The Unknown Warrior: A Personal Journey of Discovery and Remembrance

John Nichol's book explores the story of the Unknown Warrior, a soldier who was killed in the First World War and buried in Westminster Abbey alongside the nation's kings and queens. He uses diaries, archives, and interviews to examine our continuing need for a tangible resting place to grieve the fallen.

Format: Hardback
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: 26 September 2024
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd

‘Compelling… [Nichol has a] terrific eye for detail; an ability to blend tear-jerking letters,quotation and personal anecdotes into a rich,thought-provoking narrative Daily Telegraph  Over one million British Empire soldiers were killed during the First World War. More than a century later,over half a million still have no known grave.  The scale of the fighting,the catastrophic destruction,the relentless military engagement and glutinous mud meant that many of the dead were never identified,of often,never recovered. Names were left without bodies,and bodies,or fragments of bodies,without names.  To help staunch the tide of national grief in the aftermath of the conflict,an idea was born for a single Unknown Warrior representing all the missing,to be brought from the battlefields and buried in Westminster Abbey alongside the nation s kings and queens.  Using diaries,archives and interviews with the descendants of that generation and modern-day experts,  Sunday Times  bestselling author and former RAF Tornado navigator John Nichol draws on his own experience of combat and loss to shine light on this 100-year-old story. And in speaking to those who have lost loved ones in more modern conflicts,he examines our continuing need for a tangible resting place at which to truly grieve the fallen.  His search for answers becomes a moving and personal journey,exploring the true meaning of camaraderie,service,sacrifice and remembrance.
Over one million British Empire soldiers were killed during the First World War, and more than half a million still have no known grave. The scale of the fighting, catastrophic destruction, relentless military engagement, and glutinous mud meant that many of the dead were never identified or recovered. To help staunch the tide of national grief in the aftermath of the conflict, an idea was born for a single Unknown Warrior representing all the missing, to be brought from the battlefields and buried in Westminster Abbey alongside the nation's kings and queens. Using diaries, archives, and interviews with the descendants of that generation and modern-day experts, Sunday Times bestselling author and former RAF Tornado navigator John Nichol draws on his own experience of combat and loss to shine light on this 100-year-old story. And in speaking to those who have lost loved ones in more modern conflicts, he examines our continuing need for a tangible resting place at which to truly grieve the fallen. His search for answers becomes a moving and personal journey, exploring the true meaning of camaraderie, service, sacrifice, and remembrance.

Weight: 596g
Dimension: 242 x 162 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781398509443