IanR Posted 23 May , 2006 Share Posted 23 May , 2006 Hello Can anyone recommend a book that covers the life of an average Tommy in the trenches. I am not looking for anything campaign specific, but on day-to-day activities, food, shelter, health, what they did away of the line, life in billets etc. Any suggestions? Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Hesketh Posted 23 May , 2006 Share Posted 23 May , 2006 J.C. Dunn's 'The War the Infantry Knew' is outstanding. Richard van Emden's 'The Trench', based on the TV series, gives some good insights into the day-to-day mundane aspects of trench life. I'm sure you'll get many other suggestions as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted 23 May , 2006 Share Posted 23 May , 2006 Ian It may be a bit 'officer-ish' but I'd recommend Charles Carrington's Soldier From the Wars Returning. Also, Tony Ashworth's Trench Warfare 1914-1918 - The Live and Let Live System is worthwhile. Regards Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Saunders Posted 23 May , 2006 Share Posted 23 May , 2006 Ive just bought the newly released "12 Days on the Somme" on the reocmmendation of Chris Baker. It was written in the October or November of 1916 and I believe it covers the routiness of life in the Somme trenches at that time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 23 May , 2006 Share Posted 23 May , 2006 Harry's War - a good account of his service before being wounded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanA Posted 23 May , 2006 Share Posted 23 May , 2006 Hi IanR - Greetings from IanA How many would you like?? Here are four excellent accounts and all available in inexpensive paperback editions: 'There's a Devil in the Drum' by JF Lucy 'Old Soldiers Never Die' by Frank Richards 'Private 12768 Memoir of a Tommy' by John Jackson 'With a Machine Gun to Cambrai' by George Coppard As has already been said, there are many others! Cheers, Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan_J Posted 23 May , 2006 Share Posted 23 May , 2006 Eye-deep in Hell - John Ellis - aims to cover exactly what you are asking about, and is very good too. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 23 May , 2006 Share Posted 23 May , 2006 Hi IanR - Greetings from IanA How many would you like?? Here are four excellent accounts and all available in inexpensive paperback editions: 'There's a Devil in the Drum' by JF Lucy 'Old Soldiers Never Die' by Frank Richards 'Private 12768 Memoir of a Tommy' by John Jackson 'With a Machine Gun to Cambrai' by George Coppard As has already been said, there are many others! Cheers, Ian In my opinion there are not 'many others', certainly not of the calibre of Richards or Lucy, but two more for luck: 'Four Years on the Western Front' by 'a rifleman' [the transport section of a rifle battalion] and 'The Long Carry' by Frank Dunham : insight into stretcher bearers and medical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Clay Posted 23 May , 2006 Share Posted 23 May , 2006 Ian This again is from an officer's viewpoint but you really should take time (if you've not already done so) to read Pal Andy Pay's (Stiletto) transcription of Robert Ernest Vernede's letters to his wife in this thread http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...2199&hl=vernede. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanA Posted 23 May , 2006 Share Posted 23 May , 2006 Can't think how I forgot 'Four Years on the Western Front' - essential reading! Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike10764 Posted 23 May , 2006 Share Posted 23 May , 2006 Some Desperate Glory by Edwin Campion Vaughan, The 1/8th Royal Warwickshire Regiment. A favorite of mine..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AGWR Posted 23 May , 2006 Share Posted 23 May , 2006 Death's Men by Denis Winter http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0...7404647-2014205 Regards, AGWR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desmond7 Posted 23 May , 2006 Share Posted 23 May , 2006 War letters to a wife - Rowland Feilding. Brilliant collection, superb chapter notes, covers Coldstreams, 6th Con. Rangers and Civil Service Rifles in their last incarnation .. 1918. Contains the famous quote about 'these London boys are brave in a way which would be counted uncommon elsewhere ..' or words very close to that effect. One of the greatest journals of infantry life in the trenches ever IMHO. Old Rowland was an officer through and through .. but darn he covered some ground in his letters. Get this. Honest Des Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 23 May , 2006 Share Posted 23 May , 2006 If I recommended no other book on the Great War, I'd recommend "Her Privates We" by Manning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rory Posted 22 July , 2006 Share Posted 22 July , 2006 The Weary Road by Charles Douie and Nothing of Importance by Bernard Adams to compliment some of the outstanding reads suggested by other members already Rory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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