A self-effacing memoire which speaks frankly about life in the trenches of the Somme once the initial push had failed and after so many were killed in the first few days.It is clear that the men were poorly equipped at times, the battle got away from the generals and the stalemate was complete.I liked the human thought that away from the guns pounding positions with impersonal fallout. But if the guns fell silent the troops would lose the inclination to pull their triggers, they lacked the will [...]

SUBALTERN ON THE SOMME, Max PlowmanAnother reviewer commented that most of the tales in the book concerned the 'details' which they were set to perform in order to keep them active and the amount of front line fighting he experienced was relatively little. It was all a terrible muddle. He didn't write the book until almost ten years later which explains the good quality of the language and the neat proportions of the stories. There are some worthy descriptive passages : waiting at Victoria for t [...]

The edition I read was published under the pseudonym "Mark VII" in 1927. Very, very graceful and elegiac account of experiences from July 1916 to January 1917, when Plowman was wounded and sent back to England. Plowman was a poet, and it shows! Very hard to find this book (thank you, interlibrary loan)!

Poignant AutobiographyWell written, poignant autobiography. Not a lot of "action" but good descriptions of the psychological effects of combat. Definitely would recommend.

The author tells the story of his 6 month on the Western front when he is a replacement as a junior lieutenant to a unit that was severely mauled in the Battle of the Somme.He is a very good writer, becoming a poet after WWI. He also becomes a pacifist after he returns to England courtesy of German artillery; refusing to return to military service. Nothing in his six month tour indicates his interest in conscientious objection, he comes across as a officer who would rather be elsewhere but is do [...]

I think this is a good "view" from the trenches, the original diary is sporadic and quite random but conveys very well the disorganised minutiae of life in the army at that time. Without the wider context and taking one man's "ant's eye" perspective really shows the complete and utter futility of mechanised trench warfare. The internal conflict and thrill combined with helpless fear is well conveyed without any comment from historians "interpreting" battles or circumstance.

After a slow start, Plowman gets into the rhythm of it all. Plowman is rather priggish and this halts a more earthy relating of the horrors of the 1916 Battle of the Somme. There are better recounts of the Great Wa

A true story that shows the folly of war and that it really doesn't solve anything. Should be read by those deciding to send people off to fight.

I was prepared to really dislike this book, but read it anyway for my book club. I came away really liking it because it talks about the absurdities of war. Real interesting insights.

Excellent account of the war in the trenches during the battle of the Somme by a British officer during World War I.

A great book by a junior officer. He does not hold back on criticism of the war machine of the BEF

ReadNot to bad I would readily read on a train bound for any were as some of this is a drudge

Just too lyrical and self obsessed for me. Didn't finish.