Other Ranks

Description

Other Ranks is a First World War classic, first published in 1931 but quickly lost in the wave of war memoirs and novels. It is the fictionalised account of William Tilsley's war experiences through the eyes of ordinary soldier Dick Bradshaw in the 55th West Lancashire Division. This authentic memoir of life and death on the front line begins with Bradshaw's "C" Company leaving the depot at Etaples and heading for their first engagement at the front on the Somme in the Autumn of 1916. Over the next fourteen months it follows the chores behind the line and unwelcome stints on the front line through to his wounding during the Third battle of Ypres in 1917 and subsequent return to Blighty. As well as criticism of the conduct of the war, there is description of the desolation of the landscape and continual conditions of the trenches as experienced by the Poor Bloody Infantry (PBI); wet, cold, frost bite, trench foot, shelling and general life in trenches with continual risk of collapse. War is not a chivalrous experience and his narrative does not hold back in his thoughts and feelings concerning soldiers behind the lines out of the reach of the guns and those at the top. This new edition follows research by Gaye Magnall and is accompanied by introductions from relatives of the three main characters, O'Neill, Magnall and WVT's great nephew, David Tilsley.

Gaye Magnall is married to the nephew of Ernest Magnall, one of the dedicatees in Other Ranks. She first became aware of this classic work in 2016 coming across a hand written letter dated December 1931 which was sent to her husband's Uncle Ernest. This was from Bill Tilsley (WVT) author and whom is identified as 'Bradshaw'.

'Mr. Blunden remarks that Mr. Tilsley "misses nothing." He has, indeed, a very keen eye. Mr. Tisley's description of an attack on the Somme is as vivid as anything of the sort that has been written' Times Literary Supplement, 16 April 1931 'An unvarnished account...he gives us modestly the prose of the matter; of mud, stench, lice, fatigue, cold, fear, danger and death' The Guardian, 18 March 1931 'This re-publication of W V Tilsley's Other Ranks, a book at the pinnacle of the mountain of other ranks writing about the Great War after 88 years came as both surprise and pleasure. Although frequently, and unfairly, described as a forgotten book, it is one with a great reputation' Stand To!