Johnny get your gun: A personal narrative of the Somme, Ypres, and Arras

by John F. Tucker

At the age of seventeen-and-a-half, full of idealism and patriotism, John Tucker enlisted as an Infantryman in the London Kensington Regiment and reached France, after training, in August 1915. Against all odds he survived three years of bitter trench warfare, was seriously wounded, and returned to Blighty a few months before Armistice Day. During those years he took part in the Battle of the Somme, the battles of Arras and Cambrai, and the Third Battle of Ypres. Yet though his patriotism remained unflinching, his idealism gave way to the grim realities of day to day survival in the trenches and, as he began to understand what constitutes courage, he grew from boyhood to manhood.The author contrasts the beauties of the French countryside with the ugliness of widespread death and destruction, and paints a picture of French country life hardly less squalid than the soldiers' own lot. But above all, he makes the reader realise what it was like to fight in the war to end all wars.These are the memoirs of one Infantryman, but through his eyes a vivid canvas of the whole war gradually unfolds.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography

207 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1978

Reviews

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

17 year old John Tucker enlisted in the infantry at the outbreak of WWI. This is his story of fighting from his arrival in France in 1915 through his wounding in the spring of 1918. As an infantryman assigned to the Pioneer Corps his experiences vary from those in the trenches however his experiences are no less hazardous and traumatics. Excellant description of various duties he performed under all circumstances while in the British Army.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book tells the story of one man’s perspective during the Great War. Though not your standard story he tells of many trials and fun anecdotes.

[Sean Rosekrans · Rating 4 out of 5]

WW 1 review

Found to be disjointed. Story would go forward and then back. Found it difficult to stay on time line. Interesting story but very hard to follow.

[Lyn LeJeune · Rating 5 out of 5]

Up there with All Quiet on the Western Front of the horrors of war