This book is sub-titled "A diary of the trenches 1915-1918".

Definitely a 'must read', for both beginner and experienced Great war buff alike.

Hitchcock joined the 2nd Leinsters at L'Epinette in May 1915, and served with the battalion through much fighting at Ypres, the Somme, and on Vimy Ridge. He describes actions and places in detail, and names many individuals including many rankers. There are 26 useful sketches and maps too.

The nature of the war experienced by junior officers of a regular battalion comes across strongly, and we can only wonder at the determination and sheer physical courage of these men. Hitchcock calculates that the average life expectancy of a subaltern in 1916 and 1917 was just 6 weeks.

There is also a short but useful summary of the history of the now-disbanded Irish regiments.

The original of 1937 is long out of print and difficult to find on the used market, so it is a very welcome move by The Naval & Military Press to have reprinted this valuable work. I have just one small gripe. The paperback version that N&M have produced comes in a cream-coloured cover, which is not standing handling very well. My copy has been carefully handled while reading and even so is getting grubby and a bit bashed about. Fine as a reading copy, not fine if you want a book to grace a shelf.

The Naval & Military Press have an excellent on-line service. Their product code for this book is 5512, and the current price is £9.95.