Made in the trenches, composed entirely from articles & sketches contributed by soldiers. Edited by Sir Frederick Treves and George Goodchild 1916 [Leather Bound]
Leather Binding on Spine and Corners with Golden Leaf Printing on round Spine (extra customization on request like complete leather, Golden Screen printing in Front, Color Leather, Colored book etc.) Reprinted in 2019 with the help of original edition published long back [1916]. This book is printed in black & white, sewing binding for longer life, Printed on high quality Paper, re-sized as per Current standards, professionally processed without changing its contents. As these are old books, we processed each page manually and make them readable but in some cases some pages which are blur or missing or black spots. If it is multi volume set, then it is only single volume, if you wish to order a specific or all the volumes you may contact us. We expect that you will understand our compulsion in these books. We found this book important for the readers who want to know more about our old treasure so we brought it back to the shelves. Hope you will like it and give your comments and suggestions. - eng, Pages 260. EXTRA 10 DAYS APART FROM THE NORMAL SHIPPING PERIOD WILL BE REQUIRED FOR LEATHER BOUND BOOKS. COMPLETE LEATHER WILL COST YOU EXTRA US$ 25 APART FROM THE LEATHER BOUND BOOKS. {FOLIO EDITION IS ALSO AVAILABLE.}
This is a wonderfully evocative peek into the memories, writings and thoughts of men who served in the trenches of the Western Front, Gallipoli, Africa and elsewhere. I read it in a single day with a real pleasure; but with one eye on the damage done to the men who contributed and their frustrations and need to help their mates and the similarities to those I know who have served their nation almost a century later where the fears, humour, boredom, terror and the detachment with the people at home are near the same.
There are little articles culled from corps or battalion newsletters (such as the RAMC) with some great cartoons although outside of the one on the cover no other Old Bill and an encyclopaedia of military terms.
It is rich in humour of the day and covers a broad range of subjects from letters home, death, fear, and being wounded to Anzac slang and sketches ranging from horses to trenches and officer caricatures to life in Gallipoli.
The account of a medical officer under fire is short but atmospheric as is the relaxed but serious short article on a trench mortar battery that recounts operating their "murder" weapon and the daily counter fire and shelling between the foes with casualties - some dead some crippled - in their unit but so average is this the unit daily report says "nothing doing".
A story about an armoured train lies alongside in this book the letter from a wounded Russian to mention of the Bull Ring at Etaples, made infamous by the 1980s BBC's heavily dramatised series set there in the Monocled Mutineer.
There is poetry aplenty and whilst it may not be Blunden, Owen or Sassoon it is from the heart as is the excerpt from a soldier's diary and all give colour and depth to the fighting man who is now a historic being on film and in print.
Two of my favourite jokes was the Hints for War Brides and this exchange on the award of a gallantry medal: 1st Private: "Say! Have you heard that Ted Smith has got the D.C.M.?" 2nd Private: "What for?" 1st Private; "I dunno" 2nd Private: "Blimey, why ain't I got one too? I hid in the same dugout"
The DCM is the Distinguished Conduct Medal which was second only to the Victoria Cross for non-commissioned officers and men.
So there it is I thought this was a fine book and yet it is the Preface that stays with me more than anything else. The book was printed and sold to raise money for the Star and Garter home. It is a home for ex-servicemen (then) who were paralysed by spinal or brain injury leaving them bed-ridden and with little hope for the rest of their lives and there are just 65 beds and the home is full. The home and the care will help them and make their lives a little more comfortable for the next 30, 40, 50 or more years.
The author says in the Preface "Let the people of this country who are safe and sound remember that it is in fighting for England (sic) that such dire ruin fell upon these men and it rests with those for whom they fought to afford them whatever comfort it is within the power of man to bestow."
Today that home still cares for our service men and women as The Royal Star and Garter doing a wonderful job: http://starandgarter.org/ They now have two homes - the second helped with funding by other military charities - and are looking to open a third. They have a section on their website exploring WWI with two stories of two residents from tthat early era including a connection to the Unknown Warrior: http://starandgarter.org/about-us/his...
Made in the Trenches is available on the web for free it is a book to spend a few hours with and enjoy and lament with the lads who contributed to it: http://publicdomainreview.org/collect...
The main reason it gets a 2 is the editing stunk. A good editing, standardizing the text, dealing with the non-standard English, making the cartoons clearer - it would have earned a solid 3. Some of the individual stories were very, very good.