Newcastle’s Very First Volunteer Battalion of the Great War
[This review first appeared in the October 2016 edition of Stand To! No. 107]
446 pages on high quality A4 glossy paper – is one of the finest books produced to date telling the story of the civilian soldiers from the northeast of England who bravely fought and died in the Great War. Containing over 300 photographs, 30 maps and 21 colour plates with moving stories and tragic letters interlaced with humour and optimism, this book is a must for every household of the northeast. This second edition is a much enhanced version including many more soldiers’ stories and unseen photographs.
There is a comprehensive Roll of Honour and an updated and accurate Roll Call from the attack on the Somme of 1 July 1916. Self– published with only a small print run of 350 copies it is priced at £19.95 plus £3.50 p&p and can be ordered direct from Ian Johnson at lestweforget@hotmail.com. Profits from the sales will be donated to the Royal British Legion.
Review by Bob Wyatt