The Western Front

The Western Front concentrates on the personal stories of Irish soldiers who fought in World War One, chronicling the experiences of officers and soldiers who served on the Front from recruitment, through training, to their experiences on the battlefields. These individual experiences are set within the wider context of the service and the military experiences of the various Irish regiments of the British Army to give a fascinating picture of life on the front line.

Auteur

Dr William Sheehan is one of Ireland's leading military historians. He has taught at NUI Maynooth, UCC, Griffith College Cork and the Open University. He is the author of history books including A Hard Local War: The British Army, Guerrilla War in Cork and British Voices from the Irish War of Independence.

Résumé
'One of our fellows, while a German flare lit up his trench as it shot over it, saw half a dozen of our raw Irishmen on their knees, praying to the Virgin as if their last hour had come.'Captain Gerald Burgoyne, C Company, 4th Battalion, Royal Irish RiflesThe Western Front tells the human story at the heart of a war that cost the lives of 35,000 Irishmen.Compiled by one of Ireland's leading military historians, it recounts the experiences of the many ordinary Irishmen from all religions and backgrounds who fought in the Great War. In their own words, these men describe the horror of life in the trenches and their experience of combat during World War One.The book gives readers a real insight into the hopes, thoughts and fears of the soldiers and officers who served in Irish regiments on the Western Front. Conveying not just the thrill of enlistment and training, but also the harsh reality of life during wartime, The Western Front offers a fascinating portrayal of what it was like to serve in the 'war to end all wars'.