jay dubaya Posted 12 October , 2008 Share Posted 12 October , 2008 Hi folks, do any books written by conscripts exist? Pointers in the right direction welcomed, Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alliekiwi Posted 12 October , 2008 Share Posted 12 October , 2008 There is a New Zealand one by a conscripted man who was also a conscientious objector. You can read it online here. It's We will not cease by Archibald Baxter. Possibly not quite what you were after. Allie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truthergw Posted 12 October , 2008 Share Posted 12 October , 2008 There is a book about conscripts if you are interested? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 12 October , 2008 Share Posted 12 October , 2008 'War Is War - By Ex-Private X' (1930). I forget the authors actual name, but he served in the 1/28th Londons 1917/18. I believe it has been reprinted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay dubaya Posted 12 October , 2008 Author Share Posted 12 October , 2008 Allie, many thanks for the link, it is the kind of thing I'm looking for, I'm looking for material from those that didn't necessarily want to be there and how they viewed the war. Tom, would the book be 'Conscripts' by Ilana Bet-El? If so I read it recently hence the interest in further reading, would like to read some first hand accounts though. Paul, I'll be looking out for a copy of that one, presumably the chap saw active service. Can I assume that 'conscript' authors are very few Thnks for the replies so far cheers, Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 12 October , 2008 Share Posted 12 October , 2008 Yes, he was evacuated home with Trench Foot in 1918. Two other books that come to mind are 'Men of 18 in 1918' by Fred Hodges (1988) and 'Tanky Taylors War' by F.A.J.Taylor (I don't have this to hand but c.1980s). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truthergw Posted 12 October , 2008 Share Posted 12 October , 2008 That is the book, I did wonder if that was the case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay dubaya Posted 12 October , 2008 Author Share Posted 12 October , 2008 Thanks once again Paul, the list is growing cheers, Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelab Posted 13 October , 2008 Share Posted 13 October , 2008 There are a couple of excellent ones in French, that give the "poilu's" perspective: Les Croix de Bois, by Roland Dorgeles Le Feu, by Henri Barbusse Angela Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Jones Posted 13 October , 2008 Share Posted 13 October , 2008 I would recommend Combed Out by F A Voigt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay dubaya Posted 13 October , 2008 Author Share Posted 13 October , 2008 Many thanks for the input Angela and Simon, I should add that I am looking for British combatants but would recomend Barbusse's 'Under Fire' as a classic GW read and can be found in a translated form for free download on the Gutenberg site for anyone who is interested. I'll be looking out for 'Combed Out' which has been added to the list. I'm sure that Voigt's writting will give a very interesting perspective, cheers, Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geraint Posted 4 December , 2008 Share Posted 4 December , 2008 Harry Patch was a conscript - Harry Patch -The Last Fighting Tommy Van Emden Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henryww1 Posted 4 December , 2008 Share Posted 4 December , 2008 Hi Naval and Military publishing has approx 60plus books written by soldiers of the Great War. Some of these will include conscripts. Its worth searching on the details of each book on their website. Regards 16th Lancer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMG65 Posted 4 December , 2008 Share Posted 4 December , 2008 Are you looking for books by any conscripts or books by conscripts who only fought because they were called up. I would hazard a guess and say over half of those conscripted would have volunteered as quickly as Kitcheners first volunteers if they had been old enough. Sean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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