914-18). 'You are a fucking coward and you will go to the trenches. I give fuck all for my life and I give fuck all for yours and I’ll get you fucking well shot' – Sergeant to Harry Farr. Joseph Byers (17) from Glasgow. Too young to enlist, Joe, like so many at the time, has lied about his age to join the other men at the front. However, his dreams of being a solider are quickly destroyed by the brutal realities of trench warfare and he soon finds himself in trouble with the authorities. Private Harry Farr (25) from London. Traumatised by the things he has seen and lived through as a serving soldier, Harry is suffering from shell shock and is now unable to fight. He has subsequently been convicted of cowardice, and as he waits to hear his fate, he dreams of his wife and hopes for a last minute reprieve. Lance-Sergeant Joseph Willie Stones (24) from Durham. Having used his rifle to block the entrance to a trench during fierce fighting, Joseph stands accused of casting away his arms in combat - an offence punishable by death. He thought he was protecting his men, but the top brass want to make an example of him to maintain discipline in the ranks. With a contemporary score performed live by the Red Note Ensemble, the songs explore the vulnerability and devastation of the battlefields, alongside the inner struggles of the men. Poignant and powerful, The 306: Dawn will be performed in a transformed barn in the Perthshire countryside.Trade ReviewBrilliantly interweaves the everyday with the extraordinary * The Times *

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Book SynopsisThe great thriller writer and statesman John Buchan, author of ''The 39 Steps'' and other classics wrote this official history of the South African Forces in France as a homage to a country he had come to know and love as a British administrator after the Boer War. The South African brigade, raised from South African and Rhodesian regiments were sent to Egypt in 1915; and arrived in France the following year where they were attached to the 9th Scottish Division. They saw hard fighting during the Somme Offensive - particularly the bitter battles in and around Delville Wood and the Butte de Warlencourt. In 1917 they were in action at Arras and Cambrai; and in 1918 took part in resisting the German Spring offensives on the River Lys, and the Allied counter-offensives which culminated in the Armistice. The work of a great writer, this history is illustrated with photos & maps.

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Book SynopsisExcellent coverage of the raising and subsequent services of the Corps and of its many sub-units. Numerous nominal rolls of officers in text, Company by Company, and as at 22 February 1918. The organisation of the Corps is explained in tabular form. This is a very helpful record.

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Book SynopsisIn November 1915 , the York Rangers were granted permission to raise a complete Bn. for service with the CEF. Despite having already supplied twice their pre-war establishment as drafts for other CEF Bns, the Regiment found 1100 all ranks from York County, Southern Ontario. As 127th Cdn Inf Bn, they reached England in August 1916. Many of the officers and other ranks had worked in in the engineering and railway industries so, when the Railway Construction Corps was formed, the Bn was assigned to it as 2nd Bn,Cdn Railway Troops.This book is an excellent account of its work, usually under shellfire, constructing light railway tracks at Bapaume, Messines, Ypres, Arras Ect. In April 1918 it was thrown into the line to fight as infantry. Some officers are mentioned in the text, and the appendixes are very detailed, but the main interest is the coverage of combat engineering. A Roll of Honour KIA, DOW, DOD, WIA, and MIA, by year, Honours and Awards, and a list of Officers complete this history.

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Book SynopsisThe 2nd Ox and Bucks Light Infantry was originally raised at Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire by Lt. Col H.M. Williams, and was officially recognised on 26th September 1914. On February 1st the 2nd Bucks moved to Northampton, joining the South Midland Reserve Brigade, afterwards the 184th Infantry Brigade. Employed on Home Defence, the battalion performed duties including trench digging around Epping and Chelmsford. On 6th August, a year after the declaration of war, the battalion was inspected by Lord Kitchener himself. In May 1916, after being inspected by HM King George V, the battalion embarked for France, lading at Le Havre on May 25th and going into the trenches around Laventie. On July 19th the battalion took part in a disastrous diversionary attack near Estaires, designed to distract German attention from the ongoing battle of the Somme. The attack was a complete failure and all officers of the three attacking companies were killed or wounded. After new drafts of troops and fresh officers arrived, the battalion retrained in a quiet area before taking up front line positions again at the Butte de Warlencourt on the Somme just as the great battle was ending. The following year the battalion took part in the battle of Passchendaele (Third Ypres) again suffering heavy casualties. The battalion helped stem the German offensives in Spring 1918, before being amalgamated with other units which had suffered heavier losses. This complete history has tables of awards and a Roll of Honour.

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Book SynopsisThe 1/4th Battalion of the Ox & Bucks Light Infantry was formed in Oxford on the outbreak of war in August 1914 as part of the South Midlands Brigade which in turn formed part of the South Midland Division. Landing at Boulogne in France on 30th March 1915, in May the formation became the 145th Brigade in the 48th ( South Midland) Division. It fought in France and Flanders at Ploegsteert, on the Somme and at Third Ypres (Passchendaele) before transferring to prop up the Italian front in November 1917. Maps, awards with full citations, including those for the Military Medal and M.S.M., and a Roll of Honour make this a great source for the gallantry medal collector.

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Book SynopsisThe 6th Battalion of the DLI was formed in the Boer War, serving in South Africa from 1900-02. In the first year of the Great War the battalion raised enough volunteers to form first and second line battalions, and to start a third one. The 1/6th Battalion suffered heavy casualties at the second battle of Ypres in April 1915 (the 1/8th alone lost 19 officers and 574 other ranks) - that they were forced to amalgamate, becoming the 6/8th Battalion. The 2/6th Battalion was formed in September 1914 and was employed in home defence duties as part of the 190th (2nd Durham Light Infantry) Brigade of the 63rd (2nd Northumbrian) Division. Reassigned, it landed in France on 6 May 1918 as the Garrison Guards Battalion, part of the 177th Brigade of the 59th (2nd North Midland) Division. It dropped ''Garrison Guard'' by 16th July and entered the line on the 15th, fighting in the autumn during the 100 days offensive. Appendices show Officers killed or died and Decorations.

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Book SynopsisWritten by an Oxford History Don C R M F Cruttwell, who also wrote a distinguished history of the Great War, this is the war service story of Cruttwell''s own unit, the 1/4 Royal Berkshire Regiment, a Territorial battalion which arrived in France in March 1915 and joined the 48th (South Midland) Division in May. It was first in reserve, but subsequently fought at Ploegsteert, the Somme, Third Ypres, and the Italian front. The narrative gives individual names and decorations (both Officers and ORs) given for specific actions. Illustrated with maps, photos of senior officers. Roll of Honour and Honours and Awards complete this history.

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Book SynopsisAn excellent and substantial Roll of Honour, featuring Rugby International players who fell in the Great War. Complete with very full obituaries and full page photographic portraits (86) of those who fell. See the N&MP website for a specimen entry.

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