Synopsis: |
In September 1914, as the fate of Europe was being decided along the banks of the Marne, thousands of young men across Britain continued to flock to the recruiting stations. One of these was Matthew Richardson, who joined the 1/7th Battalion of the Manchester Regiment. But their destination was not Flanders or France, but Egypt, Sudan, and ultimately Gallipoli, where the fighting was as bitter as any on the Western Front. Twice Matthew Richardson was plunged into a major battle. On the first occasion, an act of reckless bravery earned him the DCM; on the second, he was severely wounded. But through all these events he kept up a steady correspondence with his family back home. These letters, published here for the first time, form a continuous narrative which tells the story of this remarkable odyssey from peace to war, and of its hero's return. |