Published in partnership with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), this is a thematic guide to about 30 locations on the Somme. The Battle of the Somme was the most devastating engagement in which British troops fought during the First World War. The 141 days of conflict saw 400,000 British and Commonwealth casualties, with 60,000 on the first day alone. Since the end of the war, the battlefield has become hallowed ground as visitors fall silent at the sight of the rows of white gravestones marking the resting place of tens of thousands of soldiers. Released as part of the commemorations of the anniversary of the battle, this a high quality, weather resistant battlefield companion, spiral bound and containing a map and battlefield trails. It suggests sites to visit, and reveals some of the lesser-known stories behind CWGC sites and the men and women they commemorate, providing a snapshot of the day's fighting and its casualties. This is an invaluable resource for anyone travelling to the Somme.

The Battle of the Somme was the most devastating engagement in which British troops fought during the First World War. The 141 days of conflict saw 400,000 British and Commonwealth casualties, with 60,000 on the first day alone. Since the end of the war, the battlefield has become hallowed ground as visitors fall silent at the sight of the rows of white gravestones marking the resting place of tens of thousands of soldiers. Published in partnership with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), this is a thematic guide to about 30 locations on the Somme. Released as part of the commemorations of the anniversary of the battle, this a high quality, weather resistant battlefield companion, spiral bound and containing a map and battlefield trails. It suggests sites to visit, and reveals some of the lesser-known stories behind CWGC sites and the men and women they commemorate, providing a snapshot of the day's fighting and its casualties. This is an invaluable resource for anyone travelling to the Somme in this centenary year.

A thematic companion guide to visitors of the Somme, which offers driving routes and suggestions of sites, as well as a unique snapshot of the battle through the stories of those who fought in it and witnessed it. It is an essential purchase for anyone going to the Somme battlefield, especially during this centenary year.

From the author of Triage and Searching for Augusta, comes a history of love, hate, jealousy, and revenge between brothers and sisters during times of war through the ages. Journey back through time to discover remarkable accounts of parents who waved off their sons and daughters, never knowing if they would ever see them again. One mother saw no less than ten of her sons between the ages of eighteen and thirty-seven, dispatched to the frontline in the First World War. The biggest “real” band of brothers that ever served their country, but to discover how many made it back and who this dear lady was, you will have to read the rest. War is completely indiscriminate when it comes to inflicting suffering and heartbreak on families, particularly when one’s own blood takes up arms to fight with, and in some cases against their own kin. These stories recount some of the prime examples of families divided and united in some of the direst conflict. When British police discovered the body of a dead woman, who locals knew as the “Crazy Cat Lady” they found a small bundle of possessions that revealed a truly incredible story of two amazing sisters who served behind enemy lines as elite Special Operations Agents (SOE) during World War II.

The story of the teachers who came by the thousands, from near and far, to join the British war effort. August 1914: Flags waved, people cheered, and armies mobilized. Millions throughout Britain responded to the call to arms. War fever was contagious. In the far reaches of empire, young men also pledged their allegiance and prepared to serve the king and his empire. Among the patriots who joined the colors were thousands of schoolmasters and trainee teachers. In London, students and alumni from the London Day Training College left their classrooms and took the king’s shilling. In the dominions, hundreds of their professional counterparts in Perth, Auckland, and Toronto similarly reported to the military training grounds, donned uniforms, and embarked for the “old country” in its hour of need. This book tells their story. It recalls the decisions made by men who were united by their training, occupation, and imperial connections, but divided by social and geographical contexts and personal beliefs. It follows these teacher-soldiers as they landed on the beaches of Gallipoli, attacked across no man’s land in Flanders, on the Somme, and at Passchendaele, and finally broke through the Hindenburg Line and secured victory. Many did not survive the carnage of what became known as the Great War. And for those who did, men who’d been proud to call themselves Tommies, Anzacs, Enzeds, and Canucks, coming home would present even more challenges and adjustments. “Highly recommended for . . . those who wish to learn more about the social and educational make up of British and Commonwealth forces in the Great War.” —Argunners

This short microhistory details the life and death of Eddie McKay, a varsity athlete at Western University, who flew with the Royal Flying Corps in the First World War. Graham Broad switches creatively from telling McKay's fascinating story to teaching valuable lessons on how to do history: why the past matters, why historians take different approaches, how to pose historical questions, how to identify relevant source materials, and the importance of thoughtful, intelligent, and respectful treatment of historical subjects. The book includes a timeline of the subject's life, a map of relevant combat areas in the Battle of the Somme, and nine illustrations. It concludes with four unsolved events in McKay's life: a mysterious woman, a strange advertisement for batteries, an empty envelope, and an unknown grave—demonstrating that even a detailed history about one person's life is never really complete.

Gerald Gliddon's classic survery of the Somme battlefield in 1916, first published in 1987 to great acclaim, has been greatly expanded and updated to include the latest research and analysis. Supported by a wide selection of archive photographs and drawing on the testimony of those who took part, this new edition covers both the famous battle sites, such as High Wood and Mametz Wood and lesser known villages on the outlying flanks. It includes a day-by-day account of the British build-up on the Somme and the ensuing struggle, British and German orders of battle and a full history of the cemeteries and memorials, both 'lost' and current, that sprang up in the years following the First World War. The author also provides thumbnail biographies of all the senior officers to fall, as well as the winners of the Victoria Cross and those who were 'shot at dawn'. In addition, Somme 'personalities' such as George Butterworth are covered in far greater detail than before.