Books in the Voices of the First World War series

Captures the experiences of the people of Tyneside and Northumberland in the First World War in their own words.

At 7.30 a.m. on Saturday 1 July 1916, the British Expeditionary Force rose from its trenches and stepped into a blizzard of fire that would echo for generations to come. Setting out that day were regiments from every part of the country but, with no fewer than twenty-nine battalions, Yorkshire contributed the largest contingent, and the county's close-knit mill towns and pit villages paid a heavy price. Two months later, Zeppelins brought the war to streets still mourning their dead and added women and children to the growing casualty lists. This was total war. Using letters, diaries, archives, newspapers and local histories, Yorkshire's War tells the story of a county at war: of children sewing sandbags; of old men guarding the coast; of young men going off to war and of their wives, mothers and sweethearts finding new ways to cope with near-starvation rations, the constant fear for their loved ones and finding strength in the new roles opening up for them. This is their story

This is the story of Worcestershire's First World War. Using letters, diaries and journals made at the time, the book draws together the vast array of experiences from Worcestershire locals to build up a comprehensive picture of how the county experienced the war. It explores among other things the role of Worcestershire's women in wartime, the local regiment fighting in the Middle East and Worcestershire's huge impact on the development of the medical profession during this period. The First World War was not just about the Tommy fighting in the trenches - some had a very different experience. Arthur Pepper was a pilot before being shot down and becoming a prisoner of war, and his story is told, along with those of a Navy rating, an Army chaplain and a conscientious objector. The Home Front and everyday life is also considered, with the hardships of food production and the Women's Land Army. This remarkable collection of voices gives a unique insight into this county's First World War.