Tommy Atkins: The Story of the English Soldier

Tommy Atkins is the story of this most versatile, most unmilitary soldier. It is an epic of incredible loyalty and devotion to duty; and of almost unbroken eventual success. And here lie some of the paradoxes of the English soldier. Successive Governments misused his talents and his loyalties, and he died without complaint to save them from their follies .His superiors often treated him with sickening brutality and he repaid then with devotion, even affection. The public abused him spitefully, and selflessly he protected them. Often poorly fed and housed, woefully equipped, mercilessly worked, over-loaded and underpaid, this unique individualist continued to do his duty. And because he fought without bitterness, because in defeat he refused to be defeated and in conquering he had compassion, Tommy won the respect and friendship of his allies and foes the whole world over.