The Secret History of Soldiers: How Canadians Survived the Great War

by Tim Cook

There have been thousands of books on the Great War, but most have focused on commanders, battles, strategy, and tactics. Less attention has been paid to the daily lives of the combatants, how they endured the unimaginable conditions of industrial the rain of shells, bullets, and chemical agents. In The Secret History of Soldiers, Tim Cook, Canada's foremost military historian, examines how those who survived trench warfare on the Western Front found entertainment, solace, relief, and distraction from the relentless slaughter.

These tales come from the soldiers themselves, mined from the letters, diaries, memoirs, and oral accounts of more than five hundred combatants. Rare examples of trench art, postcards, and even song sheets offer insight into a hidden society that was often irreverent, raunchy, and anti-authoritarian. Believing in supernatural stories was another way soldiers shielded themselves from the horror. While novels and poetry often depict the soldiers of the Great War as mere victims, this new history shows how the soldiers pushed back against the grim war, refusing to be broken in the mincing machine of the Western Front.

The violence of war is always present, but Cook reveals the gallows humour the soldiers employed to get through it. Over the years, both writers and historians have overlooked this aspect of the men's lives. The fighting at the front was devastating, but behind the battle lines, another layer of life existed, one that included songs, skits, art, and soldier-produced newspapers.

With his trademark narrative abilities and an unerring eye for the telling human detail, Cook has created another landmark history of Canadian military life as he reveals the secrets of how soldiers survived the carnage of the Western Front.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Canada, World War I, War, Military Fiction, Audiobook

480 pages, Hardcover

First published September 18, 2018

About the author

Tim Cook (1971 in Kingston - October 26, 2025) was a Canadian military historian and author.
Dr. Tim Cook was the Chief Historian & Director of Research at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, and a part-time history professor at Carleton University. He has also published several books about the military history of Canada during World War I.

Dr. Cook is a member of the Order of Canada.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Cook...

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beginning a new year of reading, I wanted to launch into some non-fiction that had a certain Canadian flavour. Turning to Tim Cook, I suspected that his book about Canadian soldiers in the Great War might be a great place to get started. Rather than discuss those topics about Canadians in Europe that fill the history books, Cook looks to explore some of the lesser known—or written about—aspects of Canadians fighting abroad. It goes without saying that Cook had to address to role Canadians played in the Great War, including trying to individualise themselves from the larger British contingent. Canadians were fighting for the King as well, though Cook explores in early parts of the book that this group sought not only to distinguish themselves from the British and other Commonwealth countries, but that the different groups within the Canadian contingent had their own autonomy. In a country as varied as Canada, this created quite a cross-section of those armed and sent overseas. From there, Cook looks to some of the poems and songs that kept Canadians busy. Both those penned by Canadians and found referred to in letters back home, Cook discovers the bawdy nature of both forms of art that kept Canadian soldiers sane, while they missed their loved ones. Cook also looks at some of the interesting art that Canadian soldiers sent home, formed from shells and casings they discovered, as well as pictures painted on the fronts across Europe. Cook makes much of the time and effort spent perfecting these pieces, which served as a reminder of the war for those who made it back to Canada, and a somber recollection for families of those who were slain. While Canadians may be known for their friendly nature, Cook takes it to a new level when discussing the propensity for Canadians to seek sexual relief from the French and Belgian women who took it upon themselves to offer places to stay when on leave. If that did not work, prostitutes were plentiful. Cook explores some of the lovely diseases that scattered camps, as well as the unique ways soldiers were forced to explain docked pay to family back home. While the Great War was certainly horrid in some aspects, comedy troupes sought to make it a little more bearable, which Cook discusses towards the end of the book. Comedy and its levity helped soldiers forget the pains of injury, death, and the devastation of sanctioned killing. Cook provides the reader with some great insight into how Canadian soldiers bided their time as they waited to attack Germans again, when pushed back to the front. He closes with a poignant section discussing how society—both in Canada and around the world—has come to see the Great War as futile, particularly in the shadow of the Second World War. However, those Canadians who fought tried their best not to be swept under the rug and to hold firm that their participation did mean something and those who lost their lives did not do so in vain. A stellar piece of writing for the curious reader, Tim Cook shows readers some of the lighter and lesser known aspects of the Canadian soldier, as discovered by stories and letters sent back to Canada. Recommended for those who like war history, though are not overly focussed on the politics and gore of it all.

I discovered Tim Cook when watching Remembrance Day ceremonies from Ottawa last November, which marked a century since the end of the Great War. Cook spoke of his past work and recently released book on Canadians in the Great War, which left me wondering if I could get my hands on the piece for my own reading pleasure. The book, whose narrative is a patchwork of tales extracted from letters and journals Canadian soldiers wrote, offers the reader a wonderful history that is not documented as readily in books about World War I. The reader is taken down many interesting foxholes and able to see the Canadian perspective of the war, particularly the soldiers’ mindsets when they are not in the middle of the fight. This less gruesome approach helps offer some insights into the moral and intellectual mindset of Canadian soldiers, with less of the gore present throughout the descriptions. Filled with wonderful vignettes and comedic accounts of how soldiers spent their time, Cook provides the reader with an easily digestible piece that does not go into the minutiae that can easily alienate the curious reader who is but an amateur history buff. I’d highly recommend the piece to anyone who wants to learn, but not be subjected to a great deal of discussion on the gore that the Great War is known to have brought to young and inexperienced soldiers. A century after the battles ended in the war that was supposed to end all future battles, Cook is able to bring it all to life with his stories and humourous asides.

Kudos, Mr. Cook, for a great piece. I see you have a number of other war-time pieces that I will have to explore in the months to come.

Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

[KB · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to this, and was not disappointed. It's typical Cook - very readable and accessible, but also extremely well researched. The book focuses on Canadian soldiers' shared culture on the Western Front. The chapters are broken up thematically and look at things like newspapers, plays, songs, and jokes, just to name a few. There's lots of interesting, and very humorous, information here.

Before I even started reading the book, I knew I was probably going to enjoy it because I really love Cook's work. But, I wasn't sure how necessary or important this book would be. I mean, life on the Western Front for British soldiers has been very well documented. And there, naturally, are many similarities between the British and Dominion soldiers. However, as I read I found that Cook was able to uncover quite a few differences and many things that were uniquely Canadian.

So yes, overall this was a really enjoyable read. And I'm looking forward to whatever Cook puts out next.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the deluge of WWI books out there, this book is a good explanation of an angle not often examined. While there was an obviously pro-military culture slant at times and not enough examination of the psychological root causes and consequences of all this soldiers culture (see: trauma), it was enjoyable and easy to read. I also think it also portrayed soldiers in a way that they would have preferred: not just as mislead tragic pawns deserving of our pity (as many war books tend to), but as a non-homogenous group from every class and corner of the dominion who possessed agency, courage, and good humour.

3.5/5 but rounding up for the cool facts about drag performances on the front and a really great Canadian perspective.

[Jeff Swystun · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an excellent subject for study and understanding. War is still talked about in romantic and patriotic terms. More and more, even those largely removed from military culture and experience, now see combat for the hell it is. Author Cook carries on his tremendous work by covering what I call, ‘the culture of survival in combat’.

The subject is the 600,000 plus Canadian combatants who fought in WW1. This is an impressive number given the country’s population was just 8 million at the time. Those Canucks on the frontline were in their mid-twenties and averaged a grade six education. One can easily assume that tobacco, alcohol and leave were how these men coped. The bulk of the book covers how survival went far beyond booze, cigs and prostitutes.

These young men were leaving their municipality or city for the first time. That is amazing enough. Then they were dropped into the trenches. These lads often named those muddy homes after streets and cities back home in an attempt to normalize the shocking surroundings.

Roughly, 15,000 of the 600,000 who served had breakdowns. Call it what you want; Postconcussional Syndrome, Combat Stress Reaction, Battle Fatigue, Combat Disorder, Combat Neurosis or Shell Shock, it was all the same. Men faced and dealt with psychological and physical dysfunction. The term the Canadian military used at the time was N.Y.D.N. The abbreviation stood for, Not Yet Diagnosed, Nervous, which is delightfully obtuse.

Most men only lasted a year in combat, similar to the length of combat service in Vietnam. Over that time, it was noted, twenty-year-olds soon looked forty from rapid aging. One dream or goal of those who served was a “blighty”. This was an injury that got you out of combat duty without permanent disability.

Superstition existed in liberal amounts. There was even a belief in “magical thinking”, a way to ward off the bad. The account of Corporal Will Bird is amazing. One night his brother, killed in combat two years earlier, visited him. The brother influences Will to physically follow him, that’s how real the visage appeared. This intervention saves Will’s life as a shell would later hit where he normally slept.

The physical dead cohabitated with the living. Corpses were always close by. This would be haunting unto itself. Especially when the dead were “protruding through the trench walls.” How could a veteran not be scarred by such conditions? As the author observes, it is a horror movie but one that the troops were subjected to almost daily.

No Man’s Land, the area between the lines, even became known as a place where monsters roamed. This was a way for the men to describe or accept the brutality and randomness of death. Most combatants wore talismans of the traditional religious variety or a “touch-wood” or “funsup”. The latter refers to ‘thumbs up’ and acted as a worry-stone that men rubbed for good luck or to lessen anxiety. Numerology was frequently debated and used as well.

The average age of the Canadian fighting soldier was 26. This did not stop many from being visited by their mother on the battlefield. Not a dead parent mind you, but their still-alive mother who appeared to them and gave them solace and guidance. In one case, similar to Corporal Bird, a soldier claimed his mother appeared and guided him away from a certain death.

There were also more mundane activities including playing cards, killing lice and rats, and writing that “last letter”. This did not always stem very real fears that prompted irrational and, often, debilitating premonitions of death or injury. The prospect of a death could bring on a catatonic state.

These conditions prompted other outlets. The war created a new language. New words were devised, and men adopted creative slang known only to those on the front-lines. This dialect would unite veterans for years after the war. Newfoundlanders who were still not a part of Canada, proudly came up with their own jargon as a further sign of independence.

“Jake” meant “fine”, “blighty” meant “home” (and a favorable wound), and “here’s to mud in your eye” was a phrase for celebrating survival of an artillery bombardment. A battle was a “show”, “jumping the bags” referred to climbing sandbags to attack, as did the more universally expressed, “over the top”. Author Cook goes onto cover profanity as a means of coping.

The chapter devoted to the role of music is fascinating. Music has always been an escape and a release. The men in war certainly saw it that way. They sang, put on shows, and created their own ditties. Scottish pipers inspired men to move forward with the sound of bagpipes. Everyone knew the lyrics to “Pack Up Your Troubles” and “Oh! It’s a Lovely War”.

Lyrics to famous songs were infamously changed to channel anger and fear. Anyone who has served and marched knows that that activity is boring. Thus, marching songs, both approved and bawdy, were song with gusto. I remember my father, a WW2 navy vet, singing “Tipperary” after a few drinks. It somehow became an anthem for both wars.

What else gets you through such a terror? The universally human activity of storytelling. These ranged from succinct rumor, “The Huns are coming tonight”, to more elaborate yarns spun before lights out. Stories of Germans crucifying captured Canadians must have contributed to both fear and commitment.

Canadian soldiers wrote millions of letters over the course of the war. Many kept whole diaries. Indeed, it is these that are largely the source material for this book. Letters, postcards and care packages flowed the other way. The effect on those who received a bit of home is immeasurable.

The book goes onto exam the role of trench newspapers and comic books. These sprung up in industrious amounts over the four years of combat. I was more astounded at the chapter called, “Material Culture”. This covers the collection of souvenirs or the turning of war materials into souvenirs, much of it elaborate trench art. An unflattering saying of German prisoners was “the English fight for honour, the Australians for glory, and the Canadians for souvenirs.”

There were close to 66,000 Canadian combat deaths. The men who came back were both scarred and proud. They stayed banded together by various veteran organizations. Many had a hard time coping with civilian life, proving that each war, though different, is very much the same.

Thanks and kudos to Tim Cook for writing yet another marvelous contribution to Canadian history. And for having a bit of trench humor of his own. Chapter 11 in this book is called, “Shock Troupes” as it covers wartime theatrics and is a clever nod to his earlier book, Shock Troops.

[Caleb Emmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hot take: It probably wasn’t super fun to be a soldier in WWI

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Look, Cook's Book is not great, but its also not at all bad. I was looking forward to reading it, and to a large degree got what I wanted, a window into the lives of the soldiers in the trenches.

I didn't expect to find myself considering the way it broaches the topic of male intimacy. Not really with any serious intent of course, but he brushes past it. When quoting the letter of one soldier mourning the loss of his pal with whom he was inseparable, to the point that they shared a bed, the emotional capacity of men to desire and find solace and comfort with each other in times of intense stress, the hidden dependency of men as people, raises its head.

There is no reason except one's own assumptions to think there was anything sexual in this. Perhaps there was, the CEF had regulations against homosexuality (which of course applied with varying severity of consequence depending on rank; an officer could be thrown out of the army and sent home, while an enlisted man got jail time then back to the front). So it must have existed; but the story of the mourning soldier missing the pal with whom he slept is the mirror reflection of the spirit of camaraderie which we are led to understand is the main force that got the soldiers through the war. To be sure Cook acknowledges the way the men's emotions were sublimated into socially acceptable forms, ie. humor, passive insubordination, song, bravado and callousness, etc. But don't expect to find any insight into the topic on a deeper level, its not talked about.

While many interesting facets of the soldiers experience are discussed, such as their newspapers, their entertainments, etc. Other aspects like the notorious brutality and rapaciousness of the Canadian soldiers are excused with justifications. The book suffers from its idealism. While well researched the author is married to the myth that Canada somehow became a nation, began to form a national identity, out of the war. In one section he talks about an Edmonton regiment that required 16 interpreters in order for the CO to communicate with the rank and file. Its left to the citations for any elaboration of this, and as it turns out the fact is from a book about Indigenous soldiers serving in the CEF. He fits his presentation of the topic to his presumptions, as though the Canadian nation didn’t arise at the expense of the First Nations. In that sense, this book is as much as the Canadian "national project" of Sir John A. as was the building of the CPR.

While a window into the lives of the men in the trenches, its a view seen through heavily warped glass. Nonetheless the light comes through, and we get a partial impression of what is happening on the other side, even if its is distorted, and cannot be entirely trusted.

[Andrew Hawkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secret History of Soldiers is Tim Cook at his best. Although I enjoyed his books At the Sharp End and Shock Troops, both about Canada during the Great War, they seemed to fit somewhat awkwardly between military/political history and popular/social history. The Secret History of Soldiers, on the other hand, has an incredibly clear scope which plays to Cook's strengths as a researcher and writer. Given his status as one of Canada's outstanding Great War historians, Cook has read an enormous treasure trove of soldier's diaries, letters, memoirs, and contemporary official documents like trench newspapers, war diaries, and song books in pursuit of his other research projects. The Secret History of Soldiers takes the research already conducted for a variety of other topics, and applies it to constructing a social history of the C.E.F. overseas. Outstanding research paired with snappy diction, alongside a well supported and nuanced argument, this book has it all.

In particular, I thought that Cook did a great job in two specific aspects. First, he highlighted the inherently contradictory nature of Canadian soldiers overseas during the Great War. Men hated the war, but they couldn't imagine not answering the call. They despised slackers who stayed at home, yet they warned their brothers and friends not to enlist. They abhorred their officers and front line conditions, yet they refused to transfer to bomb-proof positions in the rear. Well behaved men who would withstand days of shell fire would make utterly mutinous jokes and rail against the conduct of the war to their pals. Highlighting the contradictory elements of soldiers culture ultimately humanized the men in uniform (who among us doesn't hold contradictory viewpoints) and served to illustrate the intense emotions that the war engendered among those who experienced it. Horrific violence and agony were paired with camaraderie and a sense of purpose which produced incredibly complicated feelings. The soldiers' culture was not meant to be understood by outsiders, and despite Cook's detailed analysis, it remains an enigma. Second, Cook did a fantastic job of highlighting the aspects of the Great War that have been lost to time in the popular imagining of the war. For example, he discusses the various activities men could partake in behind the line to blow off steam such as attending drag shows, patronizing local estaminets for affordable booze, and participating in large scale sporting events. None of these appear in any movies about the Great War. They don't fit into popular understanding of the war as a mud soaked hell of shells and death.

Ultimately, if you're looking for an overview of the experience of Canadian men overseas during the Great War, this is the book for you. It is not a military or political history, so there is little to learn about the specific course of the war, major battles, or political crises like conscription, but there is a vast amount of information about how men overseas retained their humanity in the face of extraordinarily challenging circumstances. This is one of my favourite Cook books that I've read, which is saying something as I think he is generally a great historian. My favourite tidbit from the book, which I actually first read somewhere else but Cook also notes it, is that the word "chatting" emerged from the war. Originally it referred to men's tendency to gather in groups to pick lice out of their clothes and talk. After the war, the lice were dropped as a pre-requisite and chatting came to refer to meeting up with someone and just talking. The more you know!

[Maurice Tougas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, great ... ANOTHER book about the First World War, right?
Wrong. Canada's preeminent military historian, Tim Cook, takes an unconventional look back at the horrendous conflict that was WWI by focussing on the men in the trenches. Using thousands of pages of letters, postcards, trench newspapers (yes, they produced newspapers, lots of them, in the trenches) and books, Cook weaves a fascinating tapestry about life in the worst imaginable war conditions, relayed in the words of the now long-departed men. There are no discussions about famous battles or strategies, and only fleeting mentions of the great (and not so great) leaders. This is a book devoted to the 400,000-plus Canadian men who were thrust into the worst conflict in history, in unimaginably horrible conditions. They were often raunchy, irreverent and really foul mouthed (Canadians were also notorious souvenir collectors, even going out into No Man's Land to gather items) but they bonded as Canadians fighting for a cause. You don't have to be a history buff to find The Secret History of Soldiers fascinating. (As a sidenote, I was thrilled to find a brief mention of a great uncle, Stanislas Tougas, who died at age 21 in the service.)

[Emily Squires · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a book. If you're interested in the daily life of the average soldier during World War I, this is the perfect read for you. Having always been curious about the Great War, especially since I had a relative who died at the front and another who was critically injured, this book was an eye-opener. It provides a compelling, deeply human perspective on the war, from the camaraderie and moments of levity to the devastating trauma and loss.
The narrative is engaging from start to finish. I found myself never bored, as the book is structured in a way that keeps you hooked, with each chapter or section leaving you wanting more. It doesn't shy away from the realities of war—both the emotional toll of losing loved ones and the horror experienced by soldiers on the front lines. The contrast between moments of humanity and the brutality of warfare is striking, and it makes the story even more poignant.
The book also explores the harsh truth of how many young men went off to war and never returned. It’s a must-read for anyone looking to understand not only the history of World War I but also the personal, lasting effects it had on those who fought in it.

[Megan George · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cook chronicles the culture of Canadian soldiers during the trench battles of WWI. Everything from slang, songs, poetry, cartoons, newspapers, and entertainment. Through many years of research Cook was able to portray what life would have been like for our soldiers while they were fighting in France and Belgium. The culture they built was different from the stories and accounts in the media and press, and also of the stories that made their way back to Canada. The soldiers often did not know of the strategic decisions being made around the war and found their own way to share information while surviving the brutal conditions in which they were living.

I learned quite a bit from this book, particularly how our soldiers had helped establish Canada on the world stage and how the country’s culture changed after WWI. It was also nice to have accompanying pictures added throughout the text that helped tell the story. Although it was very interesting, Cook was sometimes repetitive throughout the chapters. Regardless, I would recommend it

Read more reviews: meganevelyn.com/books

[Mark Adkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

When it comes to World War One there are lots of books talking about the famous battles, leaders, and individual soldiers memoirs. This book examines another aspect of the war, that on how the soldiers survived, the coping methods that they used to get through the trauma of the war.

While the author, Tim Cook concentrated on Canadians in this book the information could apply in general to any of the soldiers that fought as part of the British Empire (British, Australian, New Zealand, as well as Canadian) and to a smaller degree the Americans (there is thought to be as many as 57,000 Americans that served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force).

He looked at the slang and swearing that was used (and some is still used) by the soldiers, the music, and poems that the soldiers wrote and listened to. By understanding those elements we can better understand the individual soldier.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Secret History of Soldiers is another outstanding book by Canadian military historian Tim Cook. In this book, he uncovers the unique culture that developed among Canadian soldiers during WWI to help them survive the ordeal of trench warfare. Cook explores slang, trench newspapers, black humour, songs, poems, letters, and souvenir hunting, among other things. The end result is a much deeper understanding of the lives of WWI soldiers and a better idea of how they coped with the war. The book really covers all aspects of the war experience, except battle, and yet after reading The Secret History of Soldiers, I feel I understand our soldiers' WWI experience more than ever before. Cook has written a very different type of military history in this book and it is well worth reading for anyone who wants to understand the real experience of being a Canadian soldiers in WWI.

[Paul Spence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tim Cook has written another excellent book on Canadian soldiers in the First World War. His research and writing skills are evident throughout the work. In the vein of Shock Troops, Cook has vividly told the story of how Canadian troops fought, endured, and ultimately survived the terrible conditions of the Western Front. All manner of topics from material culture, singing, to the obscenities uttered in the trenches is expertly covered in the book.

This work is a must read for anyone interested in Canadians in the First World War or in the war more generally. Historians and general readers will find this work interesting and engaging. Cook again blends excellent prose and storytelling with expert historical work.

[Eric Leeson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now that every veteran of the First World War has passed, books such as these are all the more important. Reminders that these soldiers were people, with flaws, joys, loves and lives is very important for the young and the uneducated to realize.

This book made the everyday life of front line soldiers much more real. Many books refer to the Battles and the armies involved and the outcome of the war the entire purpose of the story. Tim Cook writes about the friendships, the fights between companies, rivalries, loves and the dark humour that resulted from constantly being near death. This book had incredible insight into the men and that made up the Canadian Corps and what they did everyday to live.

A very interesting history book, I greatly enjoyed it.

[William Lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tim Cook is truly a brilliant author and historian. He takes material that has been incredibly researched (and referenced) and distills it down into elegant prose that makes the reader wanting more. This book goes into the life of a soldier at the front, and what they did to survive.

I cannot put into words what the book represents, so I will just repeat the last paragraph as an enticement.

“This generation has passed from our world, but their actions and accomplishments, their service and their sacrifice, will forever live in our history. Remember them clothed in battle, armed with deep courage, tough resolve, gallows humour, and camaraderie. While the Great War soldiers are gone, we can still hear the faint echo of their boisterous songs. Goodbyeeeeeee and fuck you.”

[Lindasp · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fascinating look at the life of Canadian soldiers during WWI! Tim Cook, a Canadian War Historian has done terrific research into letters, diaries and war records to detail how soldiers endured horrific circumstances with a strong bond of togetherness and a ‘culture’ that included jokes, songs, plays, etc. I learned a lot about the politics of the times and how these soldiers helped develop the Canadian identity. This book would be a great addition to Peter Jackson’s documentary/movie “They Shall Not Grow Old” as another way to view the war.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

To those of us who teach & study the history of WWI, much of this will be familiar. However, there is much that is also new and obscure, given proper light for the first time. As a one-stop-shop regarding the soldier culture of Canadians fighting in the Great War, this is a useful, easy-to-read and easy-to-use manual covering a wealth of subjects. A valuable inclusion to any WWI library of resources.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely comment or review books. This offering however is worth commenting. Where there is a myriad of books on tactics, leaders, the folly of war, the meat grinder of the great war, etc., this volume takes the reader into the realm of those that were in the trenches and what they had to endure to survive.
Tim Cook once again brings Canadian history to life. I can now understand just a bit better of what my Grandfather had to go through.
Highly recommended.

[Bernie Charbonneau · Rating 5 out of 5]

A different perspective of the young men and women who had to live with the prospect of dying at any given time and what they did to combat their fears. From the comradery of fellow members to the letters from family to giving them hope Mr. Cook does a great service of including the non participants into the minds and actions of the brave who faught day in and day out in the rat and lice infested trenches of France.

[John Cochrane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great first hand accounts of the life of soldiers during WWI. The assessments were insightful and logical drawing together what could have been a fragmented book. A good story that is well worth the read. If you are interested in WWI this is a different perspective that helps make sense of other aspects of the war.

[Don Bennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fantastic read. Just chock full of great details and insights into the life of those at the front as told through numerous aspects of their experience and culture.

A long read but very easily digested in chunks, picked up and put down, and mulled over and reflected on over an extended period of time.

[Chels Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just amazing!

It’s chapter by sections or topics and not dates so it’s a great way to dig into various topics.

It’s a fast and interesting read that you can even bounce around to subject you enjoy.

Great and different!

[Marcus · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting read and gives lots of insights into the lives of WWI soldiers in the trenches. It is a good companion to books that describe the war without providing views of the enlisted men, descriptions of their lives, etc.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

My grandfather served with CEF in WWI and I wanted to try and understand what it would have been like for him. He never talked about his experiences. I found this book very interesting as it explores the culture that the soldiers created while they were overseas.

[C.J. Frederick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I relied on Tim Cook's books for learning about the conditions under which the soldiers endured in WWI. The facts were gruesome, difficult to read, but so important to know. #LestWeForget. Thank you for doing this research and sharing what you know about this horrific conflict.

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding account of Canadians in the trenches at the sharp end of WW1. .

[Joanna Calder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding.

[Gerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

It provoked a new consideration of how the men and women felt who fought in this war and the pride and they took in doing what they perceived as their duty and reason to be.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tim Cook is an amazing writer who writes for all--from the average joe to highest scholar. His work is extremely enjoyable!

[Steve Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Cook does it again. War and its horrors from the ordinary soldiers view. Keep up the good work. A must read if you truly want to learn about these men