The War the Infantry Knew

The War the Infantry Knew is a first-hand account of World War I compiled by medical officer Captain J.C. Dunn, chronicling the experiences of the Royal Welch Fusiliers from 1914-1918. The narrative combines Dunn's own observations with contributions from over 50 other officers and soldiers who served in the battalion. The book presents daily life in the trenches through diary entries, letters, and personal records, documenting both combat operations and quiet periods between battles. Dunn's position as a medical officer provides perspective on casualties, field medicine, and the physical toll of the war on infantry soldiers. The text maintains a clear focus on ground-level experiences rather than strategic analysis, recording weather conditions, conversations, and routine duties alongside major engagements. The multiple viewpoints create a thorough record of how one infantry battalion functioned as a unit through four years of war. This collection stands as a significant work on the human dimension of warfare, revealing both the brotherhood among soldiers and the psychological impact of extended combat service. The frank, unadorned accounts capture the reality of infantry experience without romanticizing or condemning the war itself.

Readers value this diary-based account for its raw, unfiltered perspective from a medical officer who served with the Royal Welch Fusiliers from 1915-1918. Many note the book's detail and authenticity compared to other WWI memoirs. Readers appreciate: - Precise documentation of daily trench life - Medical descriptions from a doctor's view - Inclusion of other soldiers' accounts - Lack of political commentary - Matter-of-fact writing style Common criticisms: - Dense military terminology - Challenging to follow unit movements - Limited narrative flow - Some find the clinical tone too detached Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (127 ratings) Amazon UK: 4.5/5 (89 ratings) Amazon US: 4.4/5 (42 ratings) One reader called it "the most honest WWI account I've read." Another noted it "reads more like a reference book than a memoir." Several mentioned needing to consult maps frequently to follow the action.

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🔹 Captain J.C. Dunn served as a medical officer in the 2nd Battalion Royal Welch Fusiliers throughout WWI and compiled the book from his own diary entries and those of 37 other officers and men. 🔹 The book covers exactly 1,000 days of war experience, from November 1915 to August 1918, offering one of the most comprehensive day-to-day accounts of trench warfare ever published. 🔹 Siegfried Sassoon, the famous war poet, served in the same battalion and appears in the narrative under the pseudonym "Y." 🔹 The book was initially privately printed in 1938 with only 500 copies, but gained wider recognition when it was republished in 1987 after being championed by military historians. 🔹 Unlike many WWI memoirs, this book was compiled during and immediately after the war, rather than years later, lending it exceptional accuracy and immediacy in its descriptions of daily life on the Western Front.