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Captured Memories: Across the Threshold of War
Peter Liddle was a pioneer in the recording of memories of personal experience in the First World War and in the social background of those who lived through those years. Later he moved into the recording of men and women for whom the Second World War was the formative experience of their lives.
In a planned two volume collection of the most outstanding interviews of the four thousand he made, for the first volume he has chosen memories which take the reader back as many as a hundred and twenty years to days in sailing ships, a Hebridean boyhood, suffragist action, pre-1914 working class life and work in the North-East of England, city life in London, service in the Boer War, pioneering a settlement in Manitoba, Canada, and the Army's experiments in the use of man-lifting kites, airplanes and balloons.
The main focus of the book is upon the First World War with The Western Front battles, the Gallipoli Campaign and the Battle of Jutland prominently featured. Liddle also represents the Mesopotamian and East African fronts and women nursing under particularly unusual circumstances. Several Victoria Cross award winners and a fighter pilot ace appear, as do those whose distinction was to come later in their lives like Harold Macmillan, Henry Moore, Gordon Jacob, Emanuel Shinwell, Barnes Wallis and Victor Silvester. There is even an interview with the first conscientious objector to be court-martialed and sentenced to death before commutation of the sentence.
This book is a veritable treasure trove of the past.
In a planned two volume collection of the most outstanding interviews of the four thousand he made, for the first volume he has chosen memories which take the reader back as many as a hundred and twenty years to days in sailing ships, a Hebridean boyhood, suffragist action, pre-1914 working class life and work in the North-East of England, city life in London, service in the Boer War, pioneering a settlement in Manitoba, Canada, and the Army's experiments in the use of man-lifting kites, airplanes and balloons.
The main focus of the book is upon the First World War with The Western Front battles, the Gallipoli Campaign and the Battle of Jutland prominently featured. Liddle also represents the Mesopotamian and East African fronts and women nursing under particularly unusual circumstances. Several Victoria Cross award winners and a fighter pilot ace appear, as do those whose distinction was to come later in their lives like Harold Macmillan, Henry Moore, Gordon Jacob, Emanuel Shinwell, Barnes Wallis and Victor Silvester. There is even an interview with the first conscientious objector to be court-martialed and sentenced to death before commutation of the sentence.
This book is a veritable treasure trove of the past.
- GenresWorld War I
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
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About the author
Peter H. Liddle
33 books7 followersDr Peter Liddle, FRHistS is a historian and author specialising in the study of the First and Second World Wars.
While teaching and lecturing during the 1960s, Liddle began collecting historical memorabilia in order to bring history to life for students. He founded the Liddle Collection which he continued to build for the next 30 years. The Liddle Collection was made up of personal experience documentation and memorabilia connected to the First World War. The collection is permanently housed at the University of Leeds.
While teaching and lecturing during the 1960s, Liddle began collecting historical memorabilia in order to bring history to life for students. He founded the Liddle Collection which he continued to build for the next 30 years. The Liddle Collection was made up of personal experience documentation and memorabilia connected to the First World War. The collection is permanently housed at the University of Leeds.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 1, 2016
Very interesting book of memories from the Edwardians. Particularly enjoyed the sections about the working class folks - the young miner's story of going to work and the young girl in Sunderland. Very nicely done.
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