Product Description

Rediscovered after 80 years gathering dust on a family bookshelf and first brought to public attention on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme, A VERY UNIMPORTANT OFFICER is a detailed and intimate account of the experience of Captain Stewart, an ordinary officer in the front line in France and Flanders throughout 1916 and 1917.

Recruited to The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) in 1915 at the age of 33, Captain Stewart went 'over the top' many times, outliving 'so many better men', as he says with typical humility.

Through his vivid testimony we learn of the mud ('more like thick slime'), the flies and the difficulties of suffering dysentry while on horseback. In one memorable passage he describes engaging the enemy while smoking a pipe - an episode for which he was awarded the Military Cross.

Yet through the chaos and horror of the trenches, Captain Stewart reflects with compassion on the fears and immense courage of the men under his command.

Newly edited by his grandson, Cameron Stewart,  A VERY UNIMPORTANT OFFICER gives us a fascinating insight into the horrors and absurdities of trench life.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #44924 in Books
• Published on: 2009-05-14
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 336 pages

Review
'The immediacy, candour and sheer literary merit of his journals make this an important new source for the Great War . . . a very remarkable man.' (Evening Standard )

'something unusual and fresh on the subject of the Great War . . . edited sympathetically and unobtrusively by his grandson.' (The Times )

'A vivid account of an infantry officer's war on the Western Front . . . should be required reading for those who really want to understand the war.' (Richard Holmes, author of Tommy: The British Soldier on the Western Front )

'His trench diaries show a different aspect of World War I from the usual images of industrial massacre.' (Time Out )

About the Author
Cameron Stewart is Captain Alexander Stewart's grandson. An actor who has worked extensively in UK television and theatre, he can frequently be heard on BBC Radio 4 and the World Service.

Customer Reviews

Mud, Blood and Glory
what was the great war like from the perspective of the officer in the trenches, well here you have got the chance to find out for yourselves, the entries are only rough and brief but they tell an incredible story of courage and bravery, the diary includes commentry written by the author it wasn't meant to be widely published, only to be read by his family and perhaps therein lies its charm

A very important account of ww1.
What impressed me most was the fact that the grandson has continued to press for this account to be published over 40yrs after the attempts by the author. I admire the chap for persuing this venture and adding his anecdotes alongside his grandfather's and adding a social account of the war era lifestyle for a very well to do family in London.
It has been done with much love and thoughtfulness to ensure the original diary and attached notes are given far more credence than they would have had in 1966(the first attempt to get the diary published). It is a very worthy account of the ww1 battlefield. Hardships, dangers and terrifying conditions are all there as is the officer's ability to continue with the vigour and thrust he would have at at the start. For many, the longer the war went on, the futility, waste of life , seemingly impossible objectives all became too much. Many became ill and needed convalescence. Others wounded and hospitalised had no wish to return to the front. Forced to return, but no longer with a strong will, many died in the trenches or on no mans land.
Here to, is one, that had he not been wounded and survived the ordeal that saw him almost left for dead, one feels for sure that a return to fighting would have been fatal for him. Almost at the end of his courageous attempts to do right against the futility of the war to end all wars he survived by luck. Luck that saw him sent to an officer training school instead of back to the front. Whilst here the war ended and I believe that is what most probably saved this hero's life.
Entitled a very unimportant officer I believe does little justice to this outstanding war hero but can understand the reason behind the title after reading this wonderful account.

A Very Unimportant Officer
I bought this as a Christmas present for my husband so I haven't actually read it myself but he loved it and thought the book was fantastic. He couldn't rate it highly enough,plus you were the only company I could purchase it from and it was a good price.