For Love and Courage: Letters Home from the Western Front 1914-1917 by Lieutenant Colonel E W Hermon
Edited by Anne Nason
Published by Preface, £8.99

Review in today's Guardian: "Edward William Hermon, 1878-1917, wrote some 600 letters to his wife in the 2 years before his death in the battle of Arras. This well edited selection begins in 1914, with Hermon looking forward to 'the game' or 'the show', and pausing during nights of calm to write words of heartfelt love. He still manages to get letters and newspapers in the trenches, but early on he is most preoccupied by food parcels: tea, jam, Oxo, Bovril and 'Gentleman's Joy'. It is quintessentially English ('After tea the Germans had the lip to start shelling us'), the quaint language ('what ho!", 'capital', 'top-hole') evoking a lost era. While he cannot conceal his joy at mixing with fellow officers who know about hounds and hunting, Hermon has a high regard for his men, and is surprised to find them sharing their rum, cigarettes and even breakfasts with German POWs. His loving good humour cannot survive the constant noise and squalor, however, and his last letters are tense and weary. It's a touching record of one man's experience."

Hi Moriaty

I have recently read this book it has been out in hardback for sometime. I would highly recommend and is definately worth getting hold of. Some of the letters are shown in the book showing his drawings of trenches and bombs. Barely a day goes by when he does not receive a letter. It's a real shame only one half of the letters survive his to his wife Ethel. When war is declared he is with the King Edwards Horse, at the time of his death he is with 27th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. For anyone with a Sussex connection he lived in Cowfold Sussex not that far away from where I live.

Mandy

Got it for xmas last year, loved it.

Regards

I am reading it now and it is excellent

I was stunned when I picked it up to see the Cowfold connection - I live in Partridge Green which is only 3 miles away !