For Love and Courage: The Letters of Lieutenant Colonel E.W. Hermon from the Western Front 1914 - 1917

Description

Extracts from a unique collection of 700 First World War letters Lt Colonel E.W. Hermon died in a hail of bullets on the 9th April 1917, the first day of the Battle of Arras, leading his men of the 24th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers into the attack. Like hundreds of thousands of others in the Great War, he gave his life for his King and country. He was shot through the heart, one bullet slicing through the papers in his top pocket, including the four-leaf clover his wife had given him for good luck. His final words to his Adjutant were 'Go on!' before he sank to his knees and died almost instantaneously. He was carried from the battlefield by his faithful soldier servant, Buxton, and now lies buried in the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery at Roclincourt, three miles from Arras. This could have been the end of the story but he left a testament of his life and ideals in a unique and hitherto unknown and unpublished collection of long and detailed letters he wrote to his darling wife and his children, 'the Chugs'. Now, nearly a century after his death, he speaks to us of a past, less cynical life, where selflessness, honour, duty and courage were admired above all else. His own courage was officially recognised as he was mentioned in despatches three times and posthumously awarded the D.S.O.The letters have been transcribed and edited by Hermon's granddaughter Anne Nason with the guidance and historical advice of James Holland, the distinguished historian and writer. Peter Caddick-Adams, who works alongside Richard Holmes at Cranfield University, believes the letters to be unique in their candour and context since Hermon was Battalion Commander and thus his letters were not censored.

E.W. Hermon had a privileged education at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford, but it was while he was up at Oxford that he answered the appeal to 'defend the Empire' and joined the 7th Queen's Own Hussars in 1900 in order to fight in the Boer War in South Africa. After this conflict ended, he returned to England with the regiment.The editor, Anne Nason, is the granddaughter of Lt. Colonel E.W. Hermon and the daughter of 'Mairky' (Mary), who bequeathed her the letters. She lives with her husband in Wiltshire and currently has nine grandchildren.

A remarkable set of letters from a man who had much to live for to a wife he loved greatly. This is easily one of the best First World War books I have read, and paints a poignant picture of a vanished age. * Richard Holmes * Battlefield memoir and love story rolled into one, For Love and Courage cannot fail to leave a lasting impression. * BBC History * What makes For Love and Courage compelling are the romantic letters to his wife * The Times * A wonderful insight into life on the front as a soldier in the Great War * Soldier magazine * Wonderful: brave, funny, deeply loving, full of human detail of life at the Front and of the family life from which he was separated * Daily Mail *