This presentation isn't about famous Highland regiments. Instead, it looks at the life and character of the Highland soldier during the First World War. Tom will examine the reality of the Highland soldier's experience of the war, including some difficult areas, such as the exercise of discipline, self image and reputation, ferocity and compassion, courage and failure. His talk is based on years of research in the archives: drawing conclusions from original letters, diaries, and accounts of serving soldiers and officers.
Tom studied at Oxford and at Durham, where he took his PhD. He worked throughout his career in the Ministry of Defence, and spent eight years in the Territorial Army before retiring as a captain in 1988. He retired early in 2008. His first book Those Bloody Kilts; The Highland Soldier in the Great War, was published in 2019 and won Second Runner up, Best First Book (Society for Army Historical Research). Tom continues his research into both the Highland soldier and the Great War.
Image © IWM (Q 48942) 2nd Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. 19th Brigade, 6th and 27th Division, Bois Grenier Sector, March-June 1915. Soldiers cooking using a brazier outside a dug-out in the support line.