When discussing the topic of desertion in the First World War the frequent focus is the fate of those shot at dawn for their crimes. The numbers of those shot are completely dwarfed by the hundreds of thousands of men who were guilty of the crime of desertion.
This talk looks at the phenomenon of desertion on the home front, examining the statistics and looking at the motivations of those who ran off.
'What did your relative do in the Great War?' - the answer may surprise you…
A writer and researcher with a particular interest in the social history of the Great War, Andrea has written a number of books, including Britain's First World War Widows - the Forgotten Legion and Deserters of the First World War - the Home Front.
She is also a criminal defence solicitor, a role that gives her a unique perspective on the topic of desertion. Andrea is a regular speaker at a range of venues both online and in person and is also currently Book Reviews Editor for the WFA journal Stand To!