A Prayer for Gallipoli

[John_Hartley]

The letters and diary of Kenneth Best, who served as a chaplain with 42nd Division at Gallipoli, attached to the 126th (East Lancashire) Brigade. Book is published in association with the Imperial War Museum and includes the editor's commentary on the campaign (nothing you don't already know), together with some information about the service or well known padres.

I think I may be becoming a little blase about this sort of publication. In truth, they start to seem a little samey. However, the fact that Best is a chaplain, not a fighter, puts an interesting spin on the account. There is a regular theme of his contempt for officers who "hide" in the rear areas, as well as his record of day to day life, involving the conduct of generally poorly attended service and the burial of men.

If you have an interest in Gallipoli, this might be one for your Xmas pressie list but, otherwise, isn't one to rush out and buy. IMHO, of course.