Fred's War: A Doctor in the Trenches - Hardcover

Davidson, Andrew

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1780721811 ISBN 13: 9781780721811

Publisher: Short Books Ltd, 2013

Synopsis

Fred's War tells the extraordinary story of the 1st Cameronians who achieved notoriety for selling the Great War's earliest front line photographs, and Fred Davidson, their 25-year-old medical officer, one of the first doctors to win the Military Cross. His pictures are seen here for the first time, alongside those taken by his friend Lieutenant Robert Money and fellow officers.

Using a unique approach blending 250 original photographs with contemporary narrative, the author, Fred's grandson, pieces together the story behind the pictures that have passed through his family for three generations: describing the men who fought with Davidson, the conditions they served in, the battles they saw and the horrors they witnessed. From the parade ground at Glasgow's Maryhill to the brothels of Armentières, the book offers an unusually intimate portrait of life among a band of brothers - the same men who later proudly dubbed themselves 'Old Contemptibles'.

About this title

Review:

"Thanks in part to Davidson's cracking narrative - he uses the present tense throughout so that one gets a real sense of immediacy - and in part to some remarkable photos, with the changing faces of the soldiers telling their own story of seeping morale and growing desperation, this is a deeply affecting account of men struggling to keep hold of their sanity amid a ceaseless round of daily horrors." --Daily Mail

"Told in a gripping style by his grandson Andrew, [Fred's War paints] an intimate snapshot of history that puts the Great War firmly into focus." --The Express

"An incredible story." --The Scottish Express

"Secret shots from the Great War." --The Telegraph

"A treasure trove of photographs offering a unique insight into the grim reality of life in the trenches." --Press and Journal, Aberdeen

"Using an inspired and original concept, [Andrew Davidson] blends 250 original photographs with a crisp, contemporary narrative to give us a new and amazingly intimate perspective on the danger, hardships and playful camaraderie of a dismal, deadly battlefront. If you only buy one book about the war, make it this one." --Pendle Today

"I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which would make a fine present for anyone with a passion for early photography, for personal stories of trench life, or with an interest in early military medicine. It's also a rare example of a war memoir/biography that even the war-jaded and squeamish can enjoy without fear." --Vulpes Libris, blog

Using an inspired and original concept, [Andrew Davidson] blends 250 original photographs with a crisp, contemporary narrative to give us a new and amazingly intimate perspective on the danger, hardships and playful camaraderie of a dismal, deadly battlefront. If you only buy one book about the war, make it this one.Pendle Today, blog.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which would make a fine Christmas present for anyone with a passion for early photography, for personal stories of trench life, or with an interest in early military medicine. It's also a rare example of a war memoir/biography that even the war-jaded and squeamish can enjoy without fear. --Vulpes Libris, blog

About the Author:

ANDREW DAVIDSON is an award-winning journalist; he was the author of The Sunday Times Business interview from 2003 to 2012. His previous books include Bloodlines and Smart Luck, an anthology of his interviews with well-known entrepreneurs.

About this edition

• Publisher: Short Books Ltd
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1780721811
• ISBN 13: 9781780721811
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 256