In Dumfriesshire, the most striking change during the Great War was to occur around Gretna. Here the largest cordite factory in the UK was established, work commencing on the factory in 1915, with completion in 1916.Throughout the region the impact of the First World War was felt greatly by the local communities, which were decimated by the losses suffered during the conflict. The huge influx of workers to H.M. Factory Gretna disrupted areas of daily life and caused an increase in crime. The population of Dumfriesshire supported those who directly suffered as a result of the war, in a number of ways, including the production of wound dressings, the provision of auxiliary hospitals and fundraising efforts to provide support to refugees.Thematic chapters, considering aspects such as recruitment, voluntary medical service and commemoration, illustrate experiences of the Dumfriesshire population, shaped by the First World War.The book contributes to wider understanding of the impact of the First World War, particularly in rural areas, and as such will be of relevance to readers with an interest in cultural and social history.

A pictorial history of the Royal Army Medical Corps’ service during World War I, featuring rare photographs from wartime archives. The Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) supported the British Army throughout the First World War, treating sick and wounded military personnel. The military nursing services and voluntary medical personnel provided vital support to RAMC medical units and hospitals, ensuring the effective treatment of casualties. The size of the armies, the intensity of the combat, the power of modern weaponry and the global nature of conflict meant the number of casualties proved challenging for the medical services of all combatants, including the RAMC. A range of previously unpublished photographs, in thematic chapters considering aspects such as service in the United Kingdom, global warfare and commemoration, illustrate experiences of RAMC and medical personnel during the First World War. The book contributes to wider understanding of the RAMC and medical services in the First World War, and will be of relevance to readers with an interest in medical, social and photographic history.

John Masefield wrote four books on The Great War: Gallipoli, The Old Front Line, War and the Future and Battle of the Somme. These have been acclaimed as perceptive and beautiful crafted works, which bring home the full horror and hopelessness of war. This is the first opportunity for historians and general readers to purchase all four in a handsome yet reasonably priced volume, which is definitely a collectable. In addition there is a full introduction by Dr. Philip Errington, the leading Masefield authority who is head of Sotheby's Department of Printed Books and Manuscripts. This rare collection is rounded off by a selection of shorter pieces by the hugely popular Poet Laureate.

A year-by-year examination of key WWI battles and how the ongoing advances in artillery shaped strategy, tactics, and oprations; includes battlefield maps! World War I is often said to have been an artillery war, yet the decisive role artillery played in shaping military decisions—and therefor the war itself—has rarely been examined. Artillery in the Great War traces the development of this all-important technology, the differing approaches to its use, the many innovations it underwent on both sides, and how those approaches and innovations in turn effected key battles such as the Battle of the Somme. This highly readable and informative history is perfect for any reader interested in understanding the legacy of World War I, or the evolution of modern warfare.