War is War

by A.M. Burrage

Alfred Burrage’s War is War is his sincere and successful attempt to record his experiences as a private soldier in France during the First World War, his reactions to abnormal conditions and his observations.

Written in the 1920s he wanted the curious to know what war was really like. Burrage realized that nearly all such memoirs were written by ex-officers who inevitably saw the war from a different view point to Tommy Atkins – as he put it, the officers ‘were only with us, not of us, and they cannot get inside our skins.’ In this account, written of necessity under a pseudonym, he covers the wide canvas of war, from off duty moments in grubby estaminets and brothels, to life in shell torn trenches, going over the top with equally terrified yet resigned comrades, being a casualty, to periods of numbing boredom.

War is War is superbly crafted and phrased and will be revelation to even the most informed student of The Great War. Private X writes with complete honesty and avoids sentimentality. How fortunate that he at least survived his ordeal to share with us nearly 100 years later his thoughts, fears and experiences.

288 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2010

About the author

Alfred McLelland Burrage (1889-1956) was a British writer. He was noted in his time as an author of fiction for boys which he published under the pseudonym Frank Lelland, including a popular series called "Tufty". Burrage is now remembered mainly for his horror fiction.

Source: Wikipedia

Reviews

[Mairi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very raw account of fighting in the trenches. It is compellingly written and differs from many contemporary war memoirs as it is told from a private’s point of view, and not an officers, as so many are.

[Michael Bully · Rating 5 out of 5]

Already a professional writer, Alfred McLelland (A.M) Burrage served on the Western Front from early 1917- April 1918, exact dates are not given. The book takes in the Battles of Arras, and Passchendaele, and start of Operation Michael, the German offensive of Spring 1918. It was published in 1930 and credited to ' Ex Private X'
The author seemed to be inspired by R.C. Sherriff's play set in the trenches-Journey's End- to start writing his own account of war service.
The book is full of candid detail about the lives-and a number of horrific deaths- of serving privates. Also the spells of discomfort and tedium, which then sees them facing the terror of warfare which few can have been prepared for. Burrage reports about prostitution, theft, looting of the packs and pockets of fallen comrades, rats, lice, drunken behaviour amongst men- though Burrage his little patience for the Temperance movement, lack of food, administration breaking down leaving men cold and virtually starving, with wounded getting abandoned. The brutal treatment of prisoners in military jail is covered. There are moments of bleak humour, such as when his braces fail to hold up his trousers when Burrage is meant to be charging the enemy. There is comradeship and a strong commitment to seeing the War through, though this seems to be wavering in the face of the German onslaught in Spring 1918. His fortnight home leave becomes difficult as those at Home are clueless about reality of 'War. A vital read for anyone interested in World War 1 memoir.

[Phil Curme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published anonymously in 1930, this memoir comes from an articulate professional man who chose to serve as a Private soldier. It is a candid ‘warts and all’ account of life in the trenches. The experience of war writ large! The visceral descriptions of the horrors of war do not make easy reading but the tone is lightened by amusing anecdotes - some emanating from a healthy disdain for the incompetence of many of the senior officers whom the author came into contact with. This book gives the reader a real sense of how the average Tommy acclimatised to life (and death) in the trenches.

[Iola · Rating 2 out of 5]

The reason for the low rating is that the author didn't want women to read this book. Well I say F@#k him.

[Paul Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really excellent, personal and honest account of life as a private soldier at Paschendaele and under the cosh of the German Spring offensive. Written with humour and humility.