In the Trenches

Historians like to include first-hand accounts into their work, to emphasise a point and provide an impression by one who was there.

This is varied a collection of such personal accounts, ranging from ordinary enlisted men and NCOs to officers. Each rank has its own story to tell and from different points of view. This collection of personal accounts covers everything from the first gas attack to tanks in action. Whilst concerned primarily with events on the Western Front, there are aspects from the war in the Middle East and the campaign in Gallipoli. One contributor, ‘Private X’, was A.M. Burrage and served as a private. After the war, he became a successful writer. Another contributor is Wilfred Ewart, who served as a Captain in the Scots Guards and survived many battles. Sadly, he was killed on 31st December 1922 whilst celebrating the New Year, and reading how the accident happened one is filled with the poignancy of the tragedy.