ISBN: 1 85821 225 7 Hardback, 518 pages £22 Published by The Pentland Press.
The author begins by recalling a meeting with an old soldier who queries the name of his house Berles short for Berles-au-Bois and then they reminisce as old soldiers will ; both serving in that area . It is a superb introduction into what is a fascinating account of one mans war. There are many books written on the same topic but this one is very special from the word go. Joining up in 1914 as so many young men did as an act of patriotism; he was posted to the 8th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment and went to France in July 1915. His journey through France is meticulously detailed and the chapters give the account of where the Battalion was in France and Belgium, many of the places mentioned are illustrated by his hand drawn maps or drawings of the places he was sent, and also those of his fellow soldiers. Practically every village, road or position is accompanied by a beautiful little drawing; Read being an accomplished artist. There is hardly a facet of a soldier’s life that escapes his attention. His journeys took him such diverse places as Wulverghem , Berles-au Bois, the Somme and Vermelles in 1916 to the Hindenburg Line, in the Arras region in 1917 rising to the rank of Sergeant and then and to Egypt in 1918, having been commissioned in the Royal Sussex Regiment . He and many of his colleagues became friends with some of the inhabitants of the villages they occupied and his description of them and their hospitality is one of warmth and compassion. He also had a great regard for professional soldiers and this comes through in his writings. He spent a short time in Egypt before returning to France in July 1918 to take part in the last phase of the war, fighting in conjunction with the French Army during the Second Battle of the Marne. If I had any favourite chapters it would be these as being so descriptive of the battle and their contact with the French troops.
The book has three appendices. Appendix 1 concerns his early life as an apprentice engineer and his joining the army at the outbreak of war. Appendix 2 tells of his training and subsequent posting to France,
Appendix 3 contains notes on the operations of XX11 Corps during the Second Battle of the Marne.
Although the book is lengthy, the authors’ eye for detail makes it a very entertaining and I enjoyed re-reading it. Another must for readers’ libraries.
Reviewer: Maurice Johnson
