We're Not Dead Yet

by Milly Walsh (Editor), John Callan, Herbert Bryant Cooke

Part of Vanwell's Voices of War series, We're Not Dead Yet is a firsthand account of the experiences of Herbert Bryant "Bert" Cooke, a soldier in 75th Canadian Battalion in France and Belgium during the First World War. Cooke's diaries of reveal the day-to-day fear, horror, and fatigue that wore down even the most courageous men. The difficult years between 1915 and 1919 are measured in miles marched by the troops through harsh weather conditions and under enemy fire. Cooke's diaries offer a fresh perspective on the brutality and heroism of war.

224 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2004

Reviews

[Fishface · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read. The war diary of butcher, deli owner and cobbler Bert Cooke combined with annotations that help orient the reader to where Bert was and what was going on in the war as his diary progressed. They make it sound as if the Canadians turned around the whole course of the war, but Bert at least can be forgiven for feeling that way as his unit appears to have gone from one success to another. A rare, overall-positive trench diary; that alone makes it worth the read.