Deserters of the First World War: The Home Front

During the First World War, over 80,000 cases of desertion and absence were tried at courts martial on the home front, but these 306 soldiers represent a tiny proportion. Andrea Hetherington's book reveals how they employed a range of survival strategies, some ridding themselves of all connection with the military, while others hid in plain sight. Their reasons for desertion varied, from boredom to protest to physical and mental disabilities.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 04 June 2021
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

The tale of First World War deserters who were shot at dawn, then pardoned nearly a century later, has frequently been recounted, but these 306 soldiers represent a mere fraction of deserters. Over 80,000 cases of desertion and absence were tried at courts martial on the home front, yet these soldiers have been overlooked. In this thought-provoking and meticulously researched account, Andrea Hetherington sets the record straight by detailing the deserters who vanished from camps and barracks within Great Britain at an alarming rate. She reveals how they employed a range of survival strategies, some cutting themselves off from all connections with the military while others hid in plain sight. Their reasons for desertion varied. Some were already leading a life of crime, while others were conscientious objectors who refused to respond to their call-up papers. Boredom, protest, troubles at home, or physical and mental disabilities all played a part in men deciding to go on the run. Andrea Hetherington's timely book provides us with a vivid insight into a hitherto overlooked aspect of the First World War.

Weight: 536g
Dimension: 164 x 242 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526747990