Salisbury Soldiers : The Great War

This detailed history provides not only the details for all those from the area who fell in the Great War but also personal information, including letters and photographs, for every man featured. Intended to be the antithesis of the dry lists of names often published or listed on memorials, the author has undertaken exceptional research to find out the - often surprising - fate of each soldier, in the process uncovering much hidden information that speaks volumes for the poor state of communications at the time. Men listed as missing in action were often killed, and there were an enormous number of mistakes in the recording of names, locations and causes of death which have resulted in many inaccuracies on war memorials and national rolls of honour. Broken up chronologically, this book will also serve as a timeline for the significant events of the war and reveal many unusual stories and fascinating facts along the way, such as why bodies were lost, why there were so many head injuries, and an accurate picture of the number of conscientious objectors.