Revealing, through the medium of letters home, this book shows much about the life, personal thoughts, and worries of a private soldier during the First World War. The series of letters begin after he has enlisted, showing how he adapts to military life away from his wife and young daughter. Moving on to the voyage to France, heavy work unloading ships in the docks, before moving up to the front line. Concern for his young family permeates every letter, whilst putting on a brave face, and making light of his own situation. The final letter shows a prophetic glimpse of the future.
Born and raised in a London suburb during the early 1930s, he followed a childhood ambition by joining the RAF as a Boy Entrant in 1947. Following graduation he served almost 30 years working on three continents, and various places around Europe and the Mediterranean. Retiring as a commissioned Engineer Officer in 1976, he started a new career as a Customs Officer, serving at Dover, one of the busiest ports in Europe. Retiring again in 1991, he followed a life-long interest in WW1, and obtained occasional work as a tour guide around the battle fields of WW1. Other interests, in family history and painting, led to the writing of two books on the family history, never published but widely circulated within the family. Bill is now a resident in Norfolk, enjoying life!