The Gunners of August 1914: Baptism of Fire

John Hutton

Oct 2014 · Pen and Sword

About this ebook

The Great War will always be synonymous with trench warfare and the mass slaughter inflicted by machine guns on the helpless but gallant infantry. There is a good reason for this view as the machine guns took a terrible toll, and the infantry's experiences continue to fascinate and appal people today. But one aspect of the fighting that gets insufficient attention is the artillery. Histories of the major battles often reduce the role of the big guns to a few paragraphs, and this has created a seriously distorted impression of the reality of the fighting. A better balance needs to be struck, and that is the intention of John Hutton's new book on the gunners of 1914.He tells the story of the war as the gunners themselves saw it, focusing on the first few months of warfare which were fundamental to the conduct of the campaign. The gunners may not have always shared the trench experiences of the infantry in the front line, but they were in the thick of the action, and success or failure depended on them. The personal testimonies of those who served with and supported the guns provide a vital insight into the colossal tragedy and drama of the war from the artilleryman's point of view.

About the author

John Hutton is the Member of Parliament for Barrow and Furness, and he is a former Secretary of State for Defence.

His special interest in the Great War, which was inspired by the men he met in his constituency who served in the conflict, led to his first book with Pen & Sword "Kitchener's Men: The King's Own Royal Lancasters on the Western Front 1915-1918".