What Tommy Took to War: 1914–1918

Peter Doyle · Chris Foster

Mar 2014 · Bloomsbury Publishing

About this ebook

On the centenary of the Great War comes this poignant look at fifty objects never far from Tommy's side – official uniform, good-luck charms, phrasebooks, a sweetheart's letter, some unexpected and others more familiar. With sumptuous original photography and thoughtful text, this is life as the ordinary First World War soldier knew it. Inside front: What Tommy Took To War tells sobering, fascinating stories that bring the ordinary Tommy's experiences back to life with poignant immediacy. With striking original photography by Chris Foster and expert text from noted historian Peter Doyle, it looks in detail at fifty objects that Tommy would have had in his kit and which would have accompanied, equipped and comforted him during his wartime ordeals: official uniform, training manual, cigarettes, good-luck charms, sweethearts' letters, foreign phrasebook and myriad others. Together, these artefacts give us a serious and informative, yet touching and even occasionally amusing, picture of the ordinary soldier's experience of the First World War.

About the author

Peter Doyle is a scientist, military historian and author. His previous books for Shire include The British Soldier of the First World War, and First World War Britain.

Chris Foster is an established artist, photographer, and originator of the Great War website Craven's Part in the Great War (www.cpgw.org.uk). With Peter Doyle he has written for Shire British Army Cap Badges of the First World War and British Army Cap Badges of the Second World War.