The story of a national achievement, 1914-1918 * The story of
Kitchener’s all-volunteer force, from formation
and training to the Battle of the Somme
In 1914 Kitchener saw the need for a
numerous and well-trained force to reinforce Britain's
regular and territorial forces. The subsequent appeal for volunteers met with an
enormous response. The so-called New Army presented great difficulties for
organisers, even down to providing sufficient uniforms, arms and equipment. Yet
these were overcome, and by the time the New Army was fully bloodied at the
Battle of the Somme in July 1916 it was a magnificent all-volunteer
force, including the famous Pals' battalions. However, huge losses in 1916, and
again through 1917 and early 1918, decimated the ranks; many believe its true
spirit died in the first days of the Somme
offensive.
The Kitchener Armies is a gem of a book, originally published in 1930
and virtually unknown to historians and researchers of the Great War today. The
author utilised a wide range of sources, including an extensive number of unit
histories when writing this work. Importantly, nearly half of the book deals in
a lively yet authoritative manner with the formation and training of the armies;
'forging the giant's sword'. Further parts deal with the 'blooding' of the New
Army formations at Loos and the Dardanelles, and the prelude to the 'Great Push'
in July 1916. An extensive section deals with the New Armies in the Somme
offensive, before the author concludes by noting 'the passing of the Kitchener
armies'.
This is a very readable and important account, providing in one
volume a fresh and clear appraisal of the New Armies; their birth, life, and
death on the Somme. This edition features a
newly-commissioned introduction that provides an overview of the historiography
of the Kitchener
armies. Printed on fine paper, it is being published in a strictly limited
edition hardback run of just 250 copies, each copy individually
numbered.
