Product Description

The life of a soldier in the first decade of the twentieth century, before the Great War.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #129065 in Books
• Published on: 2003-04-29
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 310 pages

Customer Reviews

Real Life Tales from Kipling's India!
If you want to know what life was like for the ordinary soldier in the early years of the 20th century, this is one volume you should purchase today! I personally found it fascinating and a delight to read and as a result, have now moved swiftly on to the sequel "Old Soldiers Never Die".
Frank Richards was born in 1884.He enlisted in the Royal Welch Fusiliers at Brecon in April 1901- just three months after the death of Queen Victoria. Having trained for a short time in the UK, he went on to serve with that particular regiment in both India and Burma for the remainder of his 9 year engagement.
This really is a marvellous book. It packed to the hilt with tales of nostalgia that will provide both the military historian and researcher as well as the casual reader with hours of enjoyable reading.
Taking you back to the days of the Empire before the outbreak of the Great War, the author eloquently describes life his time as a "squaddie" in Kipling's India, and his unusual experiences during the famous Delhi Durbar. Believe it or not, despite the heat and disease, it didn't sound that bad -but judge for yourself!
It is a very reasonably priced volume- I can guarantee you won't be disappointed.

A Private's Tale of Soldiering during the Raj
A warts and all book that takes you back to the days of soldiering before the outbreak of the Great War, to that army that died on the Western front in 1914.
Some of the incidents described will make the modern reader a little more than uncomfortable.
Despite this, the book is a thoroughly readable account from an old soldier whose courage, honesty, loyalty to friends and pride in his regiment shine through.
Highly recommended.