This is a splendid example of meticulous research of a locally raised infantry unit, nicely produced and of immense value to anyone interested in the Salford Territorials, 42nd (East Lancashire) Division or the Gallipoli campaign.

The 7th Battalion, the Lancashire Fusiliers was part of the East Lancashire Division, the first of Britain's territorial formations to go to war when it departed for Egypt in September 1914. After several months training and playing a part in the defence of the Suez Canal, the Lancashire men moved to Gallipoli. The campaign there was, according to one of the battalion's survivors, "Hell let loose".

Neil Drum and Roger Dowson tell the story of the battalion from mobilisation in Salford in the first days of war, through to January 1916 when the depleted and war-experienced battalion made its way back to Egypt after withdrawing from Gallipoli. The story of the battalion - drawn from official histories, operational records, memoirs and correspondence - is interspersed with lists of casualties. Each man has been researched and many of the commentaries are accompanied by photographs. On reading through, once gets a sense that these men really did know each other: they worked in the same factories, lived in the same streets - just as much if not more so than in the so called "pals" units.

The final part of the book is an expansion of the roll of those men of the battalion who were awarded the 1914-15 Star. Again, each man has been researched and we find their eventual fates.

There are plenty of photographs and other illustrations - including (well done Neil and Roger) - some splendid and clear maps, and all round this is a well constructed and thorough presentation of the story of this unit.

I should perhaps add that Salford is proving to be particularly good at producing such works about the Great War as it affected the area. The same authors produced "God's Own: the 1st Salford Pals" in 2003 and Roy Bullock's "Salford 1914-1920" of 2001 tells the story of the County Borough on the home front. Read together, these books give an impression of the profound nature of war: everyone affected, normal life utterly disrupted, loss and grief and lasting effects. All three works were produced by Neil Richardson, whose address appears below. Well done all.

Published by
Neil Richardson
88 Ringley Road
Stoneclough
Radcliffe
Manchester
M26 1ET