Reading in the Great War

Nonfiction, History, Military, World War I, British
Cover of the book Reading in the Great War by David Bilton, Pen and Sword
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: David Bilton ISBN: 9781473865891
Publisher: Pen and Sword Publication: March 31, 2016
Imprint: Pen and Sword Military Language: English
Author: David Bilton
ISBN: 9781473865891
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Publication: March 31, 2016
Imprint: Pen and Sword Military
Language: English

How the experience of war impacted on the town, from the initial enthusiasm for sorting out the German kaiser in time for Christmas 1914, to the gradual realization of the enormity of human sacrifice the families of Reading were committed to as the war stretched out over the next four years. A record of the growing disillusion of the people, their tragedies and hardships and a determination to see it through.

Reading's experiences during the Great War can be taken as standing for the many smaller but important towns in the country whose story will never be told. However, being a county town it experienced both industrial and agrarian pressures that deeply affected its population. Initially enthusiastic about the war, recruitment soon dropped and the local regiment filled with men from the big cities. By 1916 most of the eligible men were keen to find ways to stay out of the army. In the centre of the town was the infamous Reading jail – home to Irish dissidents, terrorists and POWs. On the surface it was a calm town that got on with its business: beer, biscuits, metalwork, seeds and armaments but its poverty impacted on industrial relations leading to strikes. It also had a darker side with child cruelty and death, especially suicide.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

How the experience of war impacted on the town, from the initial enthusiasm for sorting out the German kaiser in time for Christmas 1914, to the gradual realization of the enormity of human sacrifice the families of Reading were committed to as the war stretched out over the next four years. A record of the growing disillusion of the people, their tragedies and hardships and a determination to see it through.

Reading's experiences during the Great War can be taken as standing for the many smaller but important towns in the country whose story will never be told. However, being a county town it experienced both industrial and agrarian pressures that deeply affected its population. Initially enthusiastic about the war, recruitment soon dropped and the local regiment filled with men from the big cities. By 1916 most of the eligible men were keen to find ways to stay out of the army. In the centre of the town was the infamous Reading jail – home to Irish dissidents, terrorists and POWs. On the surface it was a calm town that got on with its business: beer, biscuits, metalwork, seeds and armaments but its poverty impacted on industrial relations leading to strikes. It also had a darker side with child cruelty and death, especially suicide.

More books from Pen and Sword

Cover of the book Siege of Kustrin 1945 by David Bilton
Cover of the book The Devil's Birthday by David Bilton
Cover of the book Few Survived by David Bilton
Cover of the book Napoleon’s Army by David Bilton
Cover of the book Sweet William or the Butcher? by David Bilton
Cover of the book Tracing British Battalions on the Somme by David Bilton
Cover of the book Mil' Mi-6/-26 by David Bilton
Cover of the book The Royal Navy's Air Service in the Great War by David Bilton
Cover of the book Dinghy Drop by David Bilton
Cover of the book He Who Dared and Died by David Bilton
Cover of the book Daring Raids of World War Two by David Bilton
Cover of the book Kenneth ‘Hawkeye’ Lee DFC by David Bilton
Cover of the book The History of 30 Assault Unit by David Bilton
Cover of the book Discovering Classical Music: Verdi by David Bilton
Cover of the book Jets at Sea by David Bilton
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy