Longoutofprint,thisneweditionmemoirbyanintelligentandarticulateotherrank,"providesfascinatinginsightsintotheGreatWarinfantryman'sexperience.Inautumn1915,twenty-year-oldGeraldDennisenlistedinKitchenersArmy.Assignedtothe21st(Service)BattalionoftheKingsRoyalRifleCorps,affectionatelyknownastheYeomanRifles,heexperiencedfiercefightingontheSomme1916,duringMessinesRidgeandThirdYpresin1917beforedeploymenttoItalyintheimmediateaftermathoftheCaporettodisaster.Re-assignedtoabattalionoftheCameronHighlandersinsummer1918,Dennistookpartintheadvancetovictorybeforedemobilisationin1919.Avividandengagingrecordofwartimeserviceandcomradeship,hisrecollectionsarenotthoseofthearchetypedisenchantedex-soldier:Whateverimpressionsthereadersofthisbookdraw,IwouldliketoemphasisethatIbearnoresentmentorbitterness.AsfarasIcould,IhavedrawnatrueandhonestpictureofmyarmylifeIrealisethatIdidonlythemerestlittlebitformyKingandCountry,notthatwegaveeitherspecialthought.Wehadvolunteeredforthem.

M.S.L.3.11.2015"