True World War I Stories

by Jon E. Lewis

True World War I Stories contains sixty personal accounts from the greatest war the world had ever known. It is a fascinating record of eyewitness accounts of some of the bloodiest battles of the conflict, including Loos, Mons, Ypres and the Somme, from the opening moves to the day peace was signed. These gripping and moving accounts recall all aspects of the war, on land, sea and air, as well as the important role played by women. But most of the stories are of life in the trenches, of the danger, the discomfort, the fear and the courage shown by men living the hell of life at the front line. Stories are drawn from all fronts and include: the first gas attack, and the first tank attacks; going over the top and charging the enemy lines; life in the trenches and under bombardment; Gallipoli, Palestine and the Middle East; Zeebrugge and the war at sea; aerial dogfights and the birth of the air force; life as a prisoner of war.

Genres: World War I, History, Military Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Jon E. Lewis is a historian and writer, whose books on history and military history are sold worldwide. He is also editor of many The Mammoth Book of anthologies, including the bestselling On the Edge and Endurance and Adventure.

He holds graduate and postgraduate degrees in history. His work has appeared in New Statesman, the Independent, Time Out and the Guardian. He lives in Herefordshire with his partner and children.

From: Constable & Robinson

Reviews

[Louise]

In turn harrowing, uplifting, sad, funny and sobering. An insight into the lives and experiences of ordinary soldiers fighting in WW1, given in their own words.

[Jane]

Very poignant tales. Covers many aspects of the war I had not thought about before.

[Kathy Piselli]

I had pulled this out while reading Churchill & Eberholst's excellent Ring of Fire because so much of RoF was personal accounts, just to see if there was any overlap (none - Britain entered the war just as RoF was ending). I know next to nothing about this book, my copy doesn't have a pub date, but its intro says it derives from a serial publication called Everyman and first came out in 1930, though we don't know how much earlier they appeared in the serial. For some contributors, the experience is still raw. But the only really angry voice is a priest, most others display the stiff upper lip attitude of the time. The accounts are filled with direct quotes, lots of jargon that may be incomprehensible to younger people, especially if they aren't British or British ex-colonial. Some are almost cheery, entertaining pub stories and some are thoughtful and introspective. My favorites have changed over the decades I've owned this book, but this go-round they were the soldier who was pressed into service milking a cow, and the captain fighting in German East Africa with a horse named Shaitan (Devil).

[Robert Hepple]

First published in 1997, True World War I Stories comprises a collection of 60 anecdotes from The Great War, arranged in appropriate subject groupings. These anecdotes are derived from a 1930 publication 'Everyman at War', but without knowledge of the prior publication I am unable to state whether the newer publication represents a shortened version of the earlier work. The anecdotes seem well chosen, as there are very few of the errors caused by memory lapses that often typify such anecdotes.

[M.J. Webb]

Lest we forget!