A new book by Lichfield author Joss Musgrove Knibb is a celebration of the words, deeds and lives of four Staffordshire Regiment men who served in the trenches of WW1. In 1915, Alfred Bull went to war. Alf, just eighteen and a half years old at the time, would go on to be involved in some of the most iconic battles of WW1. Alf was born and lived his whole life at number 27 Dam Street, Lichfield. Sydney Norton went to war in his 30s, leaving his wife and children behind in Tamworth. Syd’s letters are full of humour, wit and action and his vivid personality comes powerfully to life through his writing. James Stevenson lived in Stoke-on-Trent with his wife and children in 1914. This courageous man endured three and a half years service in the trenches. Kind and artistic with the soul of a poet, James represents the soldiers’ longing for an honourable peace. Reginald ‘Jake’ Armes sat down in his ‘dug out’ on Christmas Eve 1914 and wrote to his wife about the remarkable Christmas Truce that was taking place all around him. These four men are the evocative voices of First Lines, a book by Lichfield and Chase Gazette Magazines’ Deputy Editor Joss Musgrove Knibb. The letters, stories and first-hand accounts of Alf, Syd and James are part of the archive of the Staffordshire Regiment Museum and have never before been published. They were transcribed by Joss over the period of a year. Joss commented: “These unknown letters came to me in their original envelopes, complete with idiosyncratic handwriting and spelling. Getting to know these men’s stories has been deeply rewarding, sometimes heart-breaking and at all times a privilege.” To illustrate the life and times of each man, the book goes into greater detail on just what living as a WW1 soldiers was like, and what their families at home were experiencing in the first decades of the 1900s. The book is full of fascinating and gripping information, photographs and anecdotes that bring this world fully into focus. First Lines is not at all dry and academic, but a hugely enjoyable read that gives a good grounding in life for a WW1 soldier, through the letters, thoughts and wishes of four men who actually lived it. Fascinating from start to end, it is a book that brings our local lads home and celebrates them. First Lines is published by Gazelle Press Ltd and is out on October 4th 2014. The book is available in good bookshops and at lichfieldgazette.co.uk/first-lines/ First Lines will also be available on Amazon from 4th October. For more information call 07833 735048 or email [email protected]
Posted on: Wed, 03 Sep 2014 11:40:25 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015